Best Calvin Klein Cologne for Men
Calvin Klein is a top brand in the fashion industry, but it also has a wide selection of well-rated colognes for men.
If you’re trying to find a scent that matches your personality and elevates your aura, then a Calvin Klein cologne isn’t a bad place to start.
There are many different scents within the Calvin Klein cologne range, so there should be something for just about everyone.
Let’s dive into our top picks for men’s styling products for thinning hair. Here they are…
👑 Our Pick for Best Overall
⭐ Our Other Picks for Best Calvin Klein Cologne
- Best of the Best: Calvin Klein Eternity for Men
- Runner Up: Calvin Klein Obsession for Men
- Best Everyday Cologne: Calvin Klein Euphoria for Men
- Best Aquatic: Eternity Aqua B003TOZKVI
Best Calvin Klein Cologne Reviews
Calvin Klein Eternity for Men (👑 Best of the Best)
The best Calvin Klein cologne for men, in our view, is Calvin Klein Eternity for men.
This eau de toilette is described by the brand as a ‘timeless, refreshing masculine scent’, and delivers an invigorating aroma suitable for everyday use. This is a fragrance, which much like its name would suggest, is perfect for creating a new scent for yourself whatever it is you do. While some eau de toilette fragrances are experimental and use bold ingredients to create curious aromas, this is one that will likely be universally well-received so you can leave a great first impression every time.
Eternity for men opens up with an enticing blend of aromatic botanicals, which capture the sense of smell and leave you wanting more. This is followed up by a fragrant body and finished off with a warm and woody scent.
The opening top note is achieved through an exciting combination of mandarin, lavender, and green botanicals. The mandarin is a welcome addition to the herbal ingredients, as it provides a hint of citrus for added freshness. The aromatic body is a result of several herbs and flowers, including basil, geranium, and sage. This middle note is light yet lingers in a pleasant way, and should endear you to those around you. The fragrance ends with a warm and woody base note composed of sandalwood, rosewood, and amber. This is exactly the kind of classic masculine scent that Calvin Klein refers to in the description, and leaves behind a smooth character.
Features:
- Available as 1fl oz, 1.7fl oz, 3.4 fl oz, and 6.7 fl oz bottles
- Top Note: mandarin, lavender, green botanics
- Middle Note: basil, geranium, sage
- Base Note: sandalwood, rosewood, amber
Calvin Klein Obsession for Men (🥈 Runner Up)
Next up on this list of the best Calvin Klein colognes is Obsession for men.
This fragrance from Calvin Klein is one designed to drive your romantic interests wild, hence the name. It’s a bold scent, which is described by Calvin Klein as being ‘fiery, intense, and provocative’. If that doesn’t have you intrigued, then I’m not sure what will. This is for the adventurous souls, the aspiring Casanovas, and the romantic men looking to find love.
Some of the best ways to describe this fragrance would be using words such as spicy, and intense. Obsession is a scent that goes after the sense of smell from the very beginning, with the intoxicating combination of citrus and herbs. This leads into a floral and spicy body, which is capped off with a warm and woody finish.
The top note of the Obsession cologne from Calvin Klein is made up primarily of bergamot and mandarin. Though this doesn’t tell the whole story, as there is a strong citrus kick which is contributed to by many fruits in the family such as lime and tangerine. This cutting citrus is balanced out well with the floral character of bergamot which is complemented by the heavenly scent of lavender which seeps in from the body of the fragrance.
For the middle note, lavender starts to really kick in, and is paired with the spicy sage and smooth red berries. This is where the magic happens, and the fragrance becomes complex enough to entice the sense of smell. There is a sensuality to the body of the scent, which is what makes it an aphrodisiac of sorts.
Finally, the base note of Obsession smooths things out with the woody scent of sandalwood combined with amber. This is a tried and tested masculine scent that’s sure to go down well with your date.
Features:
- Available as 2.5 fl oz, 4 fl oz, 6.7 fl oz, and 11.7 fl oz bottles
- Top Note: bergamot, mandarin
- Middle Note: lavender, sage
- Base Note: sandalwood, amber
Calvin Klein Euphoria for Men (🚶🏽♂️ Best Everyday Cologne)
Calvin Klein Euphoria for men is an excellent cologne that is as masculine as it gets, with a smooth and sultry character.
Calvin Klein describes euphoria for men as an ‘addictive, masculine, and sexy’ cologne. This is the perfect fragrance for those special occasions that demand something exceptionally smooth and pleasant. This is the type of cologne you want to wear for an evening of seduction or a special date night.
The Euphoria for men cologne starts out with a very lively and slightly spicy scent, which should capture the heart and the imagination. After spiking curiosity, the fragrance swiftly follows up with a deep herbal blend which is both smooth and soothing. The cologne gently brings you back down to earth with a warming aroma that should leave you and those around you feeling content.
The top note of this cologne is unique, and kicks things off with a bang. You’ll struggle to find many fragrances with as spicy a beginning as this one, since the primary aromas come from ginger and pepper. This awakens the senses, and opens them up for what’s to come.
This cologne’s middle note or body is a curious blend of black basil, sage, and cedar. While it’s aromatic at heart with the herbs, there’s a touch of spiciness to the black basil and sage, which is there to keep things alive. The cedar leaf is there to provide a calming presence, and balance out the spiciness well for a smooth scent.
The base note of the Euphoria for men cologne retains some of the spiciness that is constant in the fragrance through the patchouli, but then provides that typical masculine aroma you expect from a Calvin Klein cologne. This comes in the form of suede and Brazilian Redwood, which provide a warm woody character to the cologne.
Features:
- Available in 0.67 fl oz, 1 fl oz, 1.7 fl oz, and 3.3 fl oz bottles
- Top Note: ginger pepper cocktail
- Middle Note: black basil, cedar leaf
- Base Note: patchouli, amber
Eternity Aqua (🚶🏽♂️ Best Aquatic)
Most cologne brands have an aquatic fragrance in their lineup, as it’s often a hit. For Calvin Klein, that’s Eternity Aqua, and it’s an incredibly fresh and invigorating aroma.
If you’ve ever been described as having a temperament that’s ‘cool as a cucumber’, then you’ll get a real kick out of this cologne. Eternity Aqua features notes of fresh cucumber, alongside plenty of other invigorating fruits, spices, and more. It’s a complex fragrance for the modern man.
The top notes of Eternity Aqua are cucumber, citruses, green notes, and lotus. As you can imagine, these are the refreshing scents that can make you feel like you’re floating on water. There’s a reason why cucumber is commonly used for relaxing massage – it has a calming scent. The citrus has a similar effect as do the natural green notes. The lotus flower is known for its aquatic and herbal aroma, so lends itself well to this aquatic cologne.
The middle note of this fresh fragrance is made up of a host of intriguing ingredients, which include plumb, sichuan pepper, lavender, and Virginia cedar. Plum and sichuan pepper aren’t your typical pairing, but they combine to put out a sweet and spicy note to the cologne. You then have the rich aroma of the herbal lavender which mixes with the woody notes of Virginia cedar – a match made in heaven.
The base notes of the cologne are sandalwood, patchouli, musk, and guaiac wood. These are very traditional cologne base layer ingredients, as they are grounding and provide a soothing scent that should last a long time. The likes of sandalwood and guaiac contribute that masculine woody scent you associate with many colognes, while patchouli and musk add a little bit of extra character.
Features:
- Available in 1 fl oz, 1.7 fl oz, 3.4 fl oz, 5.4 fl oz, 6.7 fl oz, and 8 fl oz bottles
- Top Note: Cucumber, citrus, green notes, lotus
- Middle Note: Plum, sichuan pepper, lavender, Virginia cedar
- Base Note: Sandalwood, patchouli, musk, guaiac wood
Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Calvin Klein Cologne
Calvin Klein colognes offer up a wide range of aromas, from herbal notes to spicy ones, and everything in between.
To choose the best cologne for you, it’s worth considering several key factors, which include for example which of their scents appeal to you most, and what exactly notes are.
Related: What Cologne Should I Wear?
Notes Explained
The main thing you need to know about the notes of a fragrance is what purpose each layer serves.
The three layers of a fragrance are often referred to as the top, middle, and base notes. Although other names are sometimes used such as heart note instead of middle.
The three different notes contribute to the overall profile of the fragrance, so each one is as important as the last.
Some brands tend to favor certain aromas for each note, and in the case of Calvin Klein, for example, there is often a preference for woody and warm tones for the base notes.
The character of a cologne evolves over time and becomes more complex as the top, middle, and base notes blend into each other, so what you smell at first isn’t the whole scent.
Top
The top note of a fragrance typically lasts a short period of time, which will usually fade after around 15 minutes.
As you can imagine, this is the big opener for the fragrance.
There are many different approaches to cologne top notes, and it all depends on what the scent is trying to evoke.
If the fragrance is branded as a lively and invigorating scent, such as Euphoria for men, then it will start out with spicy ingredients like ginger or pepper.
If the fragrance is leaning more towards smooth and subtle notes, then it might start out with a calming woody tone or something herbal or floral.
Essentially this is the first impression you will get with any cologne, so while it’s very important that you like it, bear in mind that it will soon mix in with the body of the fragrance to create a more complex aroma.
Some of the most common aromas for the top note include citrus fruits like bergamot and lemon, herbs like lavender or basil, or spicy ingredients like ginger.
Middle
The middle, or heart, note is the main body of the cologne and will last anywhere between 20-60 minutes.
The aromas in the middle note won’t make up the entire character of the fragrance, though, but rather blend with the top note scents to create something more complete.
This is the part of the fragrance that you really have to like if you’re considering a cologne.
The middle note will make up a large percentage of the overall scent profile of the cologne, so if you’re not too keen on it, chances are you will grow to dislike the cologne over time.
Some of the most common aromas for the middle note include bold floral scents like jasmine and geranium, spicy scents from sources such as cinnamon and cardamom.
Generally, the scents are full-bodied and robust enough to spark curiosity.
Base
As you’ve probably already figured out, the base note is the one that finishes off the fragrance.
This layer lasts for around 6 hours but is much less intense than the middle note.
The base note works closely with the middle note to form the character of the fragrance and will often lend smooth or subtle notes to balance out the bold middle note.
The base notes are the ones which can get into your skin and combine with your body’s oils, which is what makes them last so long.
Some of the most common aromas for the base note include smooth scents like vanilla and amber, traditionally masculine fragrances like leather, and warm and woody influences from scents like sandalwood and cedarwood.
Calvin Klein often chooses to finish its men’s colognes with this warm, woody character through ingredients such as cedarwood and patchouli. It’s what lends the classically masculine character to the fragrances.
Popular Scents
It’s useful to know what some of the more prominent and popular scents are for each cologne brand if you’re looking to invest, since this can give you a good idea of whether or not there’ll be something for you.
It’s worth prefacing this by saying that is certainly not an exhaustive list of scents used by Calvin Klein, but just a number of scents that the brand uses quite commonly in its colognes.
Sandalwood
Sandalwood is a very popular scent not only for men’s colognes, but for a range of men’s cosmetic products such as beard oils.
This is probably why it’s a popular scent by Calvin Klein, and it is often reserved for the base note as it provides a rich woody scent that’s perfect to cap off a cologne.
This is a popular way to end a Calvin Klein men’s cologne, and it isn’t only sandalwood but other woody notes like cedar that the men’s brand likes to use.
This is an excellent choice because it creates a deep floral yet sweet aroma for the body of a cologne and gives it a very masculine edge.
Amber
Amber is a popular scent in men’s colognes and can be found in the base note of all 3 of our top picks in this guide.
The reason why amber is such a commonly used base note aroma for Calvin Klein is likely because it is a relatively subtle ingredient that provides a vanilla-like smoothness to the character.
It’s the perfect aroma for lightening up a heavy or rich cologne and balancing it out, so it doesn’t become too overpowering at any point.
Citrus
The citrus aroma is commonly used in Calvin Klein men’s colognes and isn’t reserved for a specific ingredient.
Calvin Klein uses a wide range of citrus fruit scents in its men’s colognes, including anything from bergamot and lemon to grapefruit and lime.
These citrus notes, more often than not, form part of the top note of a cologne, given that they can be quite engaging and liven up the opening of the fragrance.
Citrus top notes can help open up the sense of smell and when used well can provide a kick to liven up the wearer and those around.
Patchouli
Patchouli is a plant which belongs to the mint family, but this isn’t what defines its unique scent.
This plant can provide a curious aroma for men’s colognes, which can be described as having a deeply sweet yet slightly spicy character.
This is a scent quite common in Calvin Klein cologne base notes, as it helps lend the classic masculine finish which many of us expect with a men’s fragrance.
The sweet and spicy character is great for balancing out the cologne and finishing it off in a pleasant way.
Cologne vs Eau de Toilette
You may have noticed that all of the colognes reviewed in this list state that they are ‘eau de toilette’ on the labels.
While the two aren’t exactly the same, it’s common to group the latter category into the former, since cologne has become a universally recognised term for a men’s fragrance.
To clear things up, though, here’s the basic difference between a cologne (eau de cologne) and an eau de toilette.
Cologne is one of the oldest terms for perfume and is used to describe a masculine fragrance.
It will typically contain 2-4% perfume oils mixed in with water and alcohol.
This is a type of perfume that will typically last around 2 hours total, so it’s quite short-lived.
Eau de toilette on the other hand will typically contain 5-15% perfume essence which is mixed in with alcohol.
This is a type of perfume that will typically last around 3 hours total, so not much difference, but a little longer-lasting than a cologne.
There’s also a third type of perfume commonly worn by men that goes by the name eau de parfum.
Eau de parfum, which you can find on the label of some Calvin Klein men’s fragrances, is more of a unisex scent.
This perfume will have around 15-20% perfume essence, which means it’s very concentrated.
Eau de parfum is the longest lasting perfume worn by men, and can last between 5 and 8 hours.
To review, there isn’t a whole lot of difference between men’s colognes and eau de toilette, so we have used the terms interchangeably throughout this guide.
How to Apply
There’s more of a process to applying cologne than you may think, especially given that it has to blend with the body’s natural oils for the best results.
Here are a few steps you can take to get it right every time.
- Use after a shower
The best time to apply isn’t just before you head out the door, but right after your get out of the shower.
First dry off your skin, and then you’re ready to apply.
- Apply to sweet spots
Holding the bottle around 5 or 6 inches away from your body, you want to aim for the sweet spots.
For men, these sweet spots tend to be the wrists and neck, so you should experiment and see what works best for you.
The most important thing to remember here is not to overdo it, as this can create an unpleasant overpowering scent.
- Reapply if necessary
If the cologne starts to wear off, then you may need to reapply later in the day.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Calvin Klein Colognes
What is the best Calvin Klein fragrance?
We believe the best Calvin Klein fragrance is Eternity for men, as it’s an excellent everyday cologne.
This cologne offers up an interesting blend of citrus, herbs, and floral aromas, which create a bold aroma for any occasion.
It’s a fragrance that’s good for just about any situation, and should be a staple in most men’s arsenal.
Is Calvin Klein cologne good?
Calvin Klein is a very well-known and well-respected brand, especially for men.
While it’s most known for its designer clothes, it has a wide selection of excellent colognes, too, like Calvin Klein CK One, Eternity, Euphoria, and Obsession for men.
Their colognes tend to be geared towards the younger man, and the signature scents are fresh and full of classic masculine scents.
How long does Calvin Klein Eternity last?
Calvin Klein Eternity for men lasts for most of the day, with many customers claiming that it stays around for the whole day.
Others claim that it is a little watered down and lasts more in the region of 2-4 hours, so it’s hard to say with any certainty.
A Final Word From the Trending Man
Calvin Klein colognes for men are more often than not top masculine scents that should be great for everyday or special use.
Choosing the best cologne for you will depend on a lot of factors, but one thing is for sure, you’ll find something you like within Calvin Klein’s wide range.
If you enjoyed this, you might also be interested in our other cologne reviews and buyer’s guides:
- Best Versace Cologne
- Best Hugo Boss Cologne
- Best Versace Cologne
- Best Tom Ford Cologne
- Best Cologne for Young Men
