Calvin Klein

1 reseña

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• Selene

  December 10, 2025

  

  The original Calvin Klein, Red, was already famous in the 70s, though Revlon wanted to get in on the act. As a newcomer, they failed to realise it would cost them money, so they hired expert perfumers. They tested countless samples, none of which pleased the investors as much as one they eventually discarded; in fact, they rejected a scent that Ralph Lauren later bought. Both brands launched their debuts almost simultaneously. Calvin lost money and that discarded aroma, Ralph’s, became a hit. That juicy green lily-of-the-valley won the day and buried his dream for years. Analysing the perfume: from the outset, the quality is evident; the aldehydes spread like champagne foam with spicy peaks of iris root, plenty of hyacinth and moss. Then a rose accord emerges to dominate, yet it is not alone; it shares the throne with carnation and a softer hyacinth. The white florals in the background provide an interesting creaminess. The musk prevents it from becoming flat or dirty. The woods and amber settle as the skin interacts with the chemicals. I do not detect much peach and raspberry, but perhaps they give that juice-like touch to make it three-dimensional (flowers, woods, fruits). As it dries, the moss becomes more evident, slightly dry and herbal, accompanying the flowers and woods. The hyacinth and aldehydes with a woody tone recall Fidji and L’air du temps. They are distinct perfumes, but there is a strong nod to the past there. Probably that reminiscence is why Calvin did not prosper against Ralph, a classic floral but more deconstructed. It is an aromatic jewel, nothing new but perfectly executed with balance. Years later, with a great thirst for revenge, Calvin launched Obsession and took the scene by storm with its advertising, bottle and scent.