Obsession Night Woman by Calvin Klein

It’s a subtle persistently elegant vanilla present from the start well accompanied by a very natural citrus scent so natural you can even smell the seeds (like tangerine I guess bitter orange). It seems like a very rich perfume that doesn’t have much of a trail but is very enjoyable for the wearer at least in my experience. After several hours the vanilla feels rich a bit spicy or fresh—I’m not sure but it’s excellent for ending the day. I’ve used it in winter and think it would also work great in summer.

Don’t be fooled by the midnight blue color or the name ‘Night’. It has very little to do with being nocturnal or dark; it’s a daytime perfume with a citrus opening, lots of florals, and an elegant woody base that’s not overly sophisticated. It’s totally unisex, very typical of Calvin Klein, and has nothing to do with CK Obsession (female); they don’t even share DNA. It’s very similar to Jimmy Choo Illicit but without the honey and caramel. It’s not sweet at all. It’s discontinued but you can find it cheap. I recommend it if you want something different from the trend; I wear it in spring, summer nights, and fall.

First let’s not be fooled by the name; it has nothing to do with its predecessor. The opening is extremely bitter a bit unpleasant for me for the first 15 minutes. Then it becomes softer but without losing that roughness. Over time the warmth of tonka and vanilla emerges and that’s when I really like it. I think it’s perfectly unisex. In fact on a man this version seems sexier to me since the one labeled as masculine smells more diluted and piney. In terms of longevity it lasts without issues and the trail is medium. Due to its roughness don’t overdo it because sometimes the scent lingers in the throat and is quite annoying.

Obsession Night is almost masculine, but not because it’s woody or soapy; it’s more in the style of celebrity fragrances like Antonio Banderas’s. It’s a fruity oriental fougère with a vanilla twist for men. It opens rough, bitter, and fruity with a hideous bergamot. Then comes a balsamic swarm trying to be a fougère-chouli but never quite reaching its sweetness, leaving hints of fruity papyrus and a dirty freezer, until it dries down to something sweet, musky, and fresh. It’s a rare case of being labeled female but totally masculine by new standards. Club oriental lovers will like it; ‘Night’ is a bit of a stretch because it’s very daytime. It’s discontinued. If you’re guided by the couple’s naked ad or the blue bottle, you’ll expect something sophisticated and refreshing with angelica, carnations, etc., and you’ll be disappointed. If they had put a man in a suit walking into an office, it wouldn’t be misleading.

The amber color of Obsession turns midnight blue, but they have nothing in common. It starts with non-sweet aromatic notes of bergamot and orange. The unusual thing is that against that freshness appears a bitter, herbal angelica that makes it excessively masculine, and I love it. Then come watery white flowers like gardenia and lily, giving it an elegant, powdery touch that balances it toward the feminine. In the base, cashmere wood combined with angelica and tonka bean retains the initial freshness, along with vanilla and sandalwood that reinforce the creaminess. It’s a woody scent aromatized with citrus, herbs, and flowers over a vanilla base. Very original, elegant, and nothing simple. It’s unisex, as Calvin Klein has us accustomed to. For spring, summer, and fall nights, or less hot days due to its astringent character. A fresh, relaxing, and balsamic aroma that I love on my skin, tired of overly sweet scents; it’s sensual because of its naturalness, free of artifice. Soft but persistent trail, about 8 hours. I think it’s undervalued and you have to look for it with persistence; the price is a joke and it’s sadly discontinued. It evokes a night walk in a historic park, feeling the breeze among the trees, the water from the fountains, and the morning dew on flowers opening at midnight. What a treat.

I love this fragrance; it’s so authentic sweet with a base yet something new and futuristic—I don’t know how to describe it haha—and with a woody touch very elegant and sensual.