Calvin Klein

9 Best Smelling Calvin Klein Perfumes for Women

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Calvin Klein has released scores of fragrances over the past 30 or so years. Many of them are decidedly unisex in their use and even those ultimately smell great. However, for this list I wanted to focus on scents specifically designed for ladies to wear and present the best CK options from the brand’s perfume lineup.

I have selected nine women’s fragrances which I feel are the best all-around options and present different seasonal or stylistic choices. Also, here is my list of the best men’s CK colognes.

What are the Best CK Perfumes for Women?

Best Spicy Classic

Calvin Klein OBSESSION Eau de Parfum, 3.4 Fl Oz– Obsession is of course a very famous fragrance dating back to the 1980s, but while that is the case, it isn’t a perfume for everyone. Some folks don’t find this type of scent to be pleasing and think that it can come off harsh.

However, this spicy beast can really bring a great change of pace, versus most modern perfumes for women.

Lots of rich amber soaked spice with smooth notes of sandalwood and vanilla bringing it all together. At times, it is sweet, other times it is herbal, but it is always interesting.

The one nowadays being sold, is reformulated from the vintage, but still has enough of that original DNA to make the list.

 

Everyone New

CK Everyone EDT– While I don’t think Everyone is an absolutely amazing fragrance, this newer release from Calvin Klein is actually better than people expect.

The EDT, is the one that I’ve tried so far out of the current two Everyone offerings, but it was really a pleasant surprise and worth checking out for the right price.

Everyone opens up with an orange and watery top that is spice with a hint of fresh ginger. Quite relaxed, clean, and one that can be worn daily with a fresh and low key sort of style. 

I enjoy the tea note here. That, which along with the light amber gives Everyone EDT a warmer feeling. The opening feels uplifting and ‘cold’ to me. Like a basic, sort of sporty update to the same CK One style, of the 1990s. Though, a different scent.

 

Sexy CK Perfume

Calvin Klein Forbidden Euphoria for Women 3.4 fl. oz Eau de Parfum– Forbidden Euphoria is much more of a crowd pleaser versus Obsession. Sexy and a long-lasting performer. Notes of jasmine, tiger orchid, peach blossoms, and other fruits/floral (namely raspberry).

This one is full of energy and vibrancy to help get a woman noticed. It’s probably harder to find bottles of it now, but they can still be had.

It opens up with a warm sweetness of fruit and orchid before the patchouli gets introduced and those three notes make up the bulk of the wear.

Update: Euphoria Forbidden has been discontinued for a while. CK did release a Euphoria Intense in 2021, which has a similar vibe to this (and the original Euphoria), but even that’s not available everywhere.

Best Summer Perfume

Calvin Klein CK IN2U Perfume for Her 3.4 fl.Oz Eau De Toilette Spray– A perfume that works well in the spring and summer months, though, could still be used at other times of the year. It has a solid citrus opening and a sweetness to it that isn’t too strong.

A lovely everyday wear with notes of white cactus, bergamot, red cedar, grapefruit, vanilla, and more. It starts out with some sharpness from the bergamot, grapefruit, and juniper pairing. Clean and fresh, yes, but IN2U definitely has some intense bite.

The citrus is dominant but there is a creamy vanilla and the very interesting cactus note that peaks through during the dry down.

IN2U for her is fairly straightforward but has great performance and a warm citrusy aroma. Ultimately, it all ties together nicely, for a rather balanced profile.

Fresh Air 

Eternity Air for Women– The men’s version of Air was pretty mediocre, but the women’s is actually quite nice. 

It’s is an airy, slightly cold, fresh fragrance led by grapefruit and black currant. Some similarities to Light Blue by D&G, but without the apple and a less intense cedar note. Though, the wood is still there.

The opening has that fruitiness in spades, then it becomes cleaner/watery, with a slight musky floral aroma from the peony. Not a heavy or overbearing perfume, but it has some decent performance. 

Underrated CK Perfume

Calvin Klein Downtown Perfume for Women 3.0 fl. Oz Eau De Parfum Spray– This is a lighter and unassuming perfume, with a healthy does of pink pepper and pear from the start.

Then, a lovely gardenia note peaks into the composition. The result is a bright and fresh scent with some musk/woods in the base.

This has been discontinue, a while back, but there are bottles still floating around. This is an easy to wear floral/fruity scent, that kind of flew under the radar.

Calvin Klein Best Seller

Calvin Klein euphoria Eau de Parfum, 1 Fl Oz– Always a top seller and that is because it smells so delicious. It is soft, at times, but still retains an air of playfulness and excitement with a bold opening act.

Euphoria is definitely a winner. The pomegranate is very juicy/tart and edible with the inclusion of great floral notes and the well-blended addition of patchouli.

Fruity/floral with spice and a solid base of rich mahogany. As it dries down, Euphoria becomes darker and sexy, with the pomegranate taking on less of a role.

The amber note is ramped up, blends perfectly with the mahogany note, and everything gets flanked by floral notes and patchouli.

Euphoria is a powerful scent the has its sweet side, along with bold punches of spice. However, its main heart is wood, musk and amber. The woody dry down is actually, pretty unisex

Notes include: mahogany, black orchid, lotus blossom, black violet, persimmon, and pomegranate.

Most Unique

Eternity Flame– So, Eternity Flame is a pretty recent release that didn’t get much fanfare, when it was brought to market. Neither did the men’s version of the scent, which was decent.

Actually, one could argue that this is the bolder and more traditionally masculine of the two scents. It doesn’t push it too far, more unisex, leaning masculine.

Nonetheless, this is a very interesting perfume. Spicy and has a bold sillage, with light touches of citrus and some great sweetness from amber and vanilla. Dry and really pops, goes much more into the amber, during the dry down. Quite similar to the men’s during that stage. 

Top Clean Classic Scent

Calvin Klein ETERNITY Eau de Parfum–  Eternity for Her is a different experience from the men’s version, yet still has that clean sort of vibe, just not as soapy and masculine (though somewhat soapy).

Eternity is a very floral fragrance but laden with sage, musk, and pepper to go along with the main draw of carnation. This stuff is loaded with flowers like lily and violet, but doesn’t have that bouquet/garden effect.

Eternity starts off with a light touch of citrus and the spice of sage and pepper. The floral notes, really start to come into their own, a short time later. Very clean, a bit musky, with powder/spicy elements hanging around. Just really fresh and upbeat and a distinct classic from the 1990s.

Women EDP by Calvin Klein

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So, Amazon randomly sent me a sample of the latest Calvin Klein women’s fragrance (note: I’ve updated this since), titled appropriately enough: Women. Released in 2018 Yeah, sure. Beyond the highly original name, I was actually curious to know how this one smelled, and whether or no there was a good perfume inside the sample vial.

As usual, I have worn it, and now have shared my thoughts below on everything Calvin Klein Women.

What does Women by Calvin Klein Smell Like?

Notes include: lemon, grapefruit, bergamot, cedar, black pepper, eucalyptus, orange blossom, musk, ambroxan, tea, and more

Click here to try: Calvin Klein WOMEN Perfume For Women 3.4 fl.oz(100ml) Eau De Parfum Spray

My Full Wear Review

Calvin Klein Women starts with an ultra-sharp citrus mix of lemon and grapefruit. It actually reminds me of a more feminine Sauvage, in that respect.

It seems like after every designer put out their version of a Sauvage clone for men, the women’s side had to also start adding heavy citrus and ambroxan and pepper to everything.

It comes across as strange though. Super citrus with spice, kind of messy. All of this sits on top of cedar wood and has a slight herbal tinge, from the tea note.

However, that sort of aroma at the start doesn’t last too long before Women shifts into more of a spicy orange blossom fragrance. I feel at times, as though I’m smelling bits of Light Blue by D&G, within this perfume’s DNA, but it never fully commits to smelling exactly like that fragrance.

As it dries down, I get more grapefruit than the lemon note, to go along with cedar and some floral notes…mainly, the aforementioned orange blossom, but a few others also.

The cedar seems to grow stronger the further along in the wear you are and the citrus still has that super sharp quality to it.

Once that initial blast wears off, Women becomes a very wearable, albeit not spectacular scent. I like the citrus, orange blossom, and fresh cedar pairing. Not too sharp anymore, but has a great cleanliness.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Calvin Klein Women starts off really strong, and then dries down soft to moderate. It was weird how much it settled down from that huge sillage it has at the beginning. So, it’s ultimately a fairly moderate fragrance.

It’s one of the quickest turnarounds that I’ve ever experienced. Seriously, it bombs at first, and it settles into something lighter in record time.

Longevity was pretty good, somewhere in the 6-7 hour neighborhood on my skin, not great but usable. CK fragrances, tend not to be ones that go on for double digit hours. Depending on the price, the value of having this scent can vary a loot.

The citrus and floral notes makes this one seem like it’s suited to be worn on the warmer days of the year. Though, it could be safely worn whenever. It just really feels like a spring/summer sort of fragrance.

I’d call it a casual, everyday wear. One could probably wear it to work, but it’s not a nightlife or date kind of perfume.

Overall Impressions of Women by CK

Overall, do I recommend, Calvin Klein Women? Ehhh, it’s okay. I hate how this perfume starts out but I think it gets better as it goes along. Although, even then, it never blows me away. You get a citrus/woody fragrance with floral and herbal spice undertones.

I feel like it strays more towards unisex, than something designed specifically for women. But whatever, I didn’t design their marketing campaign. It’s decent, though. This Calvin Klein isn’t anything special.

The one strength that it really has is how easy to wear and versatile it is. It does everything else decently, but this one isn’t original, nor will it knock your socks off.

If you’re a big fan of Light Blue or similar scents, this might be one to check out. Goes in a different direction with the orange blossom, but has a style that is reminiscent of that popular D&G perfume.

4 Perfumes Similar to Obsession for Her

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Obsession by Calvin Klein was an absolute powerhouse back in the 1980s, both in terms of its sales total, and its bold sillage. Seriously, this stuff could and still probably can, fill a room. With such a classic status already achieved, there are going to be plenty of women, trying to find something that can match what it did or at least feel similar to this perfume.

Well, there has been some reformulation of the classic, so the current Obsession isn’t exactly the same. It’s probably still most of the way there, however. As such, I’m going to try to get some close options between the two. Is there a cheaper clone? What scents smell alike?

What Perfumes Smell Like Calvin Klein’s Obsession?

Softer and More Floral

Must De Cartier By Cartier For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 oz
Must is a warm and beautifully sweet fragrance that is great for casual wear and is long-lasting. Must De Cartier is a softer perfume but one that is well-crafted and has many admirers.

This is a good alternative, for those who still want designer fragrance quality, but without the same intensity level as Obsession. You do get some spice, but not to the same level, and probably a greater floral profile as well.

Must de Cartier features plenty of wood dipped in amber with vanilla and tonka bean playing support roles. However, this perfume is not that simple, as there is also floral notes and sweet floral notes involved too. At times it is green, sweet, spicy, but it all settles into something refined and classic.

Less Spice, More Resinous

OPIUM For Women By YVES SAINT LAURENT Eau de Toilette Spray 3 oz
An exotic classic that is spicy and oriental in its presentation. Mandarin, myrrh, jasmine, and bergamot.

This YSL perfume has always been in the same close family of fragrances, to Obsession. I would say, that the spices are toned down here, while the amber/resin/balsamic qualities are amped up.

Opium is a sensually intriguing experience that drives the imagination to dream up distant lands. Beautiful. Obviously, since the release in the 1970s, this perfume has undergone reformulations as just about everything has to.

However, the newer incarnation, is still a very nice fragrance. It still has its spicy, warm, and sweet notes with its underlying herbal and citrus tones that waft up throughout the wear. Opium has retained its charm and is actually a breath of fresh air when compared to many newer releases.

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The Other Obsession

Calvin Klein Obsession For Men Cologne, .5 fl oz– Yes, one alternative to the ladies’ version of Obsession, is the men’s version. They were always closely connected, and the men’s, never went too far masculine to make it unwearable for women. In fact, it’s close to unisex.

Obsession has a lovely spice to it and features notes of mandarin, sandalwood, and amber. It’s got a great cinnamon led warmth and spice, that is supported by the nutmeg. The amber creates a sort of an envelopment around the person wearing it and this is one of the reasons, that Obsession is so good during the winter time.

This is such a rich and enticing scent, good for everyday wear, but can also pull double duty as a date night go to. There is sweet vanilla and nutmeg, which help to round out the fragrance, and create a memorable wear.

Spicy and warm, yes, but also a smoky balsamic element that peaks through at times. The classic formulation of this was amazing, but it is still holding up well today.   My Obsession review

obsession

Another Similar 80s Perfume

Moschino By Moschino For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 2.5 Ounces– The original fragrance dating back to the late 1980s. A long lasting blend of florals, vanilla, and spice which gives it an exotic and special scent. It’s classic and gives you a different experience from most of the perfumes, out on the market today.

Moshcino when compared to Obsession, is a lot less spicy. Amber is there for sure, but you get a whole host of floral notes, which play a larger role in this composition. Also, a lighter sillage, in comparison.

Moschino is a rather complex composition, but still manages to be extremely well blended. You get herbal spice, green notes, but more warmth and periods of sweetness. All of this comes together with floral notes, such as: rose, marigold, gardenia, and carnation.

Very unique and great performance, with deep and satisfying aroma. Moschino for Women is an underrated classic.

Euphoria by Calvin Klein

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Euphoria is a fragrance that was released by Calvin Klein back in 2005. It’s a series that produced a ton of flankers and also had a men’s line as well. It’s a scent that I’ve enjoyed coming in contact with over the years, so, I got a sample of it to finally do a full review for the site. Is it still worth a try?

What does Euphoria by Calvin Klein Smell Like?

Notes include: mahogany, black orchid, lotus blossom, black violet, persimmon, and pomegranate

My Full Review

Euphoria is a perfume which while being a mainstream designer fragrance, does have a fairly unique aroma versus many others on the market.

It starts from the opening, where you get a mix of pomegranate and persimmon as the fruity top notes, which are two underutilized ingredients. Very juicy, tart, sweet, and delicious overall.

Underneath that you’re going to already get a good deal of what this perfume is all about. The mahogany note, which really helps to set this one apart is already apparent. But, the floral accord is what’s going to develop in full once some of the fruitiness has burned off.

Here, the main attraction is orchid. Violet in the second spot, with lotus for a short amount of time. The fruity opening subsides and Euphoria becomes floral/fruity with rich wood, instead of a tart juicy explosion.

When the floral notes get going, the patchouli will also start to come out more. It’s not too heavy on my skin, but I like the earthy depth it brings to the floral heart. A bit of spice here.

This one dries down into a darkly rich perfume. That pomegranate and persimmon continue their decline. Orchid, mahogany and amber all take on a larger share of the pie. Violet sticks around to still play a supporting role.

It gets woodier with the mahogany becoming dominant in the final dry down. Amber, musk, and floral notes. Still some spice, less of that sweet tart beginning.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Euphoria opens up with a bang. The sillage definitely is strong in the opening hour or so. Not massive, but very easily over-sprayed and will leave a trail behind you. But, that will come in closer to the skin, and be more of a moderate the rest of the way.

On my skin, it goes for 7-7.5 hours before calling it quits. Not amazing, but Euphoria does its job fairly well and I wasn’t disappointed.

Seasonally, I’d stick to autumn through early springtime with Euphoria. It doesn’t come across as a summer scent and it will probably be a complete mess in the heat.

This has a darker feeling, while still having a youthful dynamic. Not to say that Euphoria is just for teenagers, it actually casts a fairly wide net. It can be worn to school or even some offices, while also has a nightlife style, or even date nights.

Still, it may be based on my memories of smelling this stuff out in the wild, but I associate it with women in their early 20s.

Overall Impressions of Euphoria for Women

Overall, do I like Euphoria? Yes, it’s one of my favorites from the Calvin Klein women’s collection. Some of the flankers were really good as well. Though, I’m pretty sure a lot of them are difficult to find nowadays.

I’m probably a little more of a fan of this scent than many people, but I think it is great for something that is mass appealing. The men’s version is also great, but just has terrible performance. This, is much better in that regard.

Pomegranate, mahogany, and the amber. It’s different from most of the designer fare, especially here in the 2020s. This was early 2000s vibe, though, it even stands out from that era of perfumes.

It’s still super popular and probably the most famous CK fragrance from the women’s line, for younger people (Obsession? Maybe). This is worth trying out to this day, it smells great, it’s different, and the performance holds up.

Obsessed for Women by Calvin Klein

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I’ve already reviewed Obsessed for Men, on this site, which was a pretty good fragrance. So, when I got a sample of Obsessed for Women, I was intrigued to see what direction Calvin Klein was going to take this in.

This is actually a new release for 2017 and shares a similar name with the classic Obsession, though, their doesn’t appear to be any actual similarities between them.

In this post, I’m going to go over how it smells, performs, what the notes are, and whether or not it is worth a further look.

What does Obsessed for Women Smell Like?

Notes include: musk, sage, lavender, citrus, neroli, violet leaf

Click here to try: Calvin Klein Obsessed for Women Eau De Parfum, 1 fl. oz.

My Full Review

The packaging that the sample vial of Obsessed for Women came in, says that it is ‘a female interpretation of an oriental fougere’.  With that, I wasn’t expecting something that was hyper feminine or sweet, and after use this does feel more like an unisex perfume.

The opening is floral, herbal, and musky. The lavender has that familiar scent and reminds me of the lavender Epsom bath salt that I use for sore muscles.

The citrus notes are noticeable at the start, as well, and give it kind of an aquatic aroma. It really does bring back memories of two of Calvin Klein’s 90s unisex fragrances, CK One and CK Be, but retains something different from each of those scents.

I think the warm musky spice and the sage, set it apart, and there is this underlying body wash/soapy quality to Obsessed.

Obsessed is fresh throughout its lifespan and the floral notes provided by the neroli and violet leaf begin to come into play about 20-30 minutes after application. That is when it begins to shift more towards the feminine side of the spectrum, after the quite ambiguous start.

However, it stays mostly in that floral/soft/spice/fresh water aquatic, mode throughout.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s a lighter scent, and definitely didn’t seem overpowering to me. I also sprayed it three times on a shirt and parked it about 4 feet away and didn’t really detect it.

So, it’s not going to be a massive radius and no long scent trail in your wake, unless you really spray the heck out of it.

Obsessed is a perfume that performs somewhat well, but you have to get closer. Longevity, again, was decent. Maybe 6+ hours, depending on the environment.

It feels more appropriate as a spring/summer scent but I think that it could perform well in any season really. While it does enjoy seasonal versatility, I’d classify it as casual.

It’s a pleasant perfume, but I don’t find it sexy or anything of that nature. A good low-key scent for work or school or some other casual function.

Overall Impressions of Obsessed for Women

Overall, is Obsessed worth a purchase? I don’t have anything bad to say about it. It serves its purpose as a fresh scent that is a nice change from the usual fruity or hyper-sweet perfumes.

So, if you’re in the market for that thing and are a fan of lavender, musk, and sage; then this one might be a good fit as a daily wear.

It’s very much a Calvin Klein fragrance, without even looking at the bottle, you can sort of just tell. Better than average, the usual notes, and not a big performer.

I don’t find it to be some incredible scent that is a must have, but it is nice, low key, and veers more to the unisex than girly.