Tumblertown

Opium by Yves Saint Laurent and Angel by Thierry Mugler have been my two favorite perfumes forever. They were, and still are, so important for the perfume houses that produced them, that they inspired a whole line of spin-offs. In this article I will briefly review one for each of them: Opium Poesie du Chine and Angel for men.

Opium Poesie du Chine was launched in 2008 (thirty years after the original Opium perfume!), as a fresher and more modern version. The intense wood and incense notes in the first one are now softer, and a floral note of magnolia is more prominent.
The opening notes are a mix of magnolia and cinnamon. In the background there are also citrus orange notes. In the middle phase cinnamon is more intense than magnolia, and other resinous notes appear. In this phase the fragrance is less fresh, but it doesn’t become too dense nor dark. The final base notes are those that most remember the original Opium, with a range of spicy notes that go from resinous cinnamon to white pepper.

Angel perfume for men was launched a couple of years after the original Angel perfume, and has the same idea of a perfume designed to be a head-turner. The opening can be shocking, as it is a feast of caramel and vanilla straight to the nose. Once the moment is gone, greener Mediterranean notes come out, of coriander and mint, and possibly also thyme and rosemary. These two lines, of caramel and herbs will remain until the end, where other notes will come out, of coffee and sandalwood.
A fragrance for many but not for everyone, to love or hate, without much room for shades of opinion. If you feel comfortable in being at the center of attention, if you are unconventional in your personal style, then this is the perfume for you. You can wear it on a first date, but at your own risk, as she may either come closer or run away.