Poison (1985)
by Christian Dior

The olfactory equivalent of the audacious line backer shoulder pads, tourniquet-tight waistcoats, and towering hair of the Dynasty-inflected 1980's, Poison's tuberose-jasmine-overcooked-berry accord doesn't waft gently from the bottle or the skin; it rises and strikes like an angry cobra. There is nothing subtle or mysterious about Poison. It's all about power and total dominance. Poison invades and conquers every space it encounters. Even the tiniest dab on the nape of the neck can fill a good sized dining room like floral and grape juice stink bomb. And yes, it is fascinating at first sniff (much like a corpse is fascinating on first sight) but the fascination quickly turns to disgust, for me at least, and I suspect for most. (on first sniff, I am always reminded of the scene in the Raiders of the Lost Ark where the beautiful white smokey Ark ghost lady's face turns into a hideous skull, just before the Nazi's skin melts away. An apt metaphor.).

Ladies who still love this one, please, please, please consider the the exquisite alternative, Carolina Herrera Eau de Parfum which although it possesses a note structure similar to Poison (and is of the same period), it slowly, softly whispers its floral//green brilliance as opposed to the shrieking, braying monster that is Poison.

Don't come to my party brandishing Poison. I will ask you politely, but firmly, to leave.

i have a vintage esprit de parfum... smells heavenly!!!!!!! brings back fond memories of my childhood days. they don't make such fiercely individualistic and unique scents very much these days. one of CD's best!

Honestly it basically ends up smelling like potpourri, but I kinda dig it.

This scent always brings me back to eighth grade. All the cool girls wore it, and over wore it. Nothing but grape juice.
Strangely, I still reach for a bottle of it when I find it at a perfume store, and spay it on. Then I inhale deeply, constantly for ten minutes straight. It can be intoxicating and sickening all at once.
I think the big thing with Poison, is that folks don't give it a chance to mellow out and develop, before screaming yuck. Or, they over use it. Personally, I wear Kors, which has the grapey thing going on, but is supported by a backbone of brandy and insence, rounding out the berry scent and giving it some smokiness. But I still to this day long for Poison! I know that the biggest thing keeping me from buying it again is the price. Even after all these years, it is still at a good 80 to 85 dollars a bottle, even on the lowest priced web sites. Just like the fragrance itself, it is a bit too rich for my blood. That's more than a week's worth of groceries.

My first try with this perfume was a snif from the bottle, and a reluctant spray on a paper strip. Obviously Poison failed to seduce me within 15 minutes, and the paper strip was discarded in the wastebasket.
What a fool I was to think that I could be seduced in such a short time, under such circumstances. It would be like seeing Ishtar or Parvati/Kali in a hospital.

Today I sprayed Poison on my wrist. After reading all this praise, I felt I had to give her a proper chance. And oh my.

Mmm...
From the first spray, Poison is already a kaleidoscope of scents. It's almost like an olfactory dance. Smelling poison is like erotic sensuous lovemaking, with a lover who loves you deeply and honestly. Despite it's mysterious, intruiging and elusiveness, there seems to me to be something very innocent at the base of this perfume. Poison truly is a dark beauty with a heart of gold

On first sniff, I smelled a high volume jasmine-tuberose that was effervescent and unnatural. I put the card down, satisfied at having smelled something that fit the infamy bill.

Ten minutes later, I went back to the store and retrieved the card.

The next day or so I just couldn't stop smelling it. There was something endlessly fascinating about it to me. Was it floral? Was it fruity? Was it oriental? Was it gourmand? Whatever it was, it grew on me until today, when I returned and sprayed some on my skin.

Here is how it smells to my nose.

The first thing out is a powerful jasmine and tuberose accord. It doesn't really smell like either flower does in real life, but is anchored in qualities of both flowers. Aside from that, the first things noticeable are a loud fruity note redolent of grape crush, cinnamon, and a small dab of methyl salicylate. The latter is no-where near as powerful as in Tubereuse Criminelle, but does much to offset the overwhelming sweetness of the top notes. I think it, plus the grape, are the "cough syrup" smell many comment on. These top notes are both fascinating and revolting.

I applied the tiniest dab, but the sillage... oh boy, is it something else. Spray this in Mumbai and it'll clime Mount Everest.

The heart is the best part of this fragrance for me. The fruitiness calms down and changes from grape to blackberry or rather blackberry compote, pulpy and sweet. The jasmine-tuberose core dominates less and a certain spiciness comes forward, like allspice or clove, together with a warm musk that didn't show on paper. I find the balance of the various qualities extremely pleasing, and the sillage more manageable.

In the base, which emerges around the five to six hour mark on me, the fruits and flowers take a surprising leave of absence and what's left is a warm, musky amber with faint woody and vanillic touches. It's quiet here; almost a skin scent.

Poison, at least the EdT strength I tried, isn't a longevity monster on me. It lasts about ten to twelve hours. Such a small amount is needed - I applied a miniscule dab - that this is more than adequate.

Forget everything you think you know about this fragrance and give it a try. It just may surprise you. But remember... you only need a little!!!