Toxic

Modern art is an acquired taste. Toxic may be too. But, like modern art, once your senses "adjust" to this new way of seeing the world, you wonder how others could be so blind.

Toxic, like the best works of modern art, was created with intention. For those who can "read" it, it makes a statement — a strong statement about men, men in society, so-called "beauty" trends, and independent artistic judgment.

If you were privileged to view the formula -- the "design" from which Toxic is prepared — you might easily overlook the single ingredient that infuses Toxic with its signature theme. After all, lily of the valley (muguet), ambroxan, sandalore, and Iso E Super are among the most pleasant of aroma raw materials. And, after all, the cade oil (a wonderfully shocking essential oil) makes up less than one percent of the design.

But it's the cade oil with its smoky, lethargic aroma that gives Toxic its distinctive character and an aroma that might suggest "Alice In Wonderland" visions of a Caterpillar smoking a hookah.

When I first started using Toxic in the morning, I thought of it as a "one day in five" scent. But after some months it became a "two days in five" and then my "three days our of five" morning scent. ("Scent" sounds more masculine than "fragrance," like something a good hound dog would respond to.)

So Toxic, for me, has gradually become a favorite that I'll use no matter who I might be seeing that day. Will you be able to relate to it? I don't know. But think of it as an extreme personality test and dare yourself to give it a try.