On the launch of this perfume, Calvin Klein said: "I didn't want an old-fashioned recipe, I wanted something direct, sensuous and provocative, which represents the way I feel about women."

Obsession fragrance notes

  • Head

    • Lemon, mandarin, bergamot, Peach, jasmine, rose, orange blossom, Rosewood
  • Heart

    • coriander, marigold, armoise, Ylang ylang, Cedar, Sandalwood
  • Base

    • amber, oakmoss, Vanilla, Musk, Civet

Where to buy

Latest Reviews of Obsession

I'm revisiting old fragrances and of course had to try this one. I don't have a lot of memories of this one from the first time around, so this didn't instantly knock be back in time, but it's indeed a very nice warm ambery wood with an incense feel that doesn't feel as dated as I thought it would. This would be an awesome winter comfort scent. The amber does lean a tiny bit into unwashed skin territory on me, which is a common thing with certain ambers, so I won't buy myself more, but it was fun to try a classic, possibly even THE classic amber.
24th May 2023
I absolutely love this fragrance. Such a nice balance of fruit and floral top notes and then it dries down to a nice warm vanilla. I normally don't like vanilla, but for some reason this works on me. I've yet to try the men's version, but my wife doesn't really like "men's" fragrances, so I may just stick with the "women's" version. This is my "go to" scent at night, and it lasts until morning.
9th July 2020

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In a room wearing Obsession sitting next to a freshly made pomander, a blood orange stuck all over with cloves. I don't know which fragrance is the most divine -- me and Obsession, or the orange and cloves.

I put the tiniest of dabs at pulse points--because I'd been warned, immediately I imagine I'm in a nightclub trailing a rich indolent fragrance which turns heads, but I walk fast, so I don't see expressions.

It calms slightly, I'm in church, sandalwood incense and huge bunches of white stalk at the altar, the scents are intense, but changing-calming.

Hours pass, now writing this, I lift up my wrist, and I AM STILL WEARING A GORILLA, sitting next to a pomander.

I don't want it to stop, it's for me, and I don't care who doesn't like it.

Will I wear it tomorrow? It's an event which must be prepared for.
30th December 2018
Great scent. My mother wears it.
Great sillage but with moderate longevity.
I suggest you buy this.
Best worn during chilly weather.
30th December 2017
Love this beautiful rich amber concoction from the eighties. I prefer the original formulation that has the gold band around the cap. I've hoarded bottles which I bought from eBay like a maniac lol. This fragrance has a beautiful scent cloud and I would definitely recommend you trying it out. Calvin Klein really was ahead of his time he brought out some real classic fragrances that have stood the test of time.
30th November 2017
I have both the vintage and reformulated versions of Obsession and they're both good. The vintage has an interesting green note along with the spices and vanilla. It's fresher and rounder. The reformulated version is all spices and vanilla. Cinnamon is especially prominent. I personally find this version a tad bid sweeter and more unisex than the vintage. All in all, I recommend owning both and just thinking of them as separate perfumes.
1st February 2017
I was born the year that this was released and it must have been worn by many during the 90's because it is so familiar and nostalgic, even though I know my mother didn't wear it.

I don't understand how this can be described by some as 'too sweet'. It is very unisex in my very humble opinion and perhaps has a touch of sweetness but is far from excessive. It's clearly an oriental and one that fit's in rather unnoticed when worn in the here and now, unlike the massive 'power-houses' of the decade, which can now feel heavy and old-fashioned.
3rd September 2016
Recently, I was bemoaning the fact that perfume seems to have gone out of style. Or at least it seems that way to me. In the days, when a pretty girl walked by, she always seemed to be followed by a pretty scent trail.
In any case, the other day I stumble upon my wife's old bottle of Obsession and decided to try a little on me. I totally love it!
I'm hoping to find a scent that is labeled "for men" that is similar, because my wife will freak out if she finds me wearing a "ladies" perfume. I tend to be less worried about labels than she is.
In the meantime, I am walking thru the perfume departments at the mall enjoying all the wonderful( and sometimes nasty) scents.
25th April 2016
Oriental run amok. This is an overdose of amber, a diabetic coma of a scent that takes no prisoners. I have never found a Calvin Klein scent-for men or women--that I really like, but this is one that I actively dislike. The same ingredients, in the hands of a master perfumer, could have been great. Such a huge launch at the time, this was everywhere and the very sensual ads created lots of hype. While Dinand is a master designer, I never really understood the egg-shaped bottle. I am very pro choice when it comes to everyone's right to wear fragrances of their choice in public, offices, etc. but once I worked in an office where our receptionist wore it and it literally made me avoid the lobby at all costs. At one point, one of my clients, when shown into the conference room mentioned it and I was almost ready to speak to her about it when the office got a petition together for HR. No connection, I am sure, but she didn't stay long at the firm.
3rd June 2015
My husband bought this for me for our anniversary. I did not like this in the 80's. Maybe because a bunch of us women would go out together. It was probably too much cologne mixed together. I love it. It is my second favorite scent. The hardest thing is for me to go easy when I put cologne on but this one I have to. If I don't have to go anywhere this weekend, I am going to go a little crazy with it. It could have a prettier bottle.
28th May 2015
A man catcher.OBSESSION has the power to fascinate,to surprise and to seduce. it never tame,full of shocking sensuality, redolent of dusk and heated skin. timeless,heavy,sweet, intoxicating, irresistible. passionate,classic,hot and super seductive.

It opens with a inviting and fresh note of bergamot,peach,mandarin orange and vanilla.a heart of sandalwood, iakmoss with a spice notes accord give OBSESSION a sensual and alluring scent center,complemented by a sheer vanilla and thick incense base for an added air of seduction.

This fragrance leaves a trail of unforgettable scent whether you enter or leave.It reminds me a oriental-vanilla fragrance.a must have for any special night and definitely for a femme fatale in winter months.ladies if you want a alluring scent try it.
13th May 2015
I've worn this for years and love it. A male scent? Are you kidding? I get that perfumes react differently with different body chemistry, but this seems very female to me. This isn't unisex AT ALL.

My favorite is the amber basenote.

This is definitely a perfume for the skin, though. Skin warmth brings out the richness, whereas it smells considerably sharper if just sprayed over clothing.
20th December 2014