Obsession for Men

I'm 39, this is a classic I will never stop wearing or loving. Memories stored in a bottle. There is something about the spicy warm cinnamon, amber, woodsy scent of this that is intoxicating. I know some shade will be thrown but when you layer this over top of Kammarah, it is amazing! Now, the new formulation is made by Coti which is great still. A little more citrus and a little more vanilla but mainly the sillage and longevity suffered bc reduction in fragrance oils. Go back to Unilever in the 90s who made a killer version of this that could be smelt for days. Then back to the original. 'Manufactured by Calvin Klein Cosmetics' made in USA. Straight from the artist to the bottle. That stuff is true beast mode. I own a bottle of it. They don't bother with Eau de toilette, eau de parfum, parfum, etc. It just says all caps. OBSESSION FOR MEN COLOGNE. No atomizer to b---- about, pop the lid tip it and splash that stuff on. Now it's not going to be popular for mid 20s and under in majority. Unless you are awesome and wear what you want instead of trends. All formulations are great. New ones require a lot more sprays and it isn't the same as the first 2 producers but still great. This was everywhere in the 80s and 90s. It still sells a ton. 38 years strong. There is a reason for that. You will never find anything like it, closest may be wanted by night as far as modern frags. Old school Elizabeth Taylor Passion for Men hits some similar notes but not even close and dries down to a soft powdery scent. This is grown man juice. Stack it next to Drakkar Noir and Fahrenheit. Seriously, get even a small cheap bottle if you haven't tried it. It's like nothing else and you will love it or hate it, guaranteed. The old formulations are killer if you find a well preserved bottle. Also Dua brand makes His Obsession that is a clone of the strong spicy cinnamon, nutmeg, creme Brulee and amber goodness. I ordered one, fingers crossed. Again new formula is good but a light version of original. Trust me. Sometimes I just spray this in the house in fall as it is just lovely spice for this time of year. I have too much of it now lol. I have the old version with letters all Caps that is a splash on edt, splash cologne, an old edt spray made by CK cosmetics, mini splash bottle all Caps, and a 2018 version by coti, and a 2023 version by Coti. All of that probably bought for $120. So I have probably 18 oz of it lol. But it's more of a collection item as it is a formula that's changed. So, all that said I think the older version stands out and has a creamier under tone. Problem is, the vintage stuff is approaching 30 to 40 years old so it's beyond maturing lol. If anything they have oxidized too much. If you plan on keeping a fragrance for a long long long time I have heard keeping it in the fridge works pretty well. But the new version to me is still 🔥 and has an awesome unique scent profile. Fresher is better in general so don't misunderstand that part.

Bought a modern bottle (4201 [Coty]) for dirt cheap just cause I didn't want to go through my older batch (E213Z [CKCC]) and there are clear changes. Besides the obvious aesthetic differences like the smaller atomizer (Ralph Lauren did the same with Polo) and translucent cap, the new version cut out a significant portion of the heavier animalics, florals, diluted the woods and chopped up the blend. Fortunately, the opening remains remarkably intact and almost as magnificent as the old stuff. It's basically a blast of cinnamon, soapy amber and oldschool florals, but with a very balmy texture. Out of the gate the blend is excellent, but it sadly starts breaking down after only 30 seconds. From there, the cinnamon starts to amplify, the complexity vanishes and the blend separates into that balmy soapy core and a bunch of spices. It's literally like they lowered the bass volume from 8 to 2, cranked the spice and cut the mid entirely. Whereas the vintage (now aged of course) remains a super rich floral amber and woods with the spices blended in virtually flawlessly. Strong too. The new one almost feels like they created it specifically to scent a bar of soap. Passable, but only just. Fortunately, I will say that the very far base is about 80% the same up close, only very tame in projection. Longevity isn't bad actually - maybe a good 7 hours - but extremely faint, becoming a skin scent within the first hour. So it's weak for sure. The good news is that it still gives me that nostalgia if I overspray on clothing, but I can tell it's a hollowed-out shadow of its former self, just like with Polo and D&G Pour Homme. Definitely has that "watered down" vibe after only 20 minutes, but at least they didn't cut out the core. That balmy and soapy cinnamon is still there till the very end. I suppose a plus for some is that the muting of those lipstick-like elements from the original makes it slightly more masculine after the opening? Personally, I think that's really what made this fragrance so endearing and provocative, besides the heavy use of musks. In its current form, it's still a like but not a love. If you're looking for an alternative, I'd say just get the new stuff and overspray on clothing to keep that great opening for as long as you can. People won't mistaken it if they're familiar with the vintage. And of course, most under the age of 30 will likely still associate it with the....ahhh...elderly. Haha nothing you can do about that. Really was bracing for the worst, but at least Coty didn't sugarize or "modernize" the formula by adding a bunch of those awful woody ambers. Despite the reform, it still gets a single hollow thumbs up.

THE MYSTERIOUS GEM In the '80s, when everything was loud, powerful, and wild, Obsession broke the alpha male stereotype, becoming a sensual figure who explored the deep intrigues of new horizons. He didn't seek attention by shouting loudly, nor did he want to project an image of superiority; he simply represented that cultured, open-minded man who let his mind wander. That was Obsession. One of the reasons is that it ranks among the top ten of that decade alongside true powerhouses like Kouors, Polo, and Drakkar Noir by his own style, is pure Aura. A few sprays and you feel you travel to ancient Arabic world: dense, laden with spices, incense, resins but not the "new" Arabic world where predominate vanilla essence, Obsession is more strong spices, resins, dense amber, animal notes and lots of warmth. Is remain me too much to Opium YSL and Egoiste and if you looking for a budget choice I'll highly recommend you Passion by Elizabeth Arden and Zino by Davindoff, all 5 are the same family. When you' use it: This perfume is definitely for Fall/Winter season, DON'T you ever thing to wear in summer coz someone is going to call to 911 by air intoxication, is very very strong with long lasting and strong sillage. Isn't design to clubbing like Eros but a romantic dinner, isn't sweet but aromatic. In daytime is shinning?? Not really, I used a few times here in Japan where I lives where the winter isn't that bad compare with Europe and definitely isn't match it all. Just keep it for an special occasion with a reunion for dating and let the fragrances do the rest involved in a incredible aura where you can't reach but you can dream. I really love it this perfume. To the new generations: If you are new in the 80s perfumes this is the one you must to own, is a forgotten gem that surprisingly nowadays it would work(if you forget the sweetness) so good because in the world of Tik Tok or "influencers" like other parasites from Youtube lying on Arabic sweet fragrances for the mass appeal , Obsession resemble Lattafa series but without sweetness but spicy, the real Arab one. It doesn't matter if you're not familiar with this branch of perfumes, believe me, your partner will be at your feet and you'll leave that feeling of a mysterious and intriguing person that makes them fall in love with every drop you put on. The Moment of Truth: -Longevity: +10 -Projection: 9 -Sillage: 9 -Scent: 9.5 -Versatile: 5 -Blind Buy: NO -Worth Value: 8 8

I've already reviewed this fragrance a year ago but I just had to come back to appreciate it once again. I've said it before that this is one of the few masculine fragrances I appreciate because I always find myself disliking "masculine" scent profiles but this is different !! despite saying that I liked this back then I was quite unsure whether I truly enjoyed wearing it because there were days where it would smell way too fougere for my liking and I'm just not the biggest fan of fougeres if done too "masculine" which was the exact issue I had with obsession. Also, this fragrance reminded me too much of my grandpa... now i don't want to be very "ageist" when it comes to fragrances because I think it's too shallow to just dismiss a well-crafted fragrance for that reason like imagine being a perfume snob? fucking boring. it took me quite some work to really love LOVEEE this fragrance because I was leaning more towards the classic obsession for women (A MASTERIECE BTW) but after a few wears of this, i've finally learned that it's just as good as the women's !! <3 I also think that layering Kenzo Jungle L'Elephant was the formula that made me fully claim this fragrance (PLEASE TRY THIS LAYERING COMBO !!!! it makes it smell sweeter as it makes the cinnamon more prominent) truly, this is one of the sexiest fragrances i've ever smelled. it's not super raunchy and skanky but it is such a sex beast, although i didn't intend to wear it for "sexy" reasons lmao I just wanted to be odd or different. it's sweet, has a touch of animalic musk without being offensive and STANK, it resembles a leather couch from the 80s, it's very cola-y and quite cinnamon-y, spicy but not in a beef dry rub way, warm and quite powdery, velvety, and delicious. idk whenever I wear this i feel like i just had good sx with someone but ew i don't rlly want to feel like that so i just think i smell like a sexy cola.

I get it... these are strange days we live in. Men want to smell like Smurf farts bubbling up through a fruit roll-up sea of cotton candied Kool-Aid. But not me... not today anyway. Today I smell like Zeus’s beard after leaving the Mount Olympus Barber Shop of the Gods. Today I smell like Adonis perched on a pine stump holding a hand-woven sandalwood basket of amber and aromatic spices while being fanned with exotic flowers by cinnamon and vanilla-winged cherubs. Today men are offering me their wives as tribute. Today women are asking me to train their husbands in the art of manliness. Because today I’m wearing Obsession. Seriously though, this juice is warm, comforting, and spicy and exudes elegance and confidence. It is as provocative, alluring, and sensuous today as it was when I wore it in high school in the late 80’s. It can be dressed up or down and worn day or night; and is at its absolute best during the coldest times of the year. It opens with a floral citrus blast that is balanced by the peppery nuances of coriander and the powdery warmth of cinnamon. The fleeting citrus quickly fades as the fragrance begins to shine. The spicy clove-like qualities of carnation and the comforting warmth of nutmeg are the real players here. Sweet, herbal hints of pine are apparent in the background, while the entire heart is balanced and subdued by the floral qualities of jasmine and the creamy softness of sandalwood and amber. The spiciness fades, but makes its presence known from time to time as it settles into a powdery smooth, milky base of vanilla, sandalwood, and amber that is balanced by the clean freshness of white musk. Obsession is a beautiful, well-balanced, timeless masterpiece of a fragrance that will surely garner you countless compliments. If you don’t have it, do yourself a favor and make it part of your fall and winter rotation. You’ll be glad you did!