CK One Essence

#151 of My Fragrance Journey - Calvin Klein CK One Essence: The one that finally figures out how to grow up without becoming boring There's this weird stretch of weather every year, right when winter's still hanging on but spring's already showing up in small doses. That's basically what this fragrance is trying to bottle, and it mostly gets there. It's not reinventing the original CK One - can't imagine anyone actually asking for that - it's more like it's letting that whole '90s unisex, everybody-wears-it thing grow up a little without losing what made it work. Opens with Italian bergamot and blood orange, bright but held back a bit, and there's this clean white tea accord running through it that genuinely smells like opening a window after months of it being shut. That's the closest thing I can compare it to. Cool without going icy, light but not thin - feels earned somehow, if that makes sense for a citrus opening. Once that settles a touch, green tea and mint come through, mint doing this cool little breeze thing, and geranium's just sitting there keeping everything level instead of trying to bloom into anything. It takes its time. Doesn't rush you. Where the original was mostly air, this one actually grounds itself - Australian sandalwood, a refined musk, a little moss and incense somewhere underneath. Gives it a kind of quiet confidence, warm without tipping into dark or heavy. Feels like it's stopped trying to prove anything, honestly. It's not loud about renewal - more like the first warmth coming back into your hands, or just noticing your own breathing's gone a little deeper without meaning to. I'll say this, though - the musk smooths over some of the original's rougher edges, and that gives it a clean, polished designer finish that might feel a touch too familiar if you're expecting something weirder. The trade-off is better longevity and a projection that's actually reasonable - five, six hours with a decent trail. One thing worth knowing: the musk base tends toward nose-blindness fast, so you'll think it's gone way before anyone standing near you does. Morillas reworked this one as a Parfum Intense, apparently - double the concentration of the original - and it comes in this minimalist bottle, translucent, metallic finish, recyclable too if that matters to you. Works fine as an everyday thing. Office, gym, running errands, whatever. Sits somewhere between nostalgic and actually current, which is a harder line to walk than people give it credit for. Vibe: Pale morning light. Green tea steeping near an open window. White cotton warming slowly in the sun. Performance: Moderate projection, five to six hours of wear. The musk fades on your own nose faster than it does for people around you - don't be fooled into respraying too soon. Fit: An easy, unisex everyday scent that feels lived-in rather than dressed up. Spring, transitional weather, most days really. Anyone else notice their own fragrance disappear on them way before it actually does? More scent stories and visuals on Instagram - @lavendercloudsjd

Pleasantly surprised with this release. It's smells around 80-85% similar to the original, but with more citrus and musk. It's like CK one mixed with silver mountain water. Longevity is decent compared to other CK releases as I get around 6-7 hours (last 2 hours skin scent) with solid projection and silage for the first hour. Got a 100ml for 40 dollars and at that price point I think it's worth it. Definitely something that suits spring and summer. My only wish is that the beautiful opening lasted longer, but I do appreciate the musk dry down. If you like the original and want something that will bring back that nostalgia with a little more umph, this is a good pick up. EDIT: The more I wear this the more I like it. Its just pleasant period and it's a shame many in the fragrance community won't give it a try because it's CK and they are known for mediocre flankers. Not this one however this one is definitely a winner especially if you liked the original and are a fan of clean citrus based freshies.

More floral, aquatic and a little sweeter than the original - it really does feel like an effective update of CK One, which I love but does smell retro (and have near-nonexistent performance on skin). Opening is tea and rain, citrus present but not as forward or sharp as in the original, and settles into a pretty, peppery skin scent with sweet, clean musk. I get a little bit of iris too - reminds me of a more aquatic, less ambroxan version of the OG Glossier You (and I wouldn’t be surprised if that was a reference point - along with Santal 33 they kind of play the same role of “effortless unisex fragrance” that CK had in the 90s). This has a bit better longevity than the OG but that’s taking it from weak to medium performance. Feels genuinely unisex where I think the original leans masculine, just as versatile, clean and accessible as the original. Will definitely be picking it up as a full size when the remainder of my OG is finished.

Definitely the same scent but smells and performs better than it has in the last twenty or so years. Slightly more modern...I'm guessing ambroxan has been dialed up here. It has a similar sweet, aromatic, musky, woody club feel of the 2010's blue fragrances (Bleu de Chanel, Sauvage, etc.), but it is still undoubtedly CK One. Essence also gets rid of the slightly sharp bathroom-cleaner edge that the regular version now has. If they had released this 5-10 years earlier, I think they would have had a mega-hit on their hands. Sadly, Calvin Klein seems to be the only fashion brand these days not expanding their fragrance lines. A shame, since they have such perfume classics and a modern history to their name. Highly curious what a CK Privé line would look like. Since CK One was the first fragrance I owned, it's quite a fun, nostalgic wear for me. Might finally be the time I start wearing this again after all these years.

The regular ck one you can buy today smells like the ck one you bought in the 90’s. Any talk of “this smells like the OG” stuff is silly. 2024 ck one smells like 1994 ck one. The one difference between the two is the diminished performance of the current version. Ck One Essence is different in good ways. It definitely has Creed Silver Mountain Water vibes. No doubt about that. And the performance is much better than regular ck one. Basically, if you want a better-performing, slightly modernized ck one that happens to have SMW vibes, go for it. That’s what this is. I literally googled “Ck One EDP” to see if that was a thing because I do truly still enjoy Ck One but I wanted something with better performance. Ck One Essence came up and I pulled the trigger. It gives you that better performance, with the aforementioned tweaks. Slightly different, but still most definitely ck one, only stronger.

Oh my this is what club de nuit silage wants to be. It's tame and clean and smells like tea and fresh air to me. Silage trys to achieve the same thing but unfortunately is too loud about it and it can only be understood when you smell this stuff. Never tried Creed SMW and im too broke to so can't speak to how well this Pairs to it. One day I'll make enough money to justify paying whatever they asking for at creed. Tried Silver Mountain Water, for the price 70$ vs 300$ this is a steal, its very close to my amateur nose, obviously creed will have that smoothness that they are known for. But for a Lemony Tea fragrance you dont really need to spend 300 when 100 is enough. great alternative if you dont want to cough up 300 ( I obviously dont)

This a a great scent! Super clean smelling and very versatile. I get an almost cooling sensation when wearing it. Modernised and stronger version of the original which is a great scent also. The performance is actually great for me and I find that if I overspray a bit or re-apply throughout the day it can actually take a couple of washes for the smell to come out of clothes. The citrus and tea mix in here is really nice and inoffensive. People often compliment this one while at work. I get a similar vibe to Silver Mountain Water with this one (which I don't own but have smelled). My brother and I both picked up a 100ml bottle for cheap not long after it came out and now you can get a 200ml. Easy recommendation for a easy to wear scent!

Thoroughly enjoyable. Better than CK One in every way although it unmistakably shares the same DNA. It’s “CK One now that it’s an adult”. And it’s strong. I do not understand people experiencing poor performance with this. It’s not what I experience at all. It has true parfum strength and lasts many hours. Six sprays and I still get wafts of it when moving around at the end of a work day. It’s definitely unisex, but slightly leans masculine for me. Perfect for the office or any setting when you want to smell great and offend no one. I paid £28 for 100ml on Amazon, so the price is now coming down from launch. Good. A welcome addition to my collection and one that’ll I reach for often.

A refined yet nostalgic take on the original CK One. Fresh crisp citrus dominate in the beginning with a slight spiciness from the black pepper. As it dries down you get a beautiful tea note that's slightly bitter but still very fresh and, in some ways to me at least, very soapy. Longevity is definitely improved but still doesn't match the longevity of some other freshies like L'Eau D'Issey pour Homme. Sillage is fortunately pretty average since i hate when a fragrance projects across the room. Overall a really good freshie, pretty safe blind buy.

This coul be a successsfull niche scent if it was not made by CK and the price wasn't so cheap too. Same identity as the OG, but more floral and a little powdery, it deserves to be signature of everyone that have signature scents (not me). The original have very good longevity (i can surelly tell it because it's my son's signature scent) and this too. Maybe people go nose blind, but it doesn't mean that the others don't feel it. Fresh, pleasant, elegant, versatyle, cheap, what more could you want? 10/10!

I'm surprised by this one, initially it may just seem like another flanker, but there is a close link between this and the original formulation. The intensify is definitely there, I got a good six hours of longevity from it, projection too was also very good. It's still ultra fresh, clean and bright, I've amassed so many CK one flankers over the years, sometimes it's hard to tell them apart, this one however, I keep returning to. One of Calvin Klein's best releases for a while.

Great version. Basically a bit more floral and woody than the OG. You trade some lightness for more longevity and a stronger, longer lasting base. Don’t get me wrong it’s not a beast but it’s a remarkable improvement in comparison. I prefer this one as it’s a bit woodier ,although the OG will always be iconic. Truly one of the best flankers overall recently for me! Alberto Morillas did an excellent job reviving the original’s performance and bringing it back to modern times.

Long lasting. Fresh. Clean. Nostalgic. Uplifting. Really, really unisex. Stays true to the original fragrance DNA, only a little woodier. What more could you ask for? It's the evolution of the EdT version, as if they had taken all the greatest things about the original fragrance, and improved its longevity. It's a classic for a reason, and Morillas never disappoints. I'm in love. I'm also really thankful there's a 200 ml bottle. Great value for money.

This is amazing. I've spent a lot testing every popular frag I could research (to a large extent). And I don't like oud and poop smells. I've learned I like designer bangers, LV, and rarely any niche (They are repulsive enough that I won't wear them.) This is one of the top 10 I've ever enjoyed I think. Pure pleasant. Non offensive. Boring for those who'd rather smell like poop, or scream "smell me". Good for those who just wanna smell good

Still has the classic DNA , a little bit soapy in the opening , if you like perfumes that gives you the feeling of clean for sure you will like it or love it. On my PH the sillage is 2-3 H at 1.5m and longevity is 10+H not bad for the price that is sold. What i love is how good is feel the Green Tea and White Tee and how well they blend with the mint and blood orange , i wish they add and the Ginger and Ice from refections to this one to.

I used to use CK One, and when it ran out, I tried this one. It was love at first sniff. This has everything that makes you love CK One, but better. It's long-lasting on my skin and has great projection. I even sometimes smell it when I'm at the office. Great projection, and it lasts longer on my skin than strong perfumes like Azzaro The Most Wanted. A true perfume and the best clean fragrance out there. I love this perfume.

Big fan of the original CK One EDT, brings back so many good memories! This release is great, as soon as I sprayed CK One Essence I was pleasantly surprised. Alberto Morillas strikes again, CK One Essence is a smoother, more intense iteration of the OG. Performance is not bad at all, lasts all day on clothing, I get around 6-7 hours on skin. It’s a solid release!

There are a ton of fragrances I would like to pick up; instead I am going to pick up a backup bottle of this lol. The "sites" have stock, but I am sure they aren't making more of it. It smells great. It lasts a long time for a freshie. Doesn't smell cheap. Love the bottle. The price is insane right now - $50 for 200ml. That's cheaper than any cheapy scent.

Haters don’t want to see this one win, but it does. Blows CK out of the water in terms of longevity but so does my fart. I do see where people are getting the silver mountain water from, maybe that’s why I’m drawn to this one. If you can find this for 30-40$ per 100ml you should for sure cop, blows all these clones out of the water.

Bought this recently, such a beautiful perfume, a great all-rounder. Perfect for summer but I also can't wait to wear it on a cold winter morning - I think the perfume trail will be stunning. It's CK One without the fruitiness, slightly more masculine which I love. Gorgeous bottle too, would make a lovely gift

Sticks to the original DNA, but obviously darker, heavier, deeper. Still opening with a fresh citrus blast, drying down slightly herbal, powdery, citrussy. Has that old school feeling about it. Not sure about sillage, but lasts forever on clothes. 8.73/10

My go-to for sunny days, especially when I know I'm gonna sweat a lot. Smells fresh and it has a lingering tea notes on my skin. I usually don't like citrus-y notes in my perfume but the bergamot and blood orange here are pleasing.

Very close to og edt. Less sharp opening, has more tea accords. Very well done, performance is great. CK Parfums are very well performing. If you like original, you will like this. Similar to Banana Republic White Tea 90 also.

Ck One for the 21st century. Refined and redefined. The performance is tremendous. Literally one spray underneath my shirt lasts and projects all day. As a chronic oversprayer, less is more here. Love this one.

OG came out when I was a sophomore in high school.. Can't wait to try this, the current rendition is a shadow of its former self. Waiting on a real review and I'll have no problem paying retail if it's legit.

Kind of scent which smells like you’re the cleanest you’ve ever been. It’s CK one but stronger without that feminine leaning white floral / musk. It’s still unisex but I find it more masculine overall.

CK T-1000. A warmed up, less astringent, overall more refined and just all around more better version of the original. If you enjoy CK one then there’s no reason not to check this out.

This perfume carries so many memories. Memories of my best friend and I hitting the club until it closes and going to our male friend's house until the crack of dawn. Fresh. Seductive.

Early spring, one of the first evenings. Sprite and vodka on a terrace that’s still slightly too chilly. He hands me his jacket. The rain catches us on the way home.

Been looking for this locally and nobody has it. NOBODY. Reviews have been good so I blind bought a bottle. This is an excellent, modern take on CK One. I love it.

This flanker is the closest smelling to the ORIGINAL CK1 from the 90’s. It smells more like CK1 than CK1 and I love it. It really takes me back!

I like it but it smells pretty much the same as ck one, no noticeable difference. A lot more expensive though so I’d say buy the original.

I kind of forgot about it. I still wear the OG but this feels polished and modern by comparison. It's truly an excellent CK One.

This is really a beautiful, clean, and uplifting spring and summer fresh fragrance. Day time, sunny weekend vibes. Love it.

Flower shop bomb not much citrus here,, ambrox is a bit boring. Lasts whole day, but that gazzy end is linear and meh.

The perfect summer fragrance. Works very well in the Miami heat. The dry down is intimate and fresh.

The original works a little better on my skin personally, but this one is more interesting.

Strong tea note, very clean, fresh, wonderful

So, where to begin with this one? Believe it or not, this is strangely similar to Issey Miyake Pour Homme vintage; the opening is almost an exact duplicate. I get tons of Yuzu, and don't know why it's not listed here on the fragrantica website. But it's here as far as I'm concerned and I'm probably confusing it with the bergamot. There's a similarity to CK One original, no doubt. But this Essence, is ramped up. Opening starts me with a slight headache. It's powerful. I wouldn't over spray this. Issey Miyake Pour Homme does the same for me too. As the Yuzu fades somewhat and I can only attribute this as being the bergamot, the geranium and musk come ever so slightly thru, being bolstered by the tea note. However, the acidity of the blood orange is next and this stays throughout. I don't get pepper, incense, none of that. There's a twinge of honey, slightly. This fragrance is powerful. Many have waited a long time for CK One original to come back in strength and apparently, it has in Essence. As Essence softens, the fragrance gets more beautiful. And the bergamot comes back to the forefront as a lighter, creamier bergamot with a creamier musk. Layered with Cerruti Image, it's even tastier. 🤤 Very well done. Ramped up for sure. Longevity is near 6.5 to 7 hours on me. Sillage is about 3 to 5 feet. Price is about $65 on eBay. Much respect to the freshie king, Alberto Morillas 💪.

CK One Essence is a bit of a pointless release, you could argue. It lives off of the previous success of the original, retaining its core values but attempting to mould it into something more modern and refined. I think it achieves that, but in doing so strips away the very character which made CK One so popular. It’s still got that scratchy, musky, minty citrus cocktail feel about it, but very much smoothed out by an increase of the tea notes. Additionally, a surge in juicy blood orange makes the overall scent a little sweeter and fruitier. I can’t deny it smells very pleasant, but I just don’t see much need for it to exist. I will admit, I am a huge lover of CK One - no one can deny how iconic it is and despite my usual tastes, I love the original scent profile. Whilst I can appreciate the thought process of this one, you’re better off just sticking with the original if you want this sort of scent.

Right then, grab a handful of leaves, give yourself a proper rubdown, and there you have it—you’ve just recreated the scent of this fragrance. Simple as that. But here’s the real question... Two bottles of CK One, or one CK One Essence? I’ll be honest, I was missing that sharp, citrusy freshness that makes CK One a proper classic. CK One Essence? Well, let’s just say a thorough shower, a bit of body oil, and a decent fast-absorbing moisturiser will give you about the same longevity this one reckons it’s got. That said, credit where it’s due—it’s a solid fragrance. But if I had to pick? I’d go for two CK One, no doubt. I mean, who doesn’t appreciate a bit of value for money? ➡️DanGreat | Proper mad about fragrances and cracking good stories 📸 @danlobarc.

Just grab online 50ml package, Ck one is my signature scents in high school, so I hv a lot of memories that the reason I purchase again after 25 years, also bcs I saw it’s Parfum intense, so wanna try how the performance compare with OG 25 years ago. I tried yesterday, CK1E is lil more intense, bold and slightly lead to male. Projection is moderate not much different with OG, just abit disappointed the longevity, as a (Parfum Intense) concentration I think should be atleast last up to 6 hours, yes is last 6 hours but skin scents, projection last maybe bout 1-2 hours only, so I would say is not worth with price point to buy CK1E, better just go for OG bcs performance is not really big different but the price is big different.

It’s the same story as it was with Eros Flame: that stood at 3.67 when I first bought it many years ago and which is now considered a very decent perfume by most. So it is with this one: a deeper, richer, smoother and longer lasting version of CK One which will be revered soon because it is a very nice fragrance indeed. And it perfectly fits the role I want it to have: it is completely inoffensive in the best sense of the word. Because in most neutral, everyday situations, in a university classroom or a business meeting room, frankly, you don’t want anyone to notice your smell. And if they do, muted clean & playful fresh is a combination unlikely to cause bad impressions.

Haven’t really got much to say about it. Received a free sample from tiktok, and it is very fresh. Nicely fresh, citrusy even. I could’ve sworn it had lemon in it. Luckily enough I was looking for a perfume like it. To me though, it smells slightly too masculine for my liking. I’d wear it after the gym though; it’s an easy wear. Though I haven’t smelt the original one ever, if it’s remotely close, I’d probably buy. The overall perfume opens with a green tea, citrus note. Then it’s got that dry down of musk. Scratchy, almost screechy at first. It’s quite minty too, I could definitely see a man wearing this. Can’t complain though with a free sample!

Just a test, I don't own the fragrance but first impressions; Reminiscent of the original CK One but somehow less 'fun' and kind of colder in mood, which gives it a more masculine aura. The floral (jasmine), light sweetness of the original EDT is missing but the citrus freshness is here, especially in the opening, a slightly minty aroma combining with the citrus to create a cool freshness. The drydown reminds me a little of the CK One collector's (Quilt) edition from 2019, combined with touches of the original. Not bad but I really wish they would re-release the fantastic 2008 Summer edition (apparently 2013 was similar)!

Wearing this now. My first impressions: It feels as if Morillas dialed up the tea present in the original, removed its floral midsection, and somehow made the whole affair less radiant than its predecessor. As it dries down, there’s a skin-like muskiness accompanied by a gentle but persistent woody base. While it’s not as loud as the OG, it lasts longer on skin, but your personal mileage may vary. If you enjoyed the original and wouldn’t mind a stripped-down ‘acoustic’ version of it that feels a touch more modern, here’s your chance. Edit: This wears extremely well in high heat.

my first actual fragrance i got for my own collection and id say its a great one to start with, its a very clean citrus scent with some good notes of spice in the first notes; like a very outgoing and bold scent. but the dry down reveals some musky notes though the citrus is really strong in this one. makes me smell very clean and refreshing like i just finished spa day but in a fun and citrus-y sparkling way, then walked past a guy ripping a cigar. kinda interesting dry-down with citrus and incense/spice but im getting used to it... awesome in hotter weather though

I dont think i've ever smelled the og. But to me this smells like a slightly spicy, powdery deodorant mixing with your bodies natural musk (not bad musk), with soapy undertones. In the air it's less musky. Almost like wearing a fragrance without wearing a fragrance. Could be a base to layer. Idk but I like it. Edit: few more wears and I get the slight citrus. My favorite stage is when it starts to fade and most of the musk is gone and it's a clean slight citrus soapyness. I wish that stage was just amped and it would be more unisex and the perfect clean scent (imo)

Yes, it's like the original CK One but more pronounced, sweeter and floral. Essence is an expanded version of the original. At first I was disappointed since it seemed harsh and abrasive in the opening, but it got better as it developed. I like Essence more than the original CK One since even my bottle from ten years ago is really weak in strength. I feel I have to wait until spring and summer to get the most out of this and allow it to bloom from the heat. This is a good warm weather freshie and it does last a long time, unlike the original CK One.

I don't understand the weird complaints about being plain. CK has been about simplicity (and yes not to the point of complete lack of creativity). Feels like a refined take on the original CK One. I prefer this one though. The longevity issue has been resolved and it's much stronger overall. Classic soapy scent, smells like immediately out of the shower. Does feel pricey, however the 100ml of one essence is more potent then these 200ml edt's from the other flankers that hardly last. Definitely a must buy for anyone looking for a clean office scent.