Hypnotic Poison Eau de Parfum by Dior

I love this perfume. I discovered it recently, so I know nothing about reformulations or vintage versions. On my skin, its opening is very almondised and somewhat bitter, reminding me of bitter liqueurs like Disaronno, but that note fades quickly. A few minutes later, vanilla and tonka bean take centre stage, which I notice all day. The jasmine and orange blossom notes are subtle, more like a pleasant mix of white flowers. It’s a balsamic, warm, sweet, and intoxicating scent, without being cloying or overwhelming. I think it doesn’t have much projection or sillage; it’s more for personal enjoyment or close distances. On my skin, it lasts 8-9 hours, longer on clothes; I noticed it while doing laundry several days later. The only thing that puts me off is the price: in Spain, the 100ml bottle goes over €100 (I’ve seen up to €139 at Douglas). Perhaps for some, investing in a niche with vanilla and tonka bean is worth it; there are plenty of alternatives. Nevertheless, I’m very happy. I’m not sure if I’ll buy it again when I finish or invest in something new. P.S.: That bit about smelling like ‘dead people’… it left me bewildered. Perhaps because I’ve never smelled one and I imagine it’s more like putrefaction than anything else.

To me, it’s an improved version of the classic EDT: more complex, with better longevity and sillage than the reformulated one. It’s as dark as its bottle; an almondised licorice and vanilla scent, sweetened with tonka bean, dominates this intoxicating and mysterious aroma. It makes me think of dark, gloomy fantasy forests, with a light at the end where the Hansel and Gretel witch’s house stands, made of sweets to lure children. That madness comes through. The blood-red, almost black bottle shines like a hypnotic poison. The sillage is wide for the first hour, then drops to skin-level and fades after four hours, even when applied generously (2020 batch). I wear it at family gatherings because it conveys warmth. Totally winter-appropriate, for afternoons and evenings. Sometimes, just looking at the bottle is enough to know the season and the occasion.

Despite the reformulations, this remains a GREAT PERFUME with a vintage air. It’s an olfactory gourmand, less edible than today’s gummy candies. I remember when it launched; it was madness and a revolution in perfumery, a daring vanilla and almond dessert. Now it’s less gourmand, darker, denser, less playful; the vanilla and nut turn bitter. Sometimes I sense a vanilla liqueur with incense. I acquired it through a swap; it’s elegant, but frankly, I couldn’t handle it. It left a trail everywhere; my scent was penetrating, impossible to go unnoticed. I believe Dior had the misfortune of poorly reformulating their stars. This perfume is a star, a diva, yet bitter and somewhat gloomy for today’s times. I insist, with much respect, it’s a great perfume, but I feel it has ceased to be gourmand—it’s now alcoholic nuts.

HP EDP is a very potent feminine fragrance that lasts forever, suitable for autumn and winter nights. It opens very sweetly, with licorice and almond notes, and slowly moves into more oriental territory, with vanilla and tonka bean taking the lead. I’ve never tried the EDT on skin (only on blotting paper), but both HP versions smell different on paper: this one is less sweet and more spiced, whereas the EDT has a strong vanilla and almond scent. Compared to the HP Sensuelle I’ve tried several times, this EDP is much sweeter and spicier, less floral. Although it could have been a fragrance I liked, tonka bean doesn’t work well with my chemistry most of the time, and this was no exception. However, I’m sure it can work wonders for another person. Pleasant: 4/10 Interesting: 6/10 Versatile: 4/10 Original: 5/10

It’s a rich perfume (for me it tastes more gourmand than oriental) and it’s among my favourites. The bottle is beautiful but the perfume doesn’t do it justice (nor to the Poison line). I expected something more mysterious, played up… it reminds me a lot of Paco Rabanne’s Black XS. It’s very sweet, more fruity than floral or spiced. It’s strong, has a lot of body, leaves a good trail and tremendous longevity (I spray once and I smell it for hours). It adapts very well to men’s skin (I repeat, it reminds me a lot of PR’s Black XS). In summary… it’s a good perfume, rich (one of my favourites for going out at night). But it’s more of the same. I don’t find much originality or mystery in the notes.

Every time I passed the perfumery I asked if they had the tester and it was never there. I was dying of curiosity, I wanted to have it, but as it’s expensive in my country, I had to try it first. So many good reviews… what a disappointment when I finally tried it and I didn’t like it at all. The worst part is that I couldn’t get it off my skin even with soap. On paper it seemed okay, sweet vanilla and an undefined wood. But on my skin it was something burnt, smoky, and in the end it gave me a headache. It’s a pity we weren’t a good match; I’m not saying it’s a bad perfume, but it doesn’t suit me, my skin decomposes it terribly.

Yes, I sold it and bought it back again, just like I did with Addict. These whims happen with Dior: I don’t even remember owning some of the others. Hypnotic Poison EDP smells like burnt almond gum; it’s very particular and nothing like the EDT. The best part is that it’s neither gourmand nor overly floral; it’s balanced and nocturnal. The sensation of warming up on the skin over time is luxurious. It’s sweet with vanilla; I hope it stays and doesn’t become repulsive to me (though with this weather, I doubt it). It smells like a good witch with dark intentions.

Good afternoon; I’m new and wanted to comment on this perfume. I have the EDT and I’m not sure what note gives it that strong, spiced smell; it reminds me of Opium in that regard, but even more like smoke, which I attribute to the sandalwood. Yes, it smells more like frankincense stick to me, whereas the EDT version settles into a vanilla gourmand dry down, perhaps because I’ve had it for six years. How do I best preserve perfumes? Apart from a cool, light-free spot, would keeping it in the fridge be a mistake? Many thanks in advance.

Finally I tried Hypnotic Poison Eau Parfum. In my opinion, it’s similar to the classic but without the coconut note, which I like. It’s very rich, sweet, and spiced. Freshly applied it’s strong, but afterwards the trail becomes soft leaving the licorice on the skin. I would have liked it to maintain that initial intensity for longer; I expected more potency being the most concentrated version. Trail of 6 and skin longevity of 8. Sincere, I don’t recommend it; its poor trail and high price make it not worth it.

This was my first imported perfume. When I went to the perfumerie, it was the only one that impacted me, and after weeks I bought it. It’s iconic, you can’t miss it, elegant, mysterious, for night, and with a lot of presence (too much, really; you need to know how to wear it). If you want to go unnoticed, this isn’t it. The longevity and sillage are beastly; I’d dare say it has the greatest sillage in my collection. It beats L’Interdit by Givenchy. A masterpiece of perfumery.

Sobriquet, slightly mysterious; its seriousness makes it distant. It lacks the warmth and intensity of the original version. The current one lacks charm, feeling somewhat bitter and less warm than the EDP I knew a few years ago. It has also lost its femininity; by the dry-down, pure vanilla is perceived, a simple evolution that tells us nothing of the majesty we associate with this fragrance. I still maintain that the best hypnosis came from Sensuelle.

I bought it based on reviews and the longevity is incredible, including the trail. If you enjoy gourmand scents, this is a top choice. My mum wore it and it got so ingrained in her jumper it lingered even after washing. It smells delicious, but it gives me a migraine—I think it’s the licorice; the vanilla and almond blend is superb. My mum received it as a gift with the condition that she doesn’t wear it near me, hehe.

Similar to the EDT but smells much stronger. If the EDT already seemed slightly heavy to me, this is very heavy. The vanilla smells the same as in the EDT, but here licorice and tonka bean predominate, which is a plus as I don’t like intense vanilla. It lasts for many hours; even after washing my arm twice, it was still there, until it gave me a slight headache.

Racheling—I feel the same: sandalwood, incense, licorice… for me, the notes are missing. It’s dark, sensual, powerful and special, lasting longer than the current EDT. Perfumes are best in their box, in the wardrobe, and if possible, never opened. Above all, keep them away from humidity and never in the fridge. Best regards to everyone.

Unlike its EDT sister, this didn’t work for me. The scent is too dry and harsh; the licorice note makes it very bitter and dominates everything, making it even less feminine. I bought it blind and it was a mistake. I recommend testing before buying. Sillage and longevity are quite potent.