Our take
What does Poison Girl Unexpected smell like?
Dior launched Poison Girl Unexpected in 2018, two years after Poison Girl. François Demachy, then the house perfumer-creator, composed it. Dior pitched it as a fresh, sparkling floral. The opening delivers. Tanzanian ginger, advertised as a double dose, stings the nose and cools everything down. Blood orange and lemon add tart juice. The heart stays loyal to the line with a clear Damask rose, less candied than in the original. Then the base brings back the house sweetness. Venezuelan tonka, vanilla and musk form a round, faintly almond base. The whole thing keeps a rose soda feel that will suit younger noses. Compared with Poison Girl, darker with its bitter orange and thick sugar, Unexpected is lighter and cheerier. It also lasts far less, with most of the ginger gone within the first hour.
When to wear it
A daytime scent for spring and summer. Four sprays in the morning and a top-up in the afternoon.
It belongs to the Floral family. Poison Girl Unexpected is one of 56 creations by Dior in our encyclopedia.
