Katrina Rosales
Poison is a perfume by Christian Dior, first launched in 1985. The scent was created by perfumer Edouard Flechier and licensed by Dior in 1983. The name Poison was chosen to generate massive publicity, and the scent was designed to be a bold and courageous departure from the perfumes of its time. The result was a bombastic fragrance with notes of wild berries, sandalwood, musk, jasmine, orange blossom, coriander, vetiver, pepper, cedar, cinnamon, rosewood, plum, heliotrope, tuberose, vanilla, rose de mai absolute, cistus labdanum and opopanax.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Brand | Christian Dior |
| Perfumer | Edouard Flechier |
| Year of Launch | 1985 |
| Variants | Hypnotic Poison, Pure Poison, Poison Girl |
| Top Notes | Coriander, Wild Berries, Plum, Apricot, Coconut, Bitter Orange |
| Heart Notes | Tuberose, Jasmine, Rose, Caraway, Grasse and Damascus Rose |
| Base Notes | Musk, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Almond, Amber, Opoponax, Venezuelan Tonka Bean |
| Bottle | Deep shade of amethyst with a gold neck and a crystal stopper |
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What You'll Learn
The origin of Poison perfume
Poison is a perfume for women introduced by Parfums Christian Dior in 1985. The scent was so popular that it became a brand in its own right, resulting in the subsequent release of five flanker fragrances: Tendre Poison, Hypnotic Poison, Pure Poison, Midnight Poison, and Poison Girl.
In the 1980s, Dior was enjoying robust product sales in Europe and was one of the top two cosmetics companies in the region. However, they were not able to achieve the same level of success in the American cosmetics market, where they were ranked as the twentieth best-selling cosmetics company. To close the gap between Dior's sales on both sides of the Atlantic, the company's president, Maurice Roger, commissioned a blockbuster fragrance that would dominate the American market. Dior invested heavily in meticulous research and development and developed a savvy marketing strategy based on the controversial name of Yves Saint Laurent's top-selling fragrance, Opium. The company wanted a name for the new fragrance that would generate massive publicity and, in turn, sales. In 1983, Dior licensed the name Poison.
After testing approximately 800 scents created by independent perfumers, Dior selected a unique fragrance created by perfumer Edouard Flechier. Poison had a rich blend of spicy, fruity, woody, and amber notes with sensual honey and musk accords. The top notes included coriander, wild berries, orange honey, and tuberose, while the base note featured opopanar. The scent was unlike any other, with notes of wild berries, sandalwood, musk, jasmine, orange blossom, coriander, vetiver, pepper, cedar, cinnamon, rosewood, plum, heliotrope, tuberose, vanilla, rose de mai absolute, cistus labdanum, and opopanax. The bottle was also unique, designed to look like forbidden fruit. The colour of the apple-shaped bottle is a deep shade of amethyst, and the neck is gold with a crystal stopper.
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The scent of Poison
Poison, the iconic perfume by Christian Dior, has captivated and divided audiences since its launch in 1985. With its bold and courageous scent, it stands out even in the world of flamboyant and bombastic perfumes that characterised the era. Poison was created by Jean Guichard, parfumeur and director of the renowned Givaudan School, in collaboration with Maurice Roger, who managed Dior at the time. The result was a rich blend of spicy, fruity, and amber notes with sensual honey and musk accords, creating an unforgettable and charismatic oriental fragrance.
The top note of Poison is coriander, followed by a heart note of tuberose and a base note of opoponax. However, it is the complex interplay of various ingredients that gives Poison its unique character. The fragrance includes a plethora of scents such as wild berries, sandalwood, musk, jasmine, orange blossom, coriander, vetiver, pepper, cedar, cinnamon, rosewood, plum, heliotrope, tuberose, vanilla, rose de mai absolute, cistus labdanum, and opopanax. The combination of these ingredients creates a dark, seductive, and gothic aroma that has been described as a "true magical blend."
Over time, Dior has released several variants of the original Poison perfume, including Hypnotic Poison, Pure Poison, and Poison Girl. Each of these fragrances offers a unique twist on the original, such as oriental vanilla or floral notes. The bottle designs for the Poison line are just as distinctive as the scents themselves, with the original Poison featuring an apple-shaped bottle in a deep shade of amethyst and a gold neck with a crystal stopper, resembling forbidden fruit.
Poison by Dior has left an indelible mark on the world of perfumery. It has become a classic fragrance that continues to captivate new generations of wearers, who describe it as a "full-blooded" scent that is well worth the price. Whether loved or hated, Poison remains a legendary perfume that has anchored its place among the biggest and best scents ever created.
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The marketing strategy behind Poison
Poison is a women's perfume introduced by Parfums Christian Dior in 1985. The fragrance was created by Edouard Flechier and selected by Dior from approximately 800 scents. Poison's unique bottle was crafted to look like forbidden fruit, with a deep shade of amethyst and a gold neck with a crystal stopper.
Dior's marketing strategy for Poison was based on the successful launch of Yves Saint Laurent's Opium. The company wanted a name for the new fragrance that would generate massive publicity and sales. The name Poison was licensed in 1983, and the fragrance was launched in 1985.
The marketing strategy for Poison focused on creating a brand identity that was both playful and romantic, sexy and mysterious. The fragrance was positioned as a weapon of heightened seduction, with an exceptional blend of rich, spicy, floral, and ambery notes with sensual accords of honey and musk.
To promote Poison, Dior likely used visual elements such as photography and videography to capture the essence of the fragrance and make it visually appealing. The unique story of the brand was communicated through the packaging design and visuals used in advertisements. Social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube provided powerful avenues for reaching a wider audience and creating a brand community.
Dior also likely utilized influencer marketing and experiential marketing events to create a memorable brand that resonated with people's emotions. The success of Poison led to the release of five flanker fragrances: Tendre Poison, Hypnotic Poison, Pure Poison, Midnight Poison, and Poison Girl.
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The bottle design
Poison, the iconic perfume by Christian Dior, is known not just for its bold and courageous scent but also for its unique bottle design. The brain behind the creation of Poison, Jean Guichard, worked closely with Maurice Roger, who managed Dior at the time. Guichard and Roger were on a mission to create something completely new and revolutionary for Dior, which was facing stagnation in sales at the time.
The bottle for Poison was crafted to look like forbidden fruit. The deep amethyst colour of the apple-shaped bottle is striking and intriguing, while the neck is gold with a crystal stopper, adding a touch of luxury and elegance. The design of the bottle is a nod to the rich and spicy fragrance within, evoking a sense of mystery and seduction.
The original Poison perfume, launched in 1985, made an immediate impact in the world of big perfumes. Its flamboyant and bombastic scent, a blend of spicy, fruity, and amber notes with sensual honey and musk accords, was designed to be provocative and mysterious. The bottle design perfectly complements the fragrance, creating a cohesive and unforgettable experience for the wearer.
Over the years, Dior has released several variants of the original Poison perfume, each with its own unique bottle design. Hypnotic Poison, created in 1998, has an oriental vanilla scent with top notes of plum, apricot, and coconut. The bottle design for this variation is unknown. Pure Poison, launched in 2004, features a spray bulb mother-of-pearl bottle, reflecting the nuanced and sophisticated scent within.
Poison Girl, released in 2016, comes in a clear, pink bottle, adding a playful and modern twist to the classic Poison fragrance. This variation, created by perfumer François Demachy, has a unique blend of bitter orange, Grasse and Damascus Rose, and Venezuelan tonka bean. The bottle design for Poison Girl is a nod to the freshness and femininity of the scent, while still retaining the essence of the original Poison.
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The variants of Poison
Poison is a women's perfume introduced by Parfums Christian Dior in 1985. The scent was so popular that it became a brand in its own right, leading to the release of five flanker fragrances: Tendre Poison, Hypnotic Poison, Pure Poison, Midnight Poison, and Poison Girl. The original Poison is still available on the Dior website and in major department stores.
Tendre Poison was created by Edouard Flechier in 1994 and designed for a younger demographic. It was advertised by Paul Sculfor and Laurence Vanhaeverbeke.
Hypnotic Poison, an oriental vanilla scent, was launched in 1998 and created by perfumer Annick Menardo. Its top notes are plum, apricot, and coconut, with tuberose, jasmine, rose, caraway, and lily of the valley middle notes. The base notes are musk, vanilla, sandalwood, and almond. Actors Monica Bellucci and Milla Jovovich were spokesmodels for the fragrance.
Pure Poison was created by Carlos Benaim, Dominique Ropion, and Olivier Polge in 2004. It features notes of bergamot, jasmine, sandalwood, orange blossom, white musk, and amber. In 2006, Dior released Pure Poison Elixir, an updated version of the fragrance in a spray bulb mother-of-pearl bottle. The scent was enhanced with cocoa bean absolute. The spokesmodel for Pure Poison Elixir was Letícia Birkheuer.
Poison Girl was launched in 2016 and created by perfumer François Demachy. It comes in a clear, pink bottle and has a top note of bitter orange, a Grasse and Damascus Rose heart note, and a base note of Venezuelan tonka bean. It also features notes of sandalwood, tolu balm, almond, and vanilla.
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Frequently asked questions
Poison is made by Christian Dior.
Poison was created by perfumer Edouard Flechier.
Poison was launched in 1985.
Poison has been described as having a rich blend of spicy, fruity, floral and amber notes with sensual honey and musk accords.
