Obsession for Men by Calvin Klein

For this installment of my reviews of Calvin Klein colognes for men, we are going to hit the way back machine and take a look at Obsession, the classic CK scent from the 1980s. This is one of the scents which helped to put the designer’s fragrance line on the map and has been a very good seller ever since its release. Let’s take an opportunity to give this now classic fragrance an overview of what makes it so.

Update: I’ve update and edited this review, to expand upon, and give additional thoughts on this cologne. List of the best Calvin Klein fragrances for men!


What Does CK Obsession for Men Smell Like?

rp_obsession-300x300.jpg

Notes include: mandarin and spice, with low tones of musk, sandalwood and amber

Shop on Amazon: Calvin Klein OBSESSION for Men Eau de Toilette, 4 fl. oz.


My Full Wear Review

One of the first things that I have always noticed, about Obsession, is its warmth and notes of spice. It is a rather complex and rich fragrance and unlike a scent such as Opium Pour Homme, its spice is less Oriental and more of a fragrant cinnamon bouquet.

This scent is really interesting because it also has some fruity top notes like tangerine along with some more subdued floral notes which lend it an earthy or woodsy quality.

However, it opens up with mostly the cinnamon coming through as the main spice, as it will for the rest of the wear. In the beginning stages, it is joined by a variety of citrus notes from lime, mandarin, and the aforementioned tangerine.

To my nose, the citrus really doesn’t come across as juicy, more of an impression of dried fruit with lavender and the spice.

The fruity opening transitions away and a more floral heart begins to peak through. This is when obsession begins to feel warmer. This is when I really start to notice the woody notes, as well. It a blend of spice and sweetness, with a woodsy base.

Rosewood, nutmeg, jasmine, and sandalwood join the cinnamon and lavender (which will weaken, a bit later).

Finally, we get to what I mostly experience for the rest of the wear. It’s a cinnamon amber blend with vanilla highlights. That is the main attraction and it sits on a bed of sandalwood, random flowers, and spices. Very attractive and cozy, while still having a stylish feeling, after these ensuing decades.


Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

The warmth and the blend of herbal spice and florals lend credence to the fact that Obsession is a very nice cologne for the winter months. I think that anyone who says it doesn’t project well, might be wearing it in the wrong climate, as I think that it hangs beautifully in the crisp and cold air.

The sillage itself, probably isn’t going to take over a room, but you do get solid projection within the first few hours. After that, it is definitely respectable, and not weak at all. In my experience, it is much better in this regard, than many of the other CK fragrances.

Its longevity is average in my opinion, though, it can become overpowering when over-sprayed and have a tendency to permeate from clothing or skin. It is a moderate cologne to the extent that it is used in moderation.

It will seem to go on my skin, for anywhere between 5-7 hours, and this is the latest batch that I’ve gotten a hold of.

Most of the CK fragrances will fall into this range. Some less than that, but this is what the majority seem to be capable of nowadays.

Seasonally, save this one for the colder months, as I’ve written. It’s not too joyous of a wear in the heat and humidity. In the crisp air of autumn or winter, Obsession really comes to life between the warm comforting amber and the spiciness of cinnamon.

It actually is a versatile scent, in that, it can still be worn by any age group.

Obsession for Men can fit in a wide variety of situations, during the day, while pull double duty at night. Women like it, men like it…there’s a reason this was a best-seller and still moves units.

If you’re younger, you can wear this. It does have a different style than what you might be used to, but it’s worth a try. If you like Obsession, it’s one that you can get a lot of use out of in high school or college.


Overall Impressions of Obsession

Overall, I still think that this is one of the top fragrances by Calvin Klein and is simply a classic. There have of course been reformulations, over the years, but the newer batches seem to be on the right track.

Is it exactly the same as 1986? I doubt it. I wasn’t around for the original, but the newer editions, certainly hold up well. Plus, you can find bottles of this stuff at discounters for a good amount below retail. It can be a nice value play.

It is a mature fragrance for everyday wear, and is also inexpensive, so those are some definite pluses that Obsession has going for it. The complexity is still there and it has an interesting life cycle.

Yes, it is different from most of the more modern releases, but that doesn’t detract at all for me. In fact, I tend to dig this one, even more. It’s really delicious and a pleasant experience to wear. Pick up a bottle, Obsession is still, a damn good fragrance.

Polo Blue Eau de Parfum by Ralph Lauren

I couldn’t remember exactly why I had ordered a sample of Polo Blue. After all, I’d already used it before and reviewed it on this site: here. Eventually, I pulled it back out of the box and it dawned on me that I had done so because this was the Eau de Parfum version of the fragrance and not the original release that I’d already went over.

Cool. I was excited to see if there were many differences between this EDP version and the original Polo Blue by Ralph Lauren.  As usual, I want to cover how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and if it is worth a buy or not.

Update: I’ve come back to add things a few times to my initial review from 2016 for additional thoughts and clarity.


What Does Polo Blue Eau de Parfum Smell Like?

polo blue edp

Notes include: suede, bergamot, cardamom, basil, sea notes, sage, vetiver, woods

Click here to try: R.L. Polo Blue 4.2 oz / 125 ml Eau De Parfum EDP for Men


My Full Wear Review

I haven’t smelled the original Polo Blue in a while and only have a slight memory of how it was, so I also have to rely on my posted review, to make comparisons between the two. However, this EDP, definitely feels different.

Actually, the opening really reminds me of Acqua Di Gio Profumo, because of the citrus aroma provided by the bergamot. I still have a sample of that Armani scent and it does share the bergamot, aquatic notes, sage, and patchouli with Polo Blue EDP.

Update: Having had a full bottle of Profumo and trying EDP multiple times since this review, the sage is much heavier in Profumo. But, this is still like a mix of Polo Blue and AdG Profumo, in the early stages, especially.

As a side note, Polo Blue EDT smells a lot like, Eternity Aqua by Calvin Klein.

It opens up with a sharp bergamot, spices, and its oceanic notes. The spices are sage, cardamom, and basil. Each of those notes, seems to have its turn as the main spice, before falling back into the ranks. Cardamom starts off in the lead.

Very aquatic and citrusy at the top, then, the suede comes in to give it an almost leathery feeling. Coming back to Polo Blue EDP, it noticeably has the same style as, Fan di Fendi Acqua during the middle.

Both aquatic, spicy, with smooth notes (actual leather in the Fendi fragrance). Not the same smell, but that cologne also reminds me of this one with how it comes across.

The final dry down, is much more woody/earthy than it had been up to that point. You do still get some basil/sage, but it isn’t nearly as spicy. Wood and patchouli at the base, with suede, sea notes, and some citrus. Much smoother and not as sharp, I really dig the latter stages.

That’s what this fragrance is to me, a blend of Acqua Di Gio Profumo and the original Polo Blue. You would of course have to minus the melon and cucumber notes from the Polo Blue original but that is essentially what this EDP is.

Honestly, I like it. It’s not super exciting but I do think that it is better than the original, which I thought smelled nice but was just bland as hell. Though, it has a lot of similarities to how this smells during that dry down. Still, this is better.

Polo Blue EDP once it settles down, loses a bit of the similarity it shares with ADG Profumo, and begins to emerge more as the original Blue but with more defined notes.

It’s second half takes on a smoother aquatic/woodsy feel with the sea notes and suede, that is noticeably boosted in this version.


Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

Projection wise, it’s pretty good. Not overly loud but not a skin scent either. On the longevity end, it might be a little bit better than the original but really, not by much. It’s definitely in the realm of average, in that regard.

That initial burst is pretty strong, but it never matched the intensity of the original bottles of AdG Profumo.

I would say that this is a good casual wear for warmer weather and not much of a club or date night scent. Although, I think it’d be okay for the latter. It’s attractive enough, but not necessarily something that will really draw someone in.

Wearing it more often, I’ve been getting in the 5-7 hour range, pretty consistently. Definitely towards the higher end of that range, but sometimes, it doesn’t hold up as well.

In the summertime, this is the type of perfume that I can wear anywhere, and not feel out of place with it on.


Overall Impression of Polo Blue EDP

Overall, is Polo Blue Eau de Parfum a buy? It is better than the original, in my opinion. So, if you liked that, then think of this as an upgrade. It does everything well and as a casual scent, I don’t think you could go wrong owning this one.

It’s pleasant and should garner complements, which is essentially everything most guys want from a fragrance. If you don’t like aquatics or citrus based scents, you should probably look elsewhere.

Polo Blue EDP honestly grew on me, the more that I wore it. It’s still not an absolute love or must buy, but it has such an appeal on certain days, that I want to spray it on.

Update: I’ve also enjoyed Deep Blue from this series. Polo Blue Parfum is also nice. I’d say this one or Deep Blue are my favorites from the line.

Chrome United by Azzaro

I only got a hold of a handful of men’s fragrance samples, during my last haul. One of them, is the subject of today’s post and a flanker to the ever popular Chrome, Chrome United. This is one of a series of colognes, with a title under that banner, but how does it actually smell? Is the performance on this fragrance any good? Is Chrome United worth a buy?


What does Chrome United Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, Sichuan pepper, Ceylan black tea, cedar, musk, violet leaf

Click here to try: Chrome United by AZZARO for Men Eau De Toílette Spray 6.8 oz 


My Full Wear Review

Chrome United opens up with a citrus blast of bergamot, a warm Sichuan pepper, and a greenish herbal tea. It has a somewhat familiar resemblance to the original Chrome, with the bergamot, and a slight metallic aroma.

Nonetheless, United strikes me a distinct and separate fragrance, unto itself. There is also a coriander note in there, it has moments where it reminds me a bit of Nautica Voyage Sport, although that is short-lived.

As it dries down, the spices fall back, and it becomes more about the violet leaf and tea. It becomes quite herbal, a bit green, with a musky citrus finish. This is pretty much the smell that I get, for the rest of the way.

Later, the bergamot fades out almost entirely, and the violet leaf gets stronger. Outside of that, it’ nearly identical to what it was, near 1 hour mark.

Chrome United is a rather simple, clean, and greenish scent with some spice and musk.


Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, Chrome United isn’t one that projects itself very far. On my skin, it seems like about 3-4 feet or so at its best, and that’s what I get when I spray it on a t-shirt and place it in my room. United is definitely on the lighter side of moderate.

The longevity is okay, but really not that great. I get about 2 hours of its moderate sillage, before it sit close to the skin. On that level, it’s another 3 hours or so. So, maybe around 5-6 hours of wear total. Really could’ve been better, but still usable.

If you’re paying full retail for a bottle of United, you’ll probably be underwhelmed by the performance. At a significant discount, it wouldn’t be as bothersome.

Seasonally, I don’t see why you couldn’t wear Chrome United year round. It really doesn’t strike me, as one stuck in a certain climate. I will say, it’s more of a daytime casual fragrance. One to wear as a freshie, maybe to a non-professional, sort of job.

United isn’t really sexy, more pleasant and clean. Definitely, not a nightlife beast, at all. Though, it does have some charm wearing it outside on a sunny day. I could catch whiffs of this and that tea plus bergamot was something I enjoyed.


Overall Impression of Chrome United

Overall, do I like this fragrance? It’s decent. Chrome United doesn’t do anything great, in my opinion. It smells pretty good, performs okay, and doesn’t particularly stand out.

I’m not a huge fan of the original, but I do enjoy it a lot more than this flanker. I like the tea note and the opening part, most of all. I’m not big on violet leaf either, but it doesn’t offend me. This just isn’t all that memorable of a scent to me.

I will say, if you like the original Chrome, you will probably like this as well. I’d say if you’re interested, find a discounted bottle, and get it on the cheap. I wouldn’t pay full price for this.

The Chrome flankers are pretty hit and miss with how they smell. There’s a lot of middle of the road and bland editions of the original namesake. United, falls into this category.

Gucci Guilty Pour Homme Intense

For this review, I am going to be taking a closer look at another fragrance from the Gucci Guilty lineup, this time: Gucci Guilty Pour Homme Intense. This cologne was released back in 2011 after Guilty’s initial success. How does the flanker stack up to the original? Is it strong? What does it smell like? Is it actually worth a purchase?


What does Gucci Guilty Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: lemon, lavender, coriander, amber, orange blossom, neroli, cedar, patchouli

Click here to try: Gucci Guilty Intense Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 3 Ounce


My Full Review

The opening of Intense, reminds me greatly of the original Gucci Guilty. However, the lemon is less prominent, and the lavender and amber take on a greater role.

It’s like a shuffling of the composition, but man, do I enjoy the scent. It’s very warm and bright and there is just a hint of spice from coriander and patchouli, at the start.

As it moves forward some, the floral notes start to fully develop. Yes, the lavender is the top dog here, but orange blossom and neroli are also present. It’s all very pleasant and I found myself sniffing my wrist, time and time again.

That orange blossom is stronger in the front half, before I get a lot of lavender in the back.

All of the floral notes work in conjunction with one another and all seem to be soaked in a sea of amber, with just a bit of cedar wood at the base of the scent.

It’s honestly a pretty linear cologne, through the rest of the wear. Ultimately, it’s a warm amber soaked lavender with the lemon and floral notes. There is some patchouli but it isn’t very heavy, pretty subdued.

I like how it’s sweeter than the original Guilty, but still somewhat close to what that smells like. Gucci really found a simple formula and stick with it well.


Sillage and How Long does it Last?

Projection wise, it doesn’t have massive sillage, but it is solid in that regard. You’ll know that it’s there and people around you will be able to detect it just fine. I’d say that it’s moderate to strong, but not a complete beast.

Longevity is good, somewhere in the 7-8 hour range, possibly a bit longer with a double spray. I get less with the original Guilty Homme and more hours with Black. In most scenarios, 7-8 hours will be plenty.


When to Wear

Guilty Intense, feels more geared to college aged through early 30s wearers, but it isn’t a teenagers scent by any means. It’s fresh and youthful, but it does smell great and have sex appeal. I wouldn’t say that older men couldn’t wear it, but it doesn’t necessarily have a more mature vibe.

The versatility is one of the best aspects about this cologne, as it can be worn year round, and in a variety of situations. It is safe enough for office wear, not too serious to wear casually, and attractive enough for the nightlife.

It’s a good option for guys who want to have a bottle for any circumstance. It does have a certain level of sexiness and can absolutely draw complements.


Overall Impressions of Guilty Pour Homme Intense

Overall, do I like Gucci Guilty Intense Pour Homme? Absolutely. This might be my favorite from the Guilty line up, I like it better than the original, and I think that I prefer this to Guilty Black. Black, has better longevity in my experience, and they are 1A and 1B in how I rank them.

It’s pretty simple, but the execution is really good. It’s not my favorite fragrance or anything, but I love wearing it. Amber, lavender, floral notes, and lemon…it just works.

I don’t think Intense has ever gotten the recognition that it deserves, when the original is the best seller. However, I say that it is the superior fragrance easily.

It’s also seemingly getting harder to come by a bottle for a good price, so if it’s one you want to try, you should probably grab one before it gets outrageous.

Update: This one has been discontinued for years now. I bought a smaller travel bottle of it a year or so ago, that I finished. It’s a notch below what I originally thought of it, but I still like Guilty Intense.

It’s an easy one with some unique qualities, a good mix of floral notes with an aromatic quality. But, given the prices now, I wouldn’t track down a full bottle of the stuff. It’s best to go with another in the series.

10 Best Giorgio Armani Colognes for Men

Armani has a fantastic line of fragrances for both men and women, that have their own unique style and impression. Two of the colognes for men, Armani Code and Acqua Di Gio, have been best-sellers and very popular with both men and their women for years now.

However, there are other Armani colognes that are really great that don’t get the same amount of attention as those two. For this list, I wanted to explore ten of the best Armani scents, of both new and old. Also see: The Top Armani Perfumes for Women


What are the Best Smelling Armani Fragrances for Him?

Enveloping Winter Warmth

Giorgio Armani Code Profumo EDP Spray for Men, 3.7 Ounce– Code Profumo was the best flanker fragrance, that has stemmed from the original Code moniker.  That’s changed, in my opinion, but I do still love this one. It is sweet, warm, and a magnificent wear for the colder months of the year.

Profumo opens up with tonka bean and amber. Then is quickly followed up by the inclusion of mandarin orange, herbal notes, and rich leather. Smooth and creamy on the dry down. If you want a spicier and boozier version, go with Absolu.

Code Profumo has a strong sillage and lasts on my skin for over 10 hours, most of the time. A very good and highly intriguing winter wear for guys. Code Profumo Review


Deeper, Darker Aquatic

Giorgio Armani Aqua di Gio Profumo, 4.2 Fluid Ounce– A flanker from the original and best-selling Acqua di Gio, AdG Profumo, exceeds the original in my opinion. It is a dark aquatic fragrance with an attractive spice and smoky undertones provided by the incense note.

Update: They’ve basically discontinued Profumo under this name. Now, Acqua di Gio Parfum is essentially just this rebranded.

To me, it can be a toss up between this and Profondo. Profumo is a darker scent, while Profondo is a lighter and has a zesty sort of personality.

Profumo starts out with bergamot and deep sea aquatic notes. The composition screams out summertime spent on the coast and is more refined and masculine than its predecessor. Great salty marine elements with sage and rosemary, giving it all extra heft. Awesome. Acqua di Gio Profumo Review


Unisex Floral Leather

Cuir Zerzura– Zerzura is a part of the expensive Privee line from Armani. This one is great, as it leans masculine and delivers a great and deep floral scent.

Iris is the main floral note, with some rose and light violet leaf early on. The main attractions though are the iris, leather, and vanilla notes.

Early on, you will get a brightness of mandarin and elemi. Though, that is short-lived and this becomes rich and has an enveloping smoothness and warmth. The contrast between the leather, the creaminess, and the powdery aroma of the iris note.

Not too sweet or overpowering. I think that Armani struck a very good balance between that iris and the leather without falling too much into make-up bag territory. Lovely stuff.


Newer Code

Code Parfum by Giorgio Armani– This will be one of three Code entries onto the list. It was released in 2022 and I was surprised at how good it was.

Code Parfum kicks off with the usually bergamot note, paired with sage and iris. The bergamot is sparkling and this one has a great opening freshness to it. It’s sort of bright and aldehydic with the way the iris is worked into things.

There is some powderiness, not too much, and not as much as you’d think with both iris and tonka bean coming through. Those two notes are heavily featured in the dry down along with the remaining citrus and a crisp cedar.

It’s a clean daily wear that can fit in a wide variety of situations. Code Parfum is going to be one of those workhorse fragrances, that you can spray on pretty much whenever, but it has plenty of style. Code Parfum review


Sweet, Woody, Unique

Giorgio Armani Cologne for Men, Armani Diamonds, 2.5 Fluid Ounce
At its base, Emporio Armani Diamonds is woody and spicy. At the top, you have cocoa bean and bergamot leading the way, with a heart of amber.

The citrus and cacao combination is beautifully done and feels wrapped up in that warm and familiar amber note. I really like the bergamot that comes out of the early stages, along with the initial spiciness that will be such a factor in the middle.

The bergamot is most noticeable at the start and gradually it all dries down into a woody cologne with sweet cocoa and hints of sichuan pepper (just not much). Coming back to this one recently, the amber note really developed well, in a way I hadn’t remembered.

At that point, the aroma is quite dry, but overall it remains light and none too heavy. Fresh, sweet, with good longevity.  Notes include: Citrus, Bergamot, Cedar, Szechwan Pepper, Gaiac Wood, Ambroxan, Vetiver, Cocoa Bean. Diamonds Review

emporio diamonds


Bluer Citrus Aquatic

Acqua di Gio Profondo– This newer release is replacing the original AdG, which really feels unnecessary to have at this time. It has been surpassed by flankers like this and there are cheaper options, that smell pretty much the same.

Profondo has plenty of overlap with Profumo, but as I said, there are slight differences. This is the lighter and has a zestier/blue vibe, versus the deep water aroma of Profumo.

Anyway, Profondo kicks off with a blend of citrus notes, with a solid freshness and spice provided by the rosemary. This doesn’t smell as smoky to me, either. Much more of a fruity and blue aquatic, on the lines of maybe a Polo Blue, versus the other colognes in this series. Profondo Full Review


Classic Armani Release

Mania By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces
A sophisticated blend of woodsy aromatics and mandarin oranges. The opening is bright and upbeat with that mandarin note and saffron poking through. There still aren’t too many men’s fragrances utilizing saffron, but it can be utterly brilliant, as it is here.

Mania is pretty simple, with dry elements, wood, amber, and a nice citrus shining through. You have to get this one online, nowadays, as Armani no longer produces it. Highly masculine and a full bodied scent that will drive ladies wild, when close.

Update: It’s been discontinued for a long while. Probably difficult to find a cheap bottle. So, pass on it if the price is in the triple digits.

mania


A Stronger With You Option

Emporio Armani Stronger With You Intensely EDP For Men 3.4oz The original Stronger with You was pretty nice, but not something that I’d consider one of Armani’s best. However, I think that Intensely is a better option than that, and worthy of a spot for this update.

Stronger with You Intensely does indeed ramp up the power of the original, within a sweeter frame, and delicious gourmand aroma. Sage, cinnamon, and pink pepper add the layer of spice but it really isn’t a completely thick cloud of fragrance…but very much a colder weather wear.

I like this and as of now, it takes the spot as my favorite cologne from this line. Yes, Absolutely is up there as well. For me, this has the slight edge between them. Here’s my review of Intensely and my comparison with SWY Absolutely


Stylish Stand Out

Armani Attitude By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 1.7 Oz– Attitude is a fitting name, because this one is bold, and can pack a punch. Not that it is overly heavy, but this was one that could grab attention (it has been discontinued, as well, still bottles available online ).

You had coffee and lemon, with notes like lavender and patchouli. All in all, it could be hard to distinguish between them, as it is so well blended. That’s perfectly fine, because the result was awesome, quite sexy, and could be a complement magnet.

attitude


The Best Armani Code

Armani Code Absolu– I am replacing the original Code on the list, as it has been surpassed by too many other offerings. Initially, Code Profumo was my favorite of the line. However, that all changed with the release of Absolu, which is the best of the bunch.

It kicks off with rum, suede, nutmeg, and tonka bean. There are the light fruit notes of mandarin and apple, floating in the background, as they do in all of the Code scents. I really enjoy the kick and booziness provided by the nutmeg and rum, with the leather-like smoothness of suede.

It’s dark and warm, with a great sweetness during the dry down. A lighter option versus Profumo, not as cloying, but still delivers over 10 hours of wear. Code Absolu Review