Cuir Venenum 03 by Parfumerie Generale, 2004

Oooo, this is unsettling... It took me a long time to decide whether or not I like this and could wear it. Unfortunately I have reached the conclusion that it's just too disturbing! It's almost a fruity leather, with a juicy quality that makes my mouth water every time I smell it. I want more, I sniff again... and then I feel corrupted, on edge. There's something animalic about it, possibly bordering on fecal. That might sound gross, but this isn't an unpleasant perfume, it's just that I find it unnerving! Despite deciding that I can't wear this fragrance I would definitely recommend sampling it. It's an experience! The sales assistant I spoke to said that this unsettling quality is entirely deliberate and is just what Parfumerie Generale intended. My boyfriend LOVES this perfume and was pretty disappointed when I gave him my final verdict and told him it wouldn't find a place on my dressing table.

Oh no! Why did you spill your grape slush on my Bentley's seats?! You could've just sprayed some Cuir Venenum! 2011 Revisit: A plastic cup of grape-scented beer in the cupholder of an all-new Continental GT.

Leffe and leather. Its sparkling honey and orange blossom notes are striking at first but quickly sour, and the wisp of Cuir dIris-grade leather is sadly choked under the staleness of it all. The bitter myrrh doesn't much improve Cuir Venenums distracting, boozy literalism and this could easily be a Christopher Brosius scent named something like Oktoberfest 2004 or In the Beer Garden.

An original interpretation of leather. Cuir Venenum opens with a bizarre accord of leather and something else I can't exactly detect for an overall effect that brings to my mind of unripe Concord Grape. Bitter, somehow sour and aromatic. The leather note is emphasized in its acidic aspect and it is laid on a consistent myrrh base. I also get a slight dusty vibe throughout (as often in Guillame's creations). Despite they don't share many similiariteis Cuir Venenum often brings to my mind of another great scent of the same family: Helmut Lang Cuiron. They move in the same direction, where leather is clean, treated and brand new. Recommended.

The opening is kind of strange and medicinal and although I wouldn't go as far as calling it "grotesque", I agree with soirdelune that it has a grape juice note over what seems like stale cigarettes after it's been on for several minutes. While the cigarette ash note works in a leather scent like Oud Cuir d'Arabie, it doesn't work here because of that grape hard candy or juice note. As far as I'm concerned this is a combination that doesn't work at all.

I was quite disappointed with this perfume. On my skin I got very little leather except in the initial opening and then it developed along very similar lines to my nose as Feminite du Bois. Not exactly the same, but a similar vibe. I got a plum note but perhaps it was more the grape/apricot others describe with the myrrh.

I give it a neutral because it is quite well made, but I find it a bit boring and not what I am looking for in a leather scent.

I instantly distinguished it (along with Cuir dIris and Cadjmere) from the whole PG line, as a very distinctive fragrance. I have the feeling that for the majority of the reviewers the word Cuir in its name seems to be the greatest problem or even a point of confusion, since it is definitely not a leather oriented scent. I can also add that it is neither poisonous as the latin word vevenum implicates. Nevertheless it is wonderful and extremely well made. I would describe it as a composition where hints of dry and slightly bitter leather are cleverly hidden beneath a dominating front row of burnt caramel, abstract fruity notes and musk. I also get this weird black beer note (detectable only up to the middle) which is very nice either you are a beer fan or not. Good lasting power and even better evolution on the skin. Highly recommended and suitable for both genders but Im afraid not for the leather addicted ones.

I agree with Everso.
This is not a leather scent. Definitely not for people looking for leather fragrances. Their nose will have a hard time trying to catch a whiff of that elusive leather. This fragrance is all about myrrh. It sort of has a herbal opening which is immediately followed be very intense myrrh. I am not a fan of myrrh so that's pretty much the end of it for me. The reason why I wanted to try this was because of it's recommendations as a nice leather frag. The word 'cuir' in the name is misleading. Frankly the notes are just so discordant.

One for the self-indulgent wearer. I fell in love with this the first time I smelt it and returned a few months later to purchase. Every sniff has me in heady raptures. It's the end of a debauched night, it's spilled beer and crushed grape; the warmth of a familiar drunken lover on a winter's night.

Less of a reaction on those around me than other less complex fragrances.

Grotesque. Pleather and grape juice. A fruity leather? What were they thinking? Horrific.