Calvin Klein
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
The bergamot strikes immediately with that characteristic bright zip, almost lemony in its sharpness, but within moments the basil and coriander muscle in with savoury, herbaceous notes that feel vaguely green and almost botanical—like crushing fresh herbs between your fingers. This is a citrus that refuses to be purely fresh; it's complicated from the first second.
As the top notes fade (and they fade quickly), the heart settles into a distinctly spicy, almost medicinal character—pimento brings real peppery heat whilst the coriander adds a subtle sweetness underneath. The synthetic accords become apparent here, creating a slightly soapy, clean quality that oddly complements the spice rather than fighting it, and the whole thing begins to feel closer to skin, less like traditional cologne.
Within four hours, Crave becomes almost imperceptible as a projection, but what remains is warm and creamy—the tonka bean and sandalwood creating a barely-there sweetness, whilst birch and vetiver hover just above the skin like an afterthought. The musk and oakmoss provide the faintest animalic whisper, making this a genuine skin scent by hour five, present only to those within arm's length.
Calvin Klein's Crave arrives as a contradiction wrapped in citrus—a fragrance that promises indulgence whilst delivering restraint. Yves Cassar has constructed something deliberately spare here, almost austere in its composition. The bergamot opens with characteristic brightness, but what distinguishes Crave is how swiftly the heart notes infiltrate that freshness with an unexpected savoury edge. Basil and coriander create an herbaceous undertone that feels almost culinary, whilst pimento introduces a peppery warmth that prevents this from ever settling into conventional citrus territory.
The base reveals Cassar's true intention: this is a skin scent designed for someone who craves proximity and intimacy rather than proclamation. Birch and vetiver provide structural support without grandeur, whilst the tonka bean and sandalwood create a creamy, almost talcum-like warmth that softens the spice. Oakmoss and musk anchor everything in skin chemistry, making Crave feel less like something worn and more like something your body produces after a cold shower.
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3.8/5 (115)