WHAT I SMELL: Venenum Kiss (poison kiss) opens with a saffron laden ripened fruit. The perfume is fleshy and thick, and it feels like fruit that’s ready to fall off the limb of a tree with the weight of the rotting juice. That’s not a bad thing, it’s just very narcotic and rather fermented. Or in other words, it is forbidden-fruit in the best sense of the word. Overall, the perfume is warm, radiant and seductive. And as the perfume develops, the rose and the sandalwood come forward with a soured and sharpened melding of forces. What once was more seductive and fruited, is now more of a poisoned arrow; still beautiful and seductive, but it feels more deadly. As the perfume continues to morph, the sharpened edges soften, but not by much as the vanilla base continues to provide a sweetened, oudish bounty of menace. And in the end, it’s all topped off with a bit of incense, making it all so very seductive.
From the Ex Nihilo website:
VENENUM KISS, a sensual and sophisticated liquor with hints of candied apricot and vanilla.
The strong and intense feel of an electric night in the Orient…
The women are wearing their evening perfume, in their wakes, a veritable storm of scents.
Wherever you go at night, you succumb to this same hypnotic smell.
TOP: Neroli, Saffron, Nutmeg
HEART: Rose absolute, Davana, Amber
BASE: Vanilla, Styrax, Sandalwood
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: The sin of desire.
THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE VENENUM KISS: sinful, dangerous, fleshy
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT VENENUM KISS: Colognoisseur
BOTTOM LINE: Venenum Kiss is named perfectly. The perfume is decadent, poisonous and it feels predatory and rather deadly. It also reminds me a bit of Armani Prive’ Cuir Noir, except that Venenum Kiss feels a lot more dangerous and over the top. Venenum Kiss is NOT an office scent and it would have to be worn on just the right occasion. Perfect when you want to bring out your deviled horns.
- Bone Rating: 4 out of possible 5 bones
- Scent: Oriental
- Nose: Quentin Bisch
- Classification: Unisex
- Expense: $225 for 50 ml Eau de Parfum.
Sample courtesy of Lucky Scent.
The Scented Hound 
February 1, 2016 at 6:58 am
Decadent, poisonous, deadly… Sign me up. I totally want some of this magic potion right now. I would also wear it to the office because I just don’t care what my coworkers think. I often feel the need to bring out my devil horns when I’m there anyway. I like the notes in this one.
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February 1, 2016 at 5:46 pm
Oh you spicy minx of a poodle! Isn’t it fun sometimes to wear the forbidden fruit in the office just to get others riled up??!!
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February 1, 2016 at 2:31 pm
Sounds gorgeous. I definitely need to sniff this one. Predatory and deadly? Great. By the way, your review was as beautiful as usual but kept giving me the imagery of Poison Dart frogs… I’m a naturalist. 😉
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February 1, 2016 at 5:47 pm
Hmmm, less Poison Dart and more serpent in the Garden of Eden!
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February 2, 2016 at 12:23 pm
This sounds intriguing, S. Either a love it or really hate it fragrance. Quite a photograph as well! Would you wear it?
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February 2, 2016 at 5:48 pm
E – It is a fascinating scent. I would wear it, but on few and far occasions. In my youth, I could see wearing this out on a fun Saturday night!
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