Fragrance guide
The 1980s were the loudest decade in perfumery. Fragrances were built to fill a room: dense aromatic colognes for men and opulent, spicy perfumes for women.
Many of them are still in production because nothing made since smells quite like them. These are the fragrances in our catalog launched between 1980 and 1989, oldest first.
How we picked. We listed every fragrance in our catalog launched between 1980 and 1989, ordered by launch year. Prices are typical US retail prices and may differ at checkout.
Guy Laroche
$40 · 3.4 oz · EDT · Men · Fougère
Sharp lavender and herbs over dark moss and leather. The barbershop scent that defined the eighties and still works today.
Launched in 1982.
Diptyque
$190 · 2.5 oz · EDP · Unisex · Floral
Crushed blackcurrant leaves and garden roses by a riverbank. Sharp, green and floral at once, with nothing sweet about it.
Launched in 1983.
Calvin Klein
$62 · 3.4 oz · EDP · Women · Amber
Dense amber, spices and incense in the bold style of the eighties. Rich, warm and impossible to ignore.
Launched in 1985.
Davidoff
$40 · 4.2 oz · EDT · Men · Aquatic
The father of modern aquatics. Mint and lavender over a sea of freshness, at an unbeatable price.
Launched in 1988.
Dior
$125 · 3.4 oz · EDT · Men · Leather
Violet leaf and leather with an almost gasoline-like accord. An unclassifiable classic, bold and full of character.
Launched in 1988.
Calvin Klein
$70 · 3.4 oz · EDT · Men · Fougère
A clean, soapy lavender with herbs and soft woods. The definition of a fresh-out-of-the-shower scent from the early nineties.
Launched in 1989.
Answer 7 quick questions about the person and the occasion, and we will match the fragrances that fit best.
Take the quizNot exactly. Most have been reformulated over the years because some ingredients were restricted, but the character is usually recognizable.
They are stronger than most modern releases. One or two sprays are enough, and they work best in cool weather.
They have been produced for decades in large volumes, so prices are low compared with new launches. Price says little about their quality.
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