Cuir Venenum 03 (2004)
by Parfumerie Generale

It is unbelievable how much this smells like beer after initial spray. This phase doesn’t last that long, but while it does, the smell is stunningly similar to some strong doppelbock-beer.
And as a great fan of beer, I love this smell. It is also something that I have never met before in perfumes.

Soon the orange blossom starts to kick in with honey and it leaves this beer-like note to be more subdued undertone that is still very much capable to linger on the whole lifetime of this fragrance.

This is one nuanced scent. It changes very much during the time and the one wouldn’t perhaps believe it’s the same fragrance at all. The difference in smell between 5 minutes after application to 5 hours after application is perhaps one of the most striking ones I have ever witnessed.

Funny thing is that I don’t smell actually leather in this. I smell a lot of things, but not leather.

The dobbelbock beer, orange blossom, honey, animalic musk (civet?), coconut and some woods make a hell of a nuanced fragrance here.

It lasts for a long long time and it leaves a wonderfully subtle and very compelling sillage even after many hours have passed. The coconut takes more ground in the drydown, but luckily not too much since I absolutely hate coconut if it’s too prominent.
Coconut in CV adds just a nice, creamy shade and structure to the scent and very seductively exotic trail.

This is more suitable for women but for sure not forbidden from gentlemen either.

Surprisingly unique scent that is very well made and compelling. Highly recommended and go ahead; check out those strong beer notes in the beginning!

Cuir Venemum is a dry, tarry leather that strikes me at first as a leaner, sparer version of Santa Maria Novella’s Nostalgia. It has some of that same new leather car interior vibe, but adds a bouquet of medicinal aromatics and shucks most of Nostalgia’s tobacco. The result is leather with a bitter edge and not even a hint of sweetness. This is miles away from the fruity suede of Cuir Ottoman or Daim Blond, but equally far removed from the provocative animalic leather of Oud Cuir d’Arabie or Eau d’Hermes.

As Cuir Venenum develops, a very bold myrrh note takes over the role of bitter accent. The myrrh expands steadily until, after an hour on my skin, it dominates the composition. The ongoing impression is highly medicinal, but in a bracingly pleasant manner. The medicinal leather and resin accord soldiers on in a straight line for hours, fading more than altering when it eventually dries down. All in all I judge this a fine leather scent, straightforward but not stodgy, smelling of quality, and easy to wear. It will appeal especially to those who like their scents dry and their leathers relatively “clean.”

A candy coated, fruit juice dipped, barely leather.

I have to agree with everso on this. I really don't get it. Leather? Smells more like rotting flowers and fruit candy and it stays sickly sweet throughout it's life. Thank god I just got a small vial. Won't be using this again.

Oh no! Why did you spill your grape slush on my Bentley's seats?! You could've just sprayed some Cuir Venenum!

This is very very very VERY sweet...with NO hint of leather at all......a big dissappointment as far as i see. Doesn't really deserve the name "Cuir" on it. Also very feminine.