Guilt-Free: Саlvin Кlein СКfree- аnd а draw

Earlier Marina was contacted by the people marketing this new scent asking if we'd like to try it and offering to give two bottles away in a draw. She asked me if I wanted to be the reviewer (I suppose since I am male) and my answer to her was "won't they hate me if I trash it?" Her answer? "Who cares :-)" They're going to hate me, but just a little. I'm not quite sure the marketer had read my post on one of the previous Klein scents that I found frankly a bit lacking, that mentioned the one that started a thousand СК's- СКone. For those of you vacationing in outer space in the early 90's, СКone was a monster hit for Calvin Klein: the then-edgy ad campaign featured all sorts of kids of indeterminate gender and grunge-esque clothed Tweens standing around against a bright white background, like in God’s waiting room, or The Apple Store. The reason that scent was such a hit wasn't the campaign or that the idea of unisex scents were so new, but that the scent was the right one at the right time: bright bergamot, sparkling hedione and a skin-musk drydown as addictive as crack. I had a bottle and went through it in record time, but somehow didn't buy another. As for СКfree, I'll quote from the press release: casual - spontaneous – confident скfree, inspired by the spirit of the modern, independent man who lives every day to the fullest. he has nothing to prove. he’s cool, relaxed and free-spirited. he does what he wants and is in control of his own destiny. He also is apparently averse to capital letters. Notes, again from the press release: top: thailand star anise, jackfruit, absinthe, juniper berry mid: suede, tobacco leaves, coffee absolute, south african buchu dry: patchouli absolute, oakwood, texan cedarwood, costa rican ironwood I normally think of myself as having rather a good nose, but this totally defeated me. I couldn't discern one single note. I'm going to be nice and ascribe it to the scent being well-balanced. To be honest, it's not a bad scent. It's pleasant, slightly sweet and with a very nice, very light woody dry-down. You could wear it anywhere and the most reaction you'd get is "he smells nice" without the smeller being able to pinpoint why or what. I think the Calvin Klein people made two mistakes with this: first, it really should have been released last May. It's pleasantly summery and and has a frozen fruity chill that would have been perfect for a hot summer day. Second, the name. This isn't СКone, two or forty-seven; and I think they should СКbe done with the whole СКwhatever business and start coming up with actual names. I am, most likely rather (ahem) outside of the age group being marketed to here. You'll be smelling a lot of this, just more in the mailroom than the boardroom. As I wrote, the marketers have offered 2 bottles to be given out, if you would like to be included in the draw, please leave a comment. СКfree will be available everywhere except perhaps outer space at prices ranging from $32 for 1oz to $62 for 3.4oz Note: I was given a small full bottle by the marketing people. When they read the above I am sure they will bitterly repent having done so. Image source, techandlife.com.

Perfume Review: Calvin Klein Secret Obsession

If I didn't happen to actually like Secret Obsession, I would have made myself like it. These days, when the threat of Palin is upon us, any mention of censure or banning or denial of one's choice in anything at all makes me see red. Whereas I want to see blue. Anyhow, elections and much ado about not especially provocative video notwithstanding, I do like Secret Obsession. To those who know my hatred for Obsession, this will come as a shock. But the two are very different animals, so much so that I don't think they share much in common except for the name and the fragrance family. Secret Obsession, says Klein, inhabits the territory "between love and madness". It is a story about "being taunted with illicit thoughts and compelled with seeking pleasure". I wouldn't know anything about madness and illicit thoughts, and it must be this innocence of mine that makes me see in Secret Obsession a comfort perfume, not a forbiden elixir of passion. It is a fairly robust (but not NEARLY as heavy as Obsession), fluffy woody scent with vaguely fruity (plum) and subtly floral (oramge blossom, tuberose) undertones. The fruits are very abstract, which is the only way I can tolerate them, and pleasantly candied, the flowers creamy, the woods indeed cashmere-like in feel. Overall, the slightly fruity, powdery-velvety woodiness of Secret Obsession reminded me of Evening Edged in Gold by Ineke. Secret Obsession will not make fragrance history the way Obsession did way back when. Klein, like Lauder and Lancome, should, however, be thanked for abandoning the freshies and the fruities and focusing on woods. Again, like Sensuous and Magnifique, this new release is not staggeringly original, not a masterpiece. Like them, it is very wearable and very pretty. Of the three, it is my favorite...and the first CK perfume I like a lot. I see myself reaching for this comfort scent quite often during cold months. Secret Obsession is available at Macy's, $72.00 for 3.4oz.