My Favorite Fragrances From the 80s

The Eighties. The decade of big hair, shoulder pads and neon everything. The decade all my friends and I strived to look like Madonna or Molly Ringwald.

Thankfully, most of the horrid fashion trends of the 80’s have yet to resurface. However, the eighties was also the decade that introduced us to a few of the most popular fragrances of all time. Scents that have stood the test of time and became instant classics.

Here are four of the most popular scents from the Big 80’s that I still wear today:

#1. Calvin Klein Obsession

I can still remember the first time I smelled Obsession. It was in a fold-out scent card in one of the fall fashion magazines. I was instantly obsessed. (See what I did there?)

I immediately went to the mall with my sister to buy a bottle, but they didn’t even have it in stock yet. So I bought a stack of magazines and pulled out all the Obsession scent cards. I rubbed those cards on my wrists and clothes for weeks until I could get my hands on a bottle. And I’ve been wearing it ever since. [Get your own bottle of Obsession here!]

#2. Calvin Klein Eternity

After the mega success of Obsession, Calvin Klein followed up with Eternity in 1988. Both are very strong scents, with Obsession being more exotic and Eternity being very floral.

To this very day, I wear Obsession when I want to fell sexy and Eternity when I want to feel beautiful and feminine. (And as a side note, Eternity is one of my favorite scents for men, along with Aqua di Gio and Ed Hardy Love & Luck.) [You can purchase Eternity for Women at Amazon.]

#3. Christian Dior Poison

My dad absolutely hated this fragrance. He used to refer to it as “rat poison.” Every time I wear it today, I laugh when I think about him. That’s the thing about signature scents, or scents in general. They take you back to another place and time. They help you relive good memories. Luckily for me, the manfriend does not share my father’s feelings about Poision, and he makes sure I have a bottle in my stocking every Christmas. He’s a good manfriend. And a good Santa. [Pick your Poison at Amazon.]

#4. Giorgio of Beverly Hills

Giorgio makes me think of Suzie Blackburn. She was a majorette with me at Emma Sansom High School in Gadsden, Alabama. Giorgio was her signature scent. Suzie was a force to be reckoned with. Once during band practice, majorettes from our rival high school showed up to pick a fight. Suzie and my other friend Tiffany, two of the most beautiful girls in school, started to climb the fence to go after these girls, who immediately ran away in fear. Suzie didn’t play. Now, whenever I feel the need to unleash my inner Suzie Blackburn, I wear Giorgio. [Buy Giorgio of Beverly Hills here.]

I do have other, more modern favorite scents in my perfume collection, including Gucci Rush, Estee Lauder’s Pleasures and Rapture by Victoria’s Secret (now discontinued.) But these four classics from the Big 80’s take me back to a much simpler time in my life. A time when Mom and Dad paid for everything, including my fragrance collection.

My dad passed away in 1998 and my mom left us in 2016. To say that I’m nostalgic for those eighties days is an understatement. That’s why I’m so thankful for the power of scent. It allows me to carry those wonderful memories with me on a daily basis.