Calvin Klein was among the first successful brands to set trends in the 60s. He started his career designing “youthful, understated coats and dresses.” The brand became even more famous when Calvin simply put his initials on the back pocket of the CK jeans. This later became a fashion detail that all brands followed.
Yet, they became known to the perfume world when they launched their very first perfume “Calvin” in 1981. After this instant success, they never looked back.
CK went on producing fantastic fragrances, and today they have as many as 169. But here, we are only taking a closer look at their top 10. So, stay tuned while you learn which Calvin Klein perfumes are the best of the bunch.
Calvin Klein Perfume Top Picks
- Best selling Calvin Klein perfume: CK One
“A fresh and citrus scent that was one of the first unisex perfumes to reach popularity in the U.S.” - Best Calvin Klein perfume for women: Euphoria
“ A rich and seductive perfume ideal for the confident woman today.“ - Best Calvin Klein perfume for men: Obsession
“An old-time classic whose glory will never fade away.“ - Newest Calvin Klein perfume: CK Everyone
“Genderless scent for today that celebrates the infinite freedom of self-expression.”
If you are looking for a new Calvin Klein scent, stop right here. This buying guide will help you find the one you’ve been searching for. The one that you will enjoy all day long and never look back. Let’s take a closer look at the top 10 Calvin Klein fragrances and find the perfect match for you.
Top List of 10 Best Calvin Klein Perfumes
1. Calvin Klein Euphoria for Women
One of the best perfumes that Calvin Klein has ever launched for women is Euphoria. This 2005 best seller is exotic, dark, sensual, and intense. Euphoria is quite the attention seeker; it almost screams, “I’m single, and I want a man”.
This alluring scent is perfect for nighttime wear in cold weather. Give this perfume a chance for a dinner date, a formal meeting, or get-togethers with friends, but be aware not to overdo it. Since it has a heavy sillage and long-lasting power, a spray or two behind your ears is more than enough. You don’t want all men following you like lost puppies.
The flirty Euphoria opens with pomegranate being the most prominent of the top notes, while black orchid, amber, and musk appear shortly after spraying and linger longest on the skin.
2. CK IN2U by CK For Her
CK launched CK IN2U in 2007 and immediately became a hit among youngsters. The scent is the embodiment of summer because it captures everything good about this season.
Everything from warm weather, the beach, and the sunkissed tan is trapped in this bottle, waiting to be taken on an adventure. It has impressive lasting power and moderate sillage, just enough to dazzle your crush.
Anyone looking for a perfume that will make them smell good around summer and springtime, this is a worthy purchase. It’s got top of Sicilian bergamot, redcurrant leaf, and pink grapefruit. Its heart notes are orchid and cactus while it’s base notes are vanilla, red cedarwood, and amber.
All these lovely notes together make CKIN2U one of the must-have perfumes from Calvin Klein. It just oozes sunshine, summertime fun, the beach, water, and adventure.
3. Calvin Klein Escape for Women
Escape is one of those special perfumes that captures the great outdoors in a bottle. Think lying on the beach, surrounded by mountains, looking at the sea, eating melons. This 1991 romantic and feminine classic is ideal to wear on those long days at work or just a casual walk in the park. It’s an excellent daytime wear for spring and summer.
Escape starts off with a perfect blend between fruits and flowers like chamomile, melon, lychee, mandarin, peach, plum, and rose. This perfectly balanced composition softly transitions in coriander and sandalwood. Escape doesn’t really excel in sillage and longevity, but it may give you a bit of a headache if you don’t like the smell of juicy melon combined with camomile and marigolds.
4. Calvin Klein Women for women
This floral-woody perfume is relatively new and has only been on the market since 2018. It should represent today’s woman, her power and strength, but lots of users say it is more of a unisex scent. There’s no need to wait for a special occasion to get inspired by this beauty. It’s your safe spring/summer, all occasion fragrance. Perfect for work, dinner dates, meeting with friends, cinema, you name it.
The initial aroma is citrusy thanks to the top notes of bergamot, lemon, and grapefruit, spiced up with black pepper. The most prominent scents are the Alaskan cedarwood, Eucalyptus acorns, and orange blossom petals. Some CK fans are not thrilled with this novelty. This is partially due to the synthetic vibe, soft sillage, and poor to moderate lasting power, which for some, are positive points.
5. Calvin Klein Obsession for women
A perfume that celebrates the timeless beauty of women is the oriental spicy Calvin Klein’s Obsession for women. Provocative and sensual, this classic fragrance is a 100% match to Obsession for Men if they were to date. After all, they were both the most popular perfumes in the 80s.
Obsession for Women is one of those scents that you spray once or twice and get on with your afternoon. You will admire its performance as it’s a heavy sillage monster and has a pretty long-lasting power, enough to sniff it on your pillowcase when you wake up the next morning.
The top notes of mandarin orange, peach, basil, bergamot, and lemon introduce you with an initial freshness which later dries down to an exciting spicy blend of coriander, woods, rose and oakmoss. Eventually, the base notes that linger on your skin the most are amber, incense, vanilla, and civet.
6. CK One
This 1994 unisex fragrance quickly became popular among the 90s youngsters who followed trends. But we don’t blame them; what is not to love about this CK bestseller? The combination of fruity and woodsy notes is subtle enough to wear everywhere and anywhere, although it’s ideal for hot days.
Start your morning with few sprays on your pulse points and let the uplifting aroma guide you throughout the day. Its sillage is moderate, and won’t offend your coworkers. The longevity is somewhat moderate too, for better results, it’s good to layer with the CK One body lotion.
CK One opens with citrus ingredients such as bergamot, lemon, mandarin, papaya, and all that is spiced up with a hint of cardamom. But don’t let the initial scent put you off if you don’t like citrus. The short-lived citrus mix settles down in floral notes, including Lily of the valley, freesia, violet, rose, and a little freshness from the Green Tree accord at the heart. When this composition dries down, soft, musky, and woody notes linger longest on your skin.
7. Calvin Klein Eternity for women
Eternity is a perfume that has been around for a very long time and is probably here to stay for an eternity. Launched back in the late 80s, this old school classic is one of the most feminine of all CK fragrances for Her.
Eternity means forever and captures things like marriage, rings, flowers, cakes, and everything to do with a wedding. It was designed as a tribute to Kein’s marriage to Kelly Rector.
This Eau de Parfum is your safe all year rounder, that is great for all occasions, day or night. You are a few spritzes away from showing off your tenderness and beautiful feminine side. But be aware as it has a heavy sillage, enough to make you the center of attention at all gatherings. It has a long-lasting power too, so no need to keep it in your purse for layering.
The romantic floral scent starts off with freesia, mandarin, and sage in the top notes, that softly transitions into a hint of marigold, white lily, carnation and narcissus at the heart. Once those ingredients tone down, there is a subtle powdery overtone from the heliotrope, amber, musk, and patchouli at the base.
8. Calvin Klein Obsession for Men
It’s no wonder that Obsession is one of the most popular perfumes by Calvin Klein. The scent is the definition of masculinity and confidence of the men back in the 80s. You know, that type of a man that holds a woman’s coat, opens the door for her and pulls the chair so she can have a sit. Yes, the gentleman type. Obsession is a sensual and mesmerizing scent that is ideal for a romantic evening when you want to win someone’s heart.
This 1987 FiFi award winner is a heavy sillage monster and very long-lasting, so you may want to stop at two sprays. And no layering, please. The initial citrus storm at the top notes, made of lime, bergamot, tangerine, and grapefruit, invites you to get to know the entire composition even better. This fresh explosion later calms down into spiced coriander and warm cinnamon while the notes that are resting on your skin the last include amber, vanilla, and sandalwood.
9. Calvin Klein Eternity for Men
For those looking for a perfume that captures the essence of what being the modern man is all about, Calvin Klein Eternity is just what one needs. This perfume oozes elegance, class, happiness, family, and good health. It is the perfect definition of a man who is very confident in himself, the world around him as well as those he loves. No matter the occasion, a man can always wear this fragrance.
With moderate projection and longevity, Eternity for Men is your safe bet for all seasons. The fragrance starts off with a fresh citrus aroma, thanks to top notes lemon, bergamot, mandarin, and lavender. All this is uniquely combined with sandalwood and Brazilian rosewood at its heart, giving a slightly mossy aroma to the scent. The most prominent notes at the base are musk and vetiver that finish this unique blend with a light, refreshing aroma.
10. Calvin Klein Reveal for women
Reveal is a 2014 scent that projects an alluring and sensual vibe. It’s perfect for a woman who is already independent and confident and knows what she wants, so a spritz of Reveal will just reveal her passionate side.
This romantic scent with a powdery finish has a long-lasting power and moderate longevity enough to get compliments galore. Just don’t overdo it if you are not fond of Cashmeran as it’s a very prominent note.
Reveal is an excellent scent to have for fall, winter, and cold summer nights. It opens with an interesting combination of sea salt, white, pink, and black pepper at the top notes. Shortly after spraying, this combo morphs into a sweet and powdery scent from iris and ambergris in the heart. Last, you are left with a natural, woody, and musky aroma from the sandalwood, cashmeran, vetiver, and musk at the base.
Choosing Your Calvin Klein Perfume
When it comes to choosing your Calvin Klein perfume, it is all down to preference; however, there are a few things you need to pay closer attention to.
Educate yourself on the perfume collection as well as the notes
Get familiar with notes that are common in their product range. Do you like floral, fresh, oriental, or woody scents?
Start from there and always test perfumes on your skin. Most important, wear it for a day.
If you fancy floral and fruity mixes, you may want to try Escape and Euphoria.
Are you an outdoorsy person and love the smell of the ocean? Then you will enjoy CK One and Eternity for men.
Perfumes like Eternity and Reveal are ideal for the romantic type and women who like natural and woodsy notes.
Obsession for Her and Him are the typical combination of woodsy and spicy, and a safe bet for Oriental lovers.
Trust your judgment
While it is perfectly fine to listen to the opinions of others, you shouldn’t necessarily follow a particular trend. A Calvin Klein perfume that is good for your friend might not be the one for you. Pick a scent that appeals to you the most because you’ll be the one wearing it, not others.
Frequently Asked Questions on Calvin Klein Perfumes
How can one spot the difference between original Calvin Klein perfumes from fakes?
An original Calvin Klein will have perfectly presented details. If you compare it with a fake one, you will notice not one, but many flaws on the fake. Take a look at these simple ways to distinguish between real Calvin Klein perfume and a fake one.
1. Original Calvin Klein perfume will be in a bottle that has smooth edges, while fake bottles will appear rough and contoured.
2. The price of a counterfeit will cost between $15.00 and $20.00.
3. Make sure that the cap is perfectly symmetrical.
4. Original Calvin Klein perfumes will not have any dye in them. Fakes will often appear dark colored.
5. The packaging is also very important; look out for top quality paperboard, which is used to protect the bottle. The paperboard should be white and not grayish.
6. If the plastic wrapping/cellophane doesn’t look tight and flawlessly folded, I’m sorry, but you’ve got yourself a counterfeit.
To avoid buying a fake CK perfume, keep your hands off ridiculously cheap knockouts, stay away from street vendors, beach vendors, and cheap market places. Educate yourself on how Calvin Klein perfumes look like by visiting reputable stores.
How much do Calvin Klein perfumes cost?
Calvin Klein perfumes vary in price, but you can find them ranging anywhere from $25 – $80.
Where are Calvin Klein perfumes made?
Since Calvin Klein is an American company with its headquarters in New York, the majority of its products, including perfumes, are made in the USA.
Which Calvin Klein perfume is best?
The best perfume is all down to one’s preference; however, some of the most popular fragrances people buy include Calvin Klein Obsession, Calvin Klein Eternity, Calvin Klein Euphoria, and Calvin Klein One.
Is Calvin Klein perfume cruelty-free?
CK uses animal testing, the perfumes are therefore not vegan or cruelty-free.
Where can I buy Calvin Klein perfumes?
You can buy Calvin Klein perfumes from stores near you in your country or city. Alternatively, you can purchase the perfume online, and have it delivered to your home from anywhere in the world.
My order was faulty, wrong or damaged, what should I do?
If you ordered online, you can speak to customer service and begin the return process. If you ordered from a store, you could physically take the order back for a replacement or refund.
The Story of Calvin Klein
The story of Calvin Klein goes as far back as 1968 when this fashion powerhouse was established in Midtown Manhattan (New York) by childhood friends Calvin Klein and Barry Schwartz. These days it is a multi-billion dollar organization that makes perfumes, watches, clothes, furniture, accessories, and more.
When Calvin Klein started in 1968, the first collection of clothes he released was youthful dresses and coats. Due to the popularity of these clothes, the company appeared on the cover of Vogue a year later.
When the 1970s rolled around, the fashion house added lingerie, blazers, and sportswear to their product line, which brought further attention to the brand.
The introduction of designer jeans in the 1980s changed the market. Calvin Klein was the first who put his name on the back pocket of the Jeans, which later every other brand followed.
After going through financial difficulties in 1992, Calvin Klein and designer John Varvatos introduced the boxer briefs. These briefs were marketed by an advert featuring a young Mark Wahlberg, one of the biggest actors in Hollywood today.
In 1993, Calvin Klein was named “America’s Best Designer” because of his innovative style and always pushing the boundaries in fashion.
The company became so successful through the 90s thanks to a strong perfume line and clothes, but everyone was caught by surprise when CKI (Calvin Klein inc) was put up for sale in 1999.
In 2002, Calvin Klein was sold to Phillips Van Heusen in a deal worth over $400 million. Klein himself was named creative head of the entire collection, and in 2003 he was appointed an advisor.
His business partner Barry Schwartz left the newly formed company to focus on being the chairman of the New York Racing Association.
In a report that was published in 2010 showed that PVH made €4.6 billion just off selling Calvin Klein products.
Stores under the Calvin Klein umbrella
In the United States of America, major retailers like Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor, and Macy’s sell Calvin Klein products. In the United Kingdom, Calvin Klein products can be found in Debenhams, KJ Beckett, and John Lewis. For those living in Australia, they can find Calvin Klein Products in a retailer called Myer.
To conclude
Calvin Klein has an impressive roster of perfumes for literally everyone. Everything from Obsession, Eternity, Escape, Euphoria, and more, they all are indeed fantastic scents.
No matter what stage a person is in their life, a Calvin Klein perfume is always a good companion.
Anyone who buys a Calvin Klein perfume knows that they are not only buying good quality, but they are also buying a timeless scent that will take them to beautiful journeys in their life.
