Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein
698 votes
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
The initial assault is undeniably citric—bergamot and grapefruit collide with lime in a fresh-bitter burst—but within moments, cinnamon crashes through like a warm curtain, accompanied by coriander's slightly savoury spice. The lavender attempts to lend restraint, but it's immediately overwhelmed by the fragrance's inherent boldness.
After an hour, the spice deepens considerably as clove and myrrh emerge, lending a savoury, almost incense-like quality that transforms the fresh opening into something considerably more voluptuous. Jasmine softens the edges whilst patchouli begins its slow ascent, and the fragrance develops an amber-laced sweetness that feels genuinely warm on the skin rather than cloying.
What remains is largely a skin scent—the projection collapses dramatically—but what lingers is pleasant: a musk-and-vanilla sweetness threaded through with woody vetiver and sandalwood, the spice reduced to a phantom memory. The longevity issues are real; expect this to fade into near-invisibility after four to five hours despite its initial assertiveness.
Obsession for Men arrives as a calculated provocation—a fragrance that announces itself through a bracing citrus slap before revealing something far more complex beneath. Bob Slattery crafted a spice-forward composition that feels almost edible, where cinnamon and coriander create a warm, almost mulled-wine sensibility that immediately separates it from the fresh-cologne pack. The cinnamon dominates with a slightly dusty, slightly sweet character; this isn't the bright spice of a winter dessert but rather something more animalic and skin-warm.
What makes Obsession genuinely compelling is how the heart notes transform this opening audacity into something genuinely seductive. Clove emerges alongside myrrh, adding a bitter-sweet dimension that prevents the fragrance from becoming a gourmand caricature. There's a softness courtesy of jasmine and rosewood that humanises the spice, whilst nutmeg and sage introduce an almost herbal greyness that complicates the picture—this is a masculine scent that refuses to be straightforward.
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3.6/5 (1.1k)