Yves Saint-Laurent is one of the most iconic designers of the 20th century. His brand remains incredibly popular across the world, from clothing and accessories to perfumes. The dazzling success of YSL’s most emblematic perfume, Black Opium, has attracted the jealousy of counterfeiters creating and selling fake versions of the fragrance.
How do you know if the expensive YSL Black Opium perfume you just invested in is real?
Check that the box is tightly wrapped in cellophane and that the bottle’s design doesn’t contain any irregularities. Afterward, determine if the perfume is the right color, then check if the batch code on the box matches the one on the bottom of the bottle.
I’ve compiled a handy guide to help you determine your perfume’s origins. Read through my four steps to learn how to spot a fake YSL perfume accurately.
1. First, check the Cellophane
This is an excellent place to start when figuring out if your perfume is authentic. Indeed, all YSL perfumes will be machine-wrapped in cellophane. It should be perfect, tight, and smooth, with no irregularities to detect. If your bottle is not wrapped, or the cellophane is coming undone, it might be a tell-tale sign that you have purchased a fake.
2. Check the Bottle’s Design
The next step in your quest to uncover the truth about your perfume is to check the bottle for any irregularities. It’s a fairly easy process, as you just need to find some pictures online. Here is an image of YSL’s Black Opium perfume taken from the brand’s official website:

Compare the two bottles, watching closely for any different details you might be able to spot.
Is the bottle cap round and black? Is the font the same? Does the bottle have the same shine you can see in the picture? These are all crucial details.
It is also essential to consider the overall quality of the bottle. Does it feel cheap and plastic when you hold it? A Black Opium bottle is quite heavy, so be on the lookout for cheap imitations.
3. Does the Color Match?
The third step in this journey is the all-important color check. Typically, an authentic Black Opium perfume will have that dark pink hue you can appreciate in pictures. Does your perfume have the same tint? You can go to a local perfume store to look at a real Black Opium bottle if you have any doubts.
Color is hard to fake, so this step is significant. To authenticate your YSL perfume, observe the bottle carefully. Is the liquid too intense in color? Is it a pale yellow instead of the trademark dark color? Does it have no color at all? These are all indications of a fake.
However, it’s important to remember that perfume does change color over time. It slowly loses its vividness. So if the shade of your perfume is just a little bland, then it might just be a little old, and not a fake. As previously stated, you can compare it to store bottles for more accuracy.
4. Finally, Match the Batch
Who doesn’t love a good rhyme?
This step is pretty straightforward. All perfumes have a batch code that indicates when they were manufactured. You can usually find them at the underneath or on the back of the box, and usually at the bottom of the bottle of perfume.
All that’s left to do is compare the two codes. If they don’t match, then you can be absolutely sure that you have bought a fake.
Is your Black Opium by YSL real?
After following all the steps outlined above, we’re confident that you can now determine whether you have purchased a fake YSL Black Opium perfume bottle. Remember that a Black Opium bottle will be a bit heavy to hold and come fully wrapped in cellophane, and that the color will be a dark brownish pink. Finally, the box and the bottle will have matching batch codes. Now that you’ve ensured the authenticity of your fragrance, spritz it on and wear it with pride.