We should definitely try to coin a new term for those fragrances that manage to produce an instant smile on our faces upon first sniff. The best I can come up with right now is “perfume smiles”, which is not as clever as I would like, but nevertheless is an adequate description. Secret Obsession is a perfume smile for me, a smile upon first sniff, complete with eyes closed and head thrown back for maximum visual effect. As you probably already know, Secret Obsession is Calvin Klein’s newest fragrance, and one that already has significant buzz surrounding its name: a banned commercial, a tasteful advertising campaign with the absolutely glorious, sensual Eva Mendez, as well as having not only its own webpage, but a fan-page on Facebook as well.Secret Obsession’s opening is just beautiful,
with the sweet, mellow, honeyed scent of dried plums and dates. It manages to leave an impression of a well-rounded alcoholic drink, like a dark, luxurious fruity wine, or a viscous aged liqueur spiced with the warm, resinous aroma of mace. Delicate accents of rose petals add a whole new dimension to the fragrance, but they make only a brief appearance and are soon missed. I find it quite hard to describe what comes next, not only because there is so much going on in the middle stage of Secret Obsession’s development, but also because the elements sound contrasting when put into words. I will do my best however, and you will have to trust me when I say that the result is indeed not only harmonious but also very beautiful. Right in the middle, we have a core that’s comforting, yummy and earthy, smelling like a freshly cracked walnut. It is surrounded by the sensuous scent of amber, which in turn is flecked with orange blossom petals and traced by the mere hint of jasmine’s warmth. The topmost layer can only be described as a contradiction, an ebb and flow that reveal a green soapy scent and a deep, sexy animalic one alternatively. And... Does Calvin Klein have a secret? Cause the drydown smells so distinctly mossy I am baffled! I’ve always resisted the idea of the “Modern Chypre”, even as so many others embraced it in their terminology. Finally, having smelled this, I am ready to lay down my guns. Well, not all of them, but still. This could be it. Musky, earthy, green and sensuous, the drydown of Secret Obsession is not at all what I expected from the official notes. It is the creaminess of what a modern chypre should be, if there is such a thing. And I hope there is...Images: www.secretobsessioncalvinklein.com
