Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein
217 votes
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
A biting volley of white pepper and ginger ignites immediately, undercut by that peculiar sudachi-rain accord that reads more synthetic than fresh, almost like white pepper mixed with air freshener. The sharpness is immediate and uncompromising, with no gentle entry.
As the spice settles into the skin, black basil emerges with a herbal-peppery warmth that's oddly compelling—for a brief moment, you catch something genuinely aromatic beneath the chemical gloss. The cedar leaf adds a woody dryness that almost balances the relentless spice, though the heart remains dominated by peppery green notes rather than any soft florality.
The fragrance retreats noticeably, with amber and patchouli attempting to provide lasting warmth, but they arrive too late and too faintly. What remains is a muted woody-amber haze with that persistent synthetic edge—pleasant enough in close proximity, but negligible projection and questionable staying power render this phase essentially non-existent after four hours.
Euphoria Men arrives as a peculiar beast—a fragrance that mistakes spiciness for depth and confuses synthetic clarity with sophistication. The opening assault is undeniably assertive: pepper and ginger singe the nasal passages with an almost aggressive vivacity, whilst the sudachi adds a bitter citric rasp that feels more chemical than fresh. Yet beneath this volatile top sits an intriguing contradiction: a heart of black basil and cedar leaf that hints at something genuinely interesting, something herbaceous and slightly sinister. The basil carries a peppery sweetness that amplifies the spice accord rather than tempering it, creating an effect less refined kitchen garden and more harsh green cleaning fluid.
This is a fragrance for the man who mistakes intensity for impact, who interprets longevity as irrelevance. The woody-amber base—redwood and patchouli mingling with suede—attempts to ground the excessive spice with warmth, but the synthetic quality that permeates the composition undermines any genuine earthiness. There's an odd plasticity to the drydown that suggests this was formulated for immediate gratification rather than layered complexity.
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3.5/5 (87)