Elysium
Very helpful Review
6
Obsessed with what divides
Have you ever found yourself obsessed with something, so consumed with something that you can hardly even think of anything else? A relationship, a new phone, a perfect body, your reputation, good grades, a great cologne, a unique style—anything can leave you obsessed.
Calvin Klein Obsession for Men was what I considered to be my first "grown-up" perfume. I've always felt it was a generational fragrance for the men of a specific time. It was why I was very interested in the new releases from Calvin Klein: Obsessed for Men. I was wondering if this might become the same kind of defining fragrance for this generation. Is the new Obsessed perfume merely a remake of Obsession? Well, I don't deem so.
CK Obsessed for Men seems like a very familiar scent even though I cannot pinpoint what specific cologne it reminds me of. I'm leaning towards it being a mix of several fragrances and just triggering my memory all at once. The opening gives me a fresh start with the sweetie, or oroblanco grapefruit, pepper, and cardamom stepping out in front. The bitterness of black cardamom note compensate the sweetness of the oroblanco; the resulting blend is impressive. I do get a powdery note similar to orris, yet there is neither orris nor iris listed among the notes. However, this is the first aspect I love the most.
The heart of this crystalline juice is mainly leathery with cedar leaves and sensual labdanum, which stands up, a bit dirty, animal, and almost reminiscent of sex at times, and reinforces the leather-like smell. A modern smooth leather, ain't no rude cowhide as in many vintage scents.
The dry down is ambery, a contemporary sweet amber that gets its aroma from the synthetic ambroxan. Again, that sweetness is mixed with the creaminess of the black vanilla, and the earthiness of the patchouli. On my skin and a paper strip, the scent develops differently, more ambery on the former, and more vanillic on the latter. Though, the vanilla note is always present and ties the whole stuff together. Not gourmand, it is sweet, reasonably warm, and darkened by the other base notes. It's quite intriguing.
Obsessed is a very clean fragrance; it is on the lighter side, and almost unisex, but man, I like the super fresh energy that I get from it. As it wears on, it becomes more powdery and ambery than it's initial citrusy and spicy accord. Still quite fresh and clean and upbeat.
Projection wise, Obsessed is moderate. The longevity of my test run was about 4-5 solid hours, and then maybe another hour wear it was still noticeable but weak. Again, not great, but not the worst either. Perhaps it'd be better in different weather or with more wear from me, but that's what I got with the one time deal. Right off the bat, I would recommend it for the coldest days, and there is that warm sweetness in all the stages that might not work with warm and hot seasons—a day fragrance, perfect for weekdays as well as the weekend.
Overall, I do like the way it smells, but I'd want some more time wearing it before making a call.
-Elysium