What perfumes were popular in the 1980's?
Posted by Perfumer
The 1980s were synonymous with big hair, power suits, and equally bold fragrances. From opulent orientals to high-voltage florals, perfumers created statement scents designed to stand out in a crowd. Women’s perfumes often leaned toward lavish, high-projection aromas that embodied the decade’s spirit of glamour and excess, while men’s colognes emphasized strong, assertive profiles. Below are some of the era’s most iconic and influential perfumes:
Giorgio Beverly Hills (1981)
Why It Stood Out: Launched by the famed boutique on Rodeo Drive, Giorgio became the symbol of lavish 1980s luxury.
Scent Profile: A heady floral explosion of gardenia, tuberose, and jasmine, underscored by a warm, woody base.
Cultural Impact: Its sunny yellow-and-white striped box was instantly recognizable. In some restaurants, the fragrance’s potent sillage led to unofficial bans—evidence of its sheer strength and popularity.
Chanel Coco (1984)
Why It Stood Out: A departure from the classic Chanel No. 5, Coco captured a baroque, romantic aesthetic that felt new yet still unmistakably Chanel.
Scent Profile: A sultry, spicy oriental with notes of clove, amber, and rose. More dramatic and exotic than its predecessors.
Cultural Impact: The opulent advertising campaigns, featuring vibrant costumes and sets, underscored the perfume’s rich, luxurious character.
Christian Dior Poison (1985)
Why It Stood Out: Poison was arguably one of the most provocative releases of the decade—known for its bewitching name and audacious ad campaigns.
Scent Profile: A dense, dramatic blend of plum, tuberose, spices, and amber. It projected power and mystery, instantly recognizable from across a room.
Cultural Impact: With its deep-purple apple-shaped bottle and daring marketing, Poison became the epitome of the “larger-than-life” fragrance style of the 80s.
Calvin Klein Obsession (1985)
Why It Stood Out: As American designer Calvin Klein’s foray into bold, sensual fragrance, Obsession matched the era’s taste for all things intense.
Scent Profile: A rich amber oriental featuring spices, musk, and vanilla, with a hint of green herbs.
Cultural Impact: Its steamy, black-and-white ad campaigns were iconic—pushing boundaries and cementing Obsession’s reputation as a fragrance for the confident, provocative wearer.
Yves Saint Laurent Paris (1983)
Why It Stood Out: Paris was a love letter to the city of lights from designer Yves Saint Laurent.
Scent Profile: A lush rose fragrance, supported by violet and mimosa, built upon a soft woody-musky base.
Cultural Impact: Unlike some of the spicier or heavier scents of the decade, Paris had a sophisticated yet romantic aura. It appealed to those who wanted a strong floral without the over-the-top heft of some other 80s powerhouses.
Estée Lauder Beautiful (1985)
Why It Stood Out: Known as “the fragrance of a thousand flowers,” Beautiful was positioned as an ultra-feminine bridal and special-occasion scent.
Scent Profile: A grand floral bouquet—rose, lily, tuberose, and marigold—over a warm, ambery base.
Cultural Impact: Estée Lauder’s global reach and memorable ad campaigns (often featuring brides in lush garden settings) made Beautiful a bridal staple well beyond the 80s.
Knowing by Estée Lauder (1988)
Why It Stood Out: Toward the later 80s, Knowing offered a sophisticated, chypre-style alternative to the loud florals and orientals dominating the market.
Scent Profile: Combining rose, tuberose, plum, and patchouli, it offered a deep, more nuanced aroma with a mossy undertone.
Cultural Impact: It was marketed toward confident, mature women, reflecting the professional, success-driven image many aspired to in the late 80s.
Men’s Fragrance Spotlight: Drakkar Noir (1982)
While women’s fragrances grabbed a lot of attention in the 80s, the men’s market also saw bold creations. Drakkar Noir by Guy Laroche became emblematic of the era—an aromatic fougère with lavender, citrus, and spicy notes that exuded confidence and swagger. Advertisements featuring sleek, mysterious men made it a mainstay on countless bathroom counters.
The 80s Fragrance Aesthetic
Big, Bold, and Unapologetic
Perfumes from the 1980s were made to be noticed. These power scents typically featured strong florals, ambery oriental bases, and liberal use of synthetics that amped up projection and longevity. Minimalist compositions were rare—multilayered, statement-making blends were the norm.
High-Fashion Branding
Designers recognized that perfume could act as an extension of their fashion lines. Giorgio Beverly Hills, for example, was as much a reflection of Beverly Hills glamour as it was a stand-alone fragrance. Meanwhile, Calvin Klein’s provocative Obsession ads mirrored the brand’s edgy approach to marketing its jeans and underwear.
Cultural Influence
From rock concerts to charity galas, 80s nightlife was glitzy, flashy, and high energy. Fragrance advertising leaned heavily into hedonistic themes—sexuality, luxury, and escapism—mirroring the broader pop culture scene of the time (think MTV, shoulder pads, Dynasty, and excessive glam).
Lasting Legacy
Though tastes have evolved toward lighter, more subtle perfumes in subsequent decades, many of these 80s icons have survived in one form or another—some in reformulated versions. For fragrance enthusiasts, they represent a time when perfumers and marketers pushed the envelope and celebrated the opulence of wearing a scent that made an unforgettable entrance.
Even now, you’ll find perfume collectors and vintage lovers seeking out original bottles of Poison or Obsession, eager to experience firsthand the high-impact aromas that defined an era of big dreams, big budgets, and even bigger fragrances.