Obsession
Obsession by Calvin Klein is a feminine-leaning eau de parfum from 1985 in the designer price tier. It opens with mandarin, bergamot and peach, moves into jasmine, orange blossom, cinnamon and coriander and dries down to amber, vanilla, sandalwood and white musk. Expect around 9 hours of wear, and it projects strongly.
Notes, explained
Opening
- Mandarin Soft, sweet, almost powdery citrus. Gentler than orange.
- Bergamot Sharp citrus with a faint bitter edge. The opening of about half of all men's fragrances.
- Peach Fuzzy, warm and slightly creamy. Soft rather than sharp.
Heart
- Jasmine Heady, sweet and slightly animal underneath. Rarely subtle.
- Orange Blossom Sweet, soapy and sunny. Neroli's warmer sibling.
- Cinnamon Sweet heat. Reads festive, sometimes to a fault.
- Coriander Warm seed spice, slightly citrusy. A quiet workhorse.
Dry-down
- Amber Warm, golden and resinous. Not a real material — a blend that glows.
- Vanilla Sweet, creamy and warm. The most comforting note in perfumery.
- Sandalwood Creamy, milky wood. Soft and almost edible.
- White Musk Clean, soft, laundry-like. The 'smells like nothing but better' note.
Smells like this
- Lattafa Ameerati
- Calvin Klein Obsession for Men
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- Valentino Voce Viva
- Montblanc Individuel
- Dior Pure Poison
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