Calvin Klein · 1986 · Bob Slattery

Obsession for Men

Mid-range$$, 2 of 5

The houseFor men

VersionEau de Toilette

Mandarin and bergamot over lavender, sage, myrrh and spice, sinking into amber, musk, sandalwood, vetiver and patchouli.

Calvin Klein says

You’ll smell mandarin, bergamot, lavender, myrrh, sage, spices, amber, musk, sandalwood, vetiver and patchouli.

More from Calvin Klein’s description

It also mentions Botanics and Rare woods.

The house’s page

Top noteswhen you spray it

Heartas it settles

Dry-downwhat stays

Obsession for Men’s scent picture, a draft: mandarin, bergamot, lavender, myrrh, sage, spicy notes drawn so far; dashed outlines where nothing is drawn yet

Top noteswhen you spray it

Obsession for Men, top notes: Mandarin, Bergamot

Heartas it settles

Obsession for Men, heart: Lavender, Myrrh, Sage, Spicy notes, Geraniol (rose)

Dry-downwhat stays

Obsession for Men, dry-down: Amber, Musk, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Patchouli, Coumarin (new-mown hay)

What’s inside it

What the label names

11 scent ingredients on the label, familiar names first.

A label must name certain ingredients, most of them ones that can cause allergies; some houses print more. It is never the whole recipe.

2 citrus1 herbs & lavender5 florals1 sweet1 spices1 powder

14 more lines on the label, not there for the smell

Not for the smell14

AlcoholWaterOctinoxate (a UV filter)Octisalate (a UV filter)Avobenzone (a UV filter)Benzyl benzoateBHT (keeps it fresh)Ci 14700Ci 19140Ci 60730Benzophenone-3, not in Ingredients yetPropylene glycol, not in Ingredients yetAcrylates/octylacrylamide copolymer, not in Ingredients yetHydrolyzed jojoba esters, not in Ingredients yet

The label, as printed on the house’s page

Our match of the notes

Shares its notes

OscarOscar de la Renta · shares bergamot, lavender, myrrh, cashmere knit and 3 more$109 for 100 ml · about the same as Obsession for Men’s $115
Aventus CologneCreed · shares mandarin, bergamot, cashmere knit, sandalwood and 2 more$510 for 100 ml
360° for WomenPerry Ellis · shares mandarin, lavender, sage, cashmere knit and 2 more
More from Calvin Klein6 more perfumes

Matched by the notes each house names. A shared note is not a promise they smell alike.