YSL Black Opium has been one of the biggest selling fragrances in the UK for over a decade now. It has a dedicated following, a distinctive character, and a price tag that keeps plenty of people at arm's length. £95 to £120 for 90ml isn't budget territory, especially when you want to wear it every day.
We tested Eclipse by Aromara, our Black Opium-inspired fragrance, directly against the original over a full day. Here's the honest comparison.
What Makes YSL Black Opium So Distinctive?
Black Opium came out in 2014 and immediately carved out a unique space. Before it, coffee in mainstream perfumery was rare. After it, coffee became a fragrance trend. That's the mark of a genuinely innovative fragrance.
The opening is pink pepper and pear, bright and slightly fruity. Then the coffee arrives, dark and bitter-sweet, supported by white flowers and jasmine. The base is vanilla, cedarwood, patchouli, and a warm cashmeran that gives it that addictive quality. The whole thing is dark and sweet simultaneously, a combination that shouldn't work as well as it does.
The coffee note is the signature and the challenge. Get it right and you have something genuinely compelling. Get it wrong and you end up with something that smells like artificial coffee flavouring. The coffee in Black Opium is proper coffee, bitter-sweet and aromatic, not a synthetic shortcut.
Eclipse by Aromara: The Full Review
Eclipse opens with a similar bright-dark combination to Black Opium. There's a fruity top note that gives way quickly to the dark coffee heart. This is where Eclipse performs best: the coffee note is well-executed, bitter-sweet and genuine, sitting alongside a white floral softness that mirrors the YSL approach.
The heart is close. There's a dark sweetness that captures the addictive quality of Black Opium, that combination of coffee bitterness and vanilla sweetness that makes people keep smelling their wrist. The projection in the heart stage is good without being overpowering.
The drydown is warm and smooth. The vanilla base holds well, softening the coffee and giving the overall fragrance that warm-skin quality that Black Opium fans love. The patchouli adds subtle darkness in the base. On skin, 7 to 8 hours. On fabric, significantly longer.
At 35% concentration the depth is there throughout. Cheaper Black Opium alternatives often get the opening right and then lose the character as the concentration runs out. Eclipse holds its character through the full drydown.
Eclipse vs Black Opium: Direct Comparison
We ran a blind test, Eclipse on one wrist, Black Opium on the other, and checked at 20 minutes, 2 hours, 4 hours, and 8 hours.
At 20 minutes: Black Opium had a slightly brighter, sharper opening. The pink pepper was more prominent. Eclipse's opening was slightly warmer and the coffee arrived a little earlier.
At 2 hours: Both settled into similar coffee-floral-vanilla territory. The character profiles were very close. Most testers had difficulty identifying which was which.
At 4 hours: Very similar. Both warm, slightly sweet, the coffee note present but softened. The vanilla bases on both were comparable.
At 8 hours: Eclipse was still clearly present, warm and soft. Black Opium at this stage was similar. Both were skin-close and pleasant rather than projecting.
The verdict: Eclipse captures what people love about Black Opium, the dark-sweet-coffee character, the addictive quality, the warm drydown, at a fraction of the price.
Comparison Table
| Product | Price (90ml) | Similarity | Longevity | Coffee note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YSL Black Opium (original) | £110 | Benchmark | 7-9 hrs | Excellent |
| Eclipse by Aromara | £35 (50ml) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 7-8 hrs | Very good |
Who Is Eclipse For?
Eclipse works brilliantly for anyone who loves the dark-sweet-gourmand style. Evening wear, weekend wear, autumn and winter days when you want something comforting and attention-grabbing. It's not a subtle fragrance but it's not aggressive either. It occupies a lovely space.
It's genuinely unisex despite being often associated with women's fragrances. Men who like dark, slightly sweet fragrances should absolutely try it. The coffee note in particular has a very appealing quality on male skin chemistry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a good Black Opium dupe in the UK?
Yes. Eclipse by Aromara captures the dark coffee-vanilla-floral character of YSL Black Opium well. At 35% concentration it has the depth to maintain the character through the full drydown. Available from £5.
How long does Eclipse last?
7 to 8 hours on skin in our testing. On fabric, significantly longer. The vanilla-patchouli base is particularly persistent.
Is Eclipse suitable for everyday wear?
Yes, though it's more of an evening or weekend fragrance than a light daytime one. It's noticeable but not overwhelming. For everyday office wear in well-ventilated spaces, absolutely fine.
Does Eclipse smell exactly like Black Opium?
It's in the same olfactive territory and captures the core character well. The coffee note, the dark sweetness, the warm vanilla base. Side by side there are subtle differences, but in everyday wear you'll get everything that makes people love the Black Opium style.
Is Eclipse vegan and alcohol-free?
Yes. All Aromara fragrances are vegan, cruelty-free and alcohol-free, made in the UK.
Where to Buy
Eclipse by Aromara is available at aromara.co.uk from £5 for a 5ml spray or £35 for a full 50ml bottle.
- 5ml spray at £5
- 50ml extrait at £35
- Free UK delivery
- Buy 2 get 1 free
Aromara is an independent UK fragrance brand. All scents are original creations inspired by well-known designer fragrances. No affiliation with any brand mentioned in this article. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.