CK be

I wanted something unapologetically 90s, and I got it, and yet...didn't quite get it. I actually think these CK fragrances are incapable of ever smelling dated, because this has a timelessly clean quality about it that won't ever fail to inspire an uptick in mood upon spraying. But, it does have almost a soapy feel, and it reminds me of things that I smelled when I was a kid. Or, maybe I did smell this specifically at some point. - The opening is grassy, limey, aromatic, fresh and extremely clean. It verges on soapiness. This is a little more masculine than One, Ck All or CK Everyone (but I found Everyone less inspiring personally). There will totally be a large amount of women who probably wouldn't want to smell like this, or at least smell like this often, and that's ok. I'd like to be clear about this because people should know what to expect, the "lavender" (it smells like an indistinct herbal note, not necessarily lavender) tips it into traditionally masculine territory (though I always say - 'Who cares? Wear what you like!'). I'm totally OK with it though, and I admit that I have a massive spectrum of perfume types that I enjoy wearing. This doesn't step outside of what I'm comfortable with. Yes...as others have said, longevity is lacking. But price is a big factor and you can usually find this at outlets for a large bargain, so spraying generously isn't a deal breaker. Also, it's just begging to be worn in summmer...I think it'll be amazingly refreshing, and so the act of spraying in the heat is cooling. I actually welcome reapplication in heat. All this is to say that i wish longevity was better here, but that with cheap summery frags I forgive easily. People hate sentimentality in reviews. I don't care, you can read someone else's opinion and skip this; but I gotta say, as this dries, I'm hit with a rare, wistful, emotional response that I specifically try and seek out. It reminds me of... something. Boyfriends? Maybe someone earlier? Friends?...maybe not. It's more like a first crush. And as weird as that is to admit online to internet strangers, I'm gonna say it anyway. Fragrances are so special because they can unearth echos of memories that you didn't realize you retained...as this does here. Something about the musk and greenness makes me ache with nostalgia, and I love it.

I have noticed a serious amount of negativity towards Calvin Klein scents on here and on Basenotes. I'm sorry to say I just don't get it at all. I am a big fan of most of the CK fragrances for men, and it seems that what I like about them is what a lot of people have a problem with: I like the fact that they are pretty subtle and 'safe' - although the words I would use are pleasant and reliable. It seems that a lot of people out there treat their fragrance choice as some sort of solo performance art piece. The words 'bold' ‘challenging’ and 'daring' are not really suitable things to go for if you are a professional who works in an open-plan office. We can't all flounce about smelling like the creative director of an avant garde theatre troupe and expect to be taken seriously by colleagues and clients in a professional communal space. In addition it's not really a very considerate way to behave if you find yourself sharing elevators. Despite what the marketing industry would have you believe, fragrances aren’t going to make you appear significantly wealthier, sexier, or more interesting. You have to work on those sorts of things rather than buy them in bottles. There is a reason that CK fragrances sell so well despite all of the niche snobbishness launched their way: Most people like them. To counter the argument “Who wants to smell like everyone else?” I would say: Who doesn’t want to smell good to everyone else? For me CK Be is the best of them all. It is light and fresh with a few nuances that make it stand out, and absolutely no odd twists. I'd happily smell like this for years. It works at any time of year, in any climate, formal or casual, night or day.

I just love love, CK be. It must be my all-time favorite unisex fragrance. It sways between a masculine, herbal green opening to a more feminine, delicate floral heart, but then settles as an exactly unisex fragrance in the base. It is mostly a lavender musk scent with some vanilla and woods in the base. The top notes had me thinking it would be very green and sharp, but on the contrary, they are just emphasizing the herbal aspect of lavender with a tad of citrus. The florals wipe out any sharpness, and it is mostly smooth and velvety. The musk is a clean, powdery, soft one reminiscent of the musk in Johnson’s baby products very soothing and calming. The good sillage in the opening reduces very quickly to a very close scent-bubble, but I disagree that the overall longevity is bad. I have a relatively new bottle purchased three years ago. The longevity ranges from 3 to 4 hours which is expected for an EDT. However, it needs some movement, breeze or air draft to be sensed. But I am an over sprayer and I usually spray my hair and clothes as well, so take that into consideration. You can improve longevity by using a matching lotion. I think that the aromatherapy line from Bath and Body Works (like Lavender Vanilla or Vanilla Eucalyptus) would be a good match. You can also use lavender scented Johnson baby oil as they have similar lavender musk theme. Overall I find CK Be a perfect fume for the friendly introvert. It is relaxed but charming, subdued but also elegant and classy. It is mellow yet still spicy and sensual. It is the unisex fragrance for me.

One of my favorite light and layerable non offensive fragrances. This is not only a good unisex fragrance, but versatile enough for all seasons and for people of different styles or different occasions. Its very fresh, but not super green, more fresh in an airy or ozonic kind of way, safe for mostly any occasion, but might be too light. Not at all sweet, nor does it have any particularly strong notes, if anything I would say the mint, lavender and juniper are the most noticeable. The only thing that this perfume lacks is in its performance. Its appropriate for most all seasons but it doesn't seem to last long enough in the summer, and its sillage is probably about half a foot lol. Perhaps it also lacks in performance due to its ability to not be an offensive fragrance and a generally acceptable one, its almost too non offensive that its actually kind of unnoticeable at its strength. I feel it would massively benefit if it was stronger. This is more of a personal take, but for some reason gives me a churchy kind of feel. Imagine an abandoned church in the deep forest, but its at night during a snowy blizzard. The air is fresh, cold and slightly dry, you could smell the trees but its subtle. The smell of the old church's and its incense is weak, but mixes in with this fresh cold air as it flows through its broken windows... maybe its just me but I feel like there is a tiny hint of incense that blends very well with everything, very subtle, unnoticeable. Perhaps this would be a good summer wear for any goths.

A fragrance released in 1996 from the good old days that brings back memories of the past with nostalgia, even if you didn't live in that era. Suitable for all times and places, it is classified as unisex but leans more towards men's fragrances. A harmonious fragrance rich in ingredients, blended with great craftsmanship so that no one aromatic ingredient overpowers the other. The scent here is rich, creamy, fresh, fruity, herbal, woody, and smoky. A magic you won't find anywhere else. A simple and uncomplicated fragrance with many ingredients, you wish from the first moment that this scent would last with you forever. Never ask about the performance; the performance is somewhat average, but it is compensated by the magic and depth of the scent. Pros: - Subtle and safe fragrance - Sophisticated drydown - Pleasant and reliable scent - Easy to wear and won't offend Cons: - Poor longevity - Short-lasting fragrance - The bottle design is very primitive In my personal opinion, if fragrance liquid were put in a niche bottle, it would sell for many times its simple price. I don't usually buy fragrances twice, but there's an exception to every rule. CK BE is one of the fragrance I've bought several times, and every time I use it, I get compliments as if I'm actually using it for the first time.

I’ve recently revisited this after buying one bottle and getting rid of it. But I decided to give it another go and subsequently fell in love. Leans masculine. It’s warm and sensual with hints of CK one at its core. This will not offend anyone, no matter how much you overspray. Which is something I encourage. In fact I think it’s mandatory to fully appreciate this one. Someone below mentioned that it smells like a Sharpie, which honestly it sorta does at the beginning. This opens a bit harsh. But patience is the key because the dry down is where this stuff shines IMO. Comfy cozy lavender. Musky clean linens. A hint of floral sweetness. All with that melancholic 90s' edge. Oh and performance is monstrous. Lasts all day and then some. Near eternal on clothes. I really don’t get the hate for this one.

The introvert cousin of the CK One era. While CK One was loud in its cultural impact, CK Be always felt more personal and understated. Softer, darker and woodier, it has this cozy clean-skin vibe that still feels incredibly comforting today. The mix of light spices, soft woods, musk and tonka gives it a relaxed “fresh after midnight” feeling that became very characteristic of late-90s minimalism. It doesn’t scream for attention and honestly, that’s exactly its charm. Quietly cool, intimate and effortlessly wearable even decades later. PRO TIP: Layering it with Lattafa Breeze gives the fragrance a modern fresh-musky punch while preserving the nostalgic CK Be DNA, with better longevity.

A classic for myself, was the first cologne my mother ever bought me when I was probably around 10-13yrs old. Have been through bottles and bottles of it. Personally, I find that the musky notes, green notes, magnolia and cedar all come off most prominently on my skin. It's not a projection beast by any means, but that's not really what this is meant to be. It's an office scent, a casual scent, a lunch date scent. It's clean, brisk, sophistocated with a TOUCH of sweetness. I've worn it for everything from casual to formal to work, but that's because it's a personal favorite and I'll probably never put it down as long as it's available.

CK be is all time fav. I started on my first bottle like 8 years ago. Through all these years never once have I stopped liking this fragrance. while for other perfumes my taste fluctuates a lot. Sometimes when I pick up a jacket and smell something really pleasing, I would try to figure out what it is then I realize it was the trace of CK be remaining on it. This frag is the only one that really relaxes me. When i wear it I feel Im not trying to please anybody. Just immersing myself in this soft green aroma. I bought a 200ml bottle today while I still have over half of a 100 bottle. Just in case it discontinues sometime in the future.

Our first "expensive" perfume back in 1997 with my sister. Guys this juice has a wow factor. Someone like Marly or Dior must take this and reinterpratate into something with better quality and ingredients. It's a warm, clean( not too much) sweet( not too much) strawberry like, with beautiful darkness scent. Not for kids but with youth, with life. Interesting, not one of the same. Some reformulations were too powdery or metallic and bad. The magic in this fragrance is so fragile that a bad batch can ruin everything. I had many bottles. The best was a 50 ml 2005 batch. Low longevity and projection but pure beauty.

For some reason, this is such a melancholic scent to my nose. It transports me to a liminal place where time stands still, like when you are hit with a wave of sadness for no reason. You are in the a crowd and yet you feel removed. A sheer ghostly presence. Your heart is cold and frozen long ago but also fragile like glass. No one knows of the deep thoughts in your mind, but they can somehow sense it. You are mysterious, but not because you try to be. This smells to me like cold midnight air looking up at the stars against the blackest night over mountain peaks. Longing for something out there you can't reach.

Top 10 but no longevity. Powdery, soapy, clean genuis in an almost one note vibe despite all the many notes/accords used and it doesn't smell like you purposely doused yourself in perfume before work like someone wearing perfume often comes off as having done- more that you just happen to smell clean without being able to pinpoint if it's soap, powder, laundry detergent, a bit of sunscreen, ironing starch, etc. likely won't garner comments as people will assume you're just clean and fresh but I've had one or two in the past who were surprised it was perfume, one wanted to know what sunscreen it was.

There's a reason I wore this perfume for over two decades. While I can't pinpoint any particular note in CK Be, the soup of all the notes together make for such a pleasant, comfortable, wonderful scent. I understand why people find it boring - it's like the oatmeal of perfumes, the boiled potato of colognes, the buttered toast of scents. I can't imagine anyone being offended by it; it's probably the safest of all perfumes out there, ever. The only bad thing about CK Be - the ONLY bad thing: it doesn't last. Not even at all. But it just smells sooooo good.

My favorite fragrance and signature. Its simple and clean but I like that especially bc it is in a perfect way. If you take the comparison of aqua di gio to ck one, this CK Be would be like the CK version of aqua di gio profumo.. the dark aquatic but smooth and rounded lowdered florals (that faintly smells like the incense in it but floral) without harsh metal or oceanic notes.. This one is just me.. its what ive searched for for years even after smelling it just to come back and stay. Perfect.

It gives me a Iso E Super kind of impression, timeless, nostalgic, kind of lost in time, light smell. Lovely green and flowery, not overly citrusy lavender with warm woody undertones. Good projection, worth it for the price. Highly recommended. The smell reminds me of old shopping malls during the 2000s, masculine leaning, very chic! EDIT: Unbelievably longlasting despite comments. After 13hrs I can still smell the perfume on my throat. What a lovely warm lavender!

It was frustratingly weak when it came out and it’s frustratingly weak now. But god I adore it. Warm, cozy, spicy, fresh, flowery and enticing. It’s the olfactory equivalent to a brief but deeply loving hug. 20+ sprays on your clothes is where it’s at and you’ll offend absolutely no one. You might think I’m mental for suggesting it, but really... 20 sprays and actually consider even more. Bath in the stuff, it’s gentle enough and dirt cheap. Gorgeous.

I love the smell; the lavender makes it very comforting, but it doesn't last long at all. Disappears to being a faint skin scent in 1 hr; however, you could reapply with a decant every 3-4 hours to fix its longevity issue. I like using it before bed, and if I want to use a fragrance quickly without thinking much about it. You also get a blast of the smell of alcohol right after spraying it, so keep that in mind. EDIT: This lasts like 10 min 😭?

It’s the lighter love child of Rives by Ellis Brooklyn and Obsessed for Women by Calvin Klein that also lasts much shorter than either of the parents. It starts out somewhat tart with a tiny bit of sweetness before turning powdery. The lavender note isn’t quite as strong as the one in Obsessed but it’s still somewhat noticeable. It’s the closest dupe of Obsessed for Women that I’ve found so far, but unfortunately it is discontinued.

Quite a strong alcoholic smell at first but settles down to a fresh, soapy lavender scent. Gives the impression of a clean person with freshly washed clothing. Suitable for everyday. Downside. It doesn't project well even if you overspray it. I recommend spraying this on your clothing as it will fade on your skin very quickly. But for a ~$30 fragrance don't be afraid to spray more.

Hate to see the hate for CK Be. It is a lavender lovers dream and so much more than some of these reviews. The longevity sucks but that initial spritz is something to behold. As good a retro blast as you're gonna get. If you are showing hate for this based on the smell alone, you are nasally-challenged and need to have your life choices questioned!