Poison | Gloria McBreen

Day 96 #100DaysOfOldDays

After glorifying Impulse body spray yesterday, I couldn’t ignore our favourite 80’s perfumes.

The first bottle of perfume I got as a present was L’Air du Temps by Nina Ricci Paris (1982). My aunt gave it to me one Christmas and I felt all feminine. I no longer wanted to play Turn the Terrible Tank with my brother. I loved the bottle more than the perfume. It was an ornament on my dressing table for years.

I couldn’t afford expensive perfume in the 80’s. Any expensive ones I had were usually given to me as presents.

That doesn’t mean I didn’t get cheap perfume given to me too. I remember the wee bottle of Panache and Tramp, nicely wrapped under the Christmas tree. Panache was my favourite. Still available to buy via Amazon I see! I wonder if I’d still like it as much as I used to!

I’m watching these perfume adverts on YouTube and it seems like yesterday when they were on television.

“She’s wearing Tramp and everybody loves her. Shouldn’t you wear it too!”

“Whoever you are and whoever you’re with, Tweed says just what you want it to say.“

There was Lace and Pink Lace by Yardley. This advert had a very romantic vibe to it.

The advert for Just Musk was very seductive indeed…although they did say at the end…

“Shouldn’t be allowed.”

Well, this housewife has been good and she’s been sweet but now she’s ready for an “Aviance” night. And judging by the face on her man, he’s going to help her! (I think I feel a hot flush coming on!)

Aviance Night by Prince Matchabelli.

Le Jardin de Max Factor featuring a young and beautiful Jane Seymour, was more of a sweet romantic advert with a subtle hint of seductiveness.

“If you want romance to come on strong, you have to come on soft.”

Poison (1985) was among some of the more expensive perfumes that were very popular in the 80’s. It was not a favourite of mine. It was too strong and heady for me, but that’s when I was a teenager. My nose may have changed since then!

This advert for Poison is different than the others. You could read it in several ways. Non-feminine? A message of strength? Animalistic properties?

I found one perfume advert that’s not geared towards hooking the man of your dreams. It’s a little bit flirty but more about the woman wearing perfume because she likes it!

In the early 90’s I had Chanel No.5 and I have to say, it’s still one of my favourites! This Chanel No. 5 advert is from 1965.

“Is it any wonder every woman alive wants Chanel No. 5. Tempt her with Chanel, and let yourself be caught by the spell.”

Have perfume adverts really changed that much over the years?

Here’s Lucy’s drawing today. Poison.

Day 45 #100DaysOfOldDays

My late dad was a bit of a collector. I must have taken after him for my love of old things, and old-time stories. Mam likes old things too, but only if they look pretty. And she likes old stories—but only if there’s a ghost involved! They were very well matched!

So, Dad’s collection of old bottles and pottery jars were not high on her ‘fancy list.’ He would often have them on display in the house, but they’d disappear one by one out to the garage. Eventually he’d pipe up, ‘Hi…where’s all me bottles?’ And back in they’d come.

Mam kept some of the cute little ones in the house though. They’d often blend in with some of her fancy ornaments.

I have some of Dad’s old bottles and jars in my possession and they absolutely deserve a mention in my 100 days of old days collection!

My first one here is the most unusual in the collection. It’s a torpedo or soda bottle and was common during the 1800’s. Why is it shaped like this?

During the first century AD, the Romans documented many of Europe’s mineral wells. When news of the benefits of sparkling water spread around the world, the demand grew, and shipping it to other countries began. But long distance travelling was a problem; the corks would dry out and shrink, causing the fizz to escape. So, shipping the mineral water ceased. Because only very rich people could afford to travel to the mineral wells in Europe, the thinking caps were smartened, and the torpedo bottle was invented. With its egg-shaped bottom, the bottle had to be kept on its side to kept the cork wet thus avoiding shrinkage.

The problem with this bottle of mineral was, once it was opened, you had to drink it all. A problem for the customer yes, but not for the merchant.

By 1838 flavoured fizzy drinks started to take off. Improvements were made to the bottles; flat bottoms and better corks.

In 1861 ginger ale was bottled, and Charles Hires began bottling root beer in 1876. In 1885 a pharmacist named Charles Alderton invented Dr Pepper and in 1886 Coca-Cola was born.

The next bottle in my dad’s collection is this Codd neck bottle. This particular one, embossed Walter Brights LTD Dublin, is vintage from the 1900’s and is a rare find.

The Codd-neck bottle was designed and patented in 1872 by British soft drink maker Hiram Codd. The thick glass was designed to withstand pressure from within. The pinch on the neck of the bottle created a chamber that enclosed a marble and a rubber washer. The bottle was filled upside down and the pressure from the gas forced the marble to seal against the rubber washer at the opening. To open the bottle, the marble was pushed down into the chamber. When held in the right position the marble stayed in the chamber when the bottle was tilted for pouring the drink.