Truth

Upgrading my review of Truth from a Like to a Love after letting this sit for a while in a refrigerator drawer. Where once she was fleeting and slightly generic, now she is pure magic. It sounds odd to say about such a green perfume, but it reminds me of the general smell of Pier One in the early 1970s, that delicious smell of exotic woods, soaps, and spices. As a small child, I used to gravitate to the soap, essential oil, and incense aisles and inhale deeply; I also loved to huff the rosewood and sandalwood jewelry boxes and curio cabinets. I didn't have a wide fragrance vocabulary back then, but I loved all the Pier One smells, which gave me a sense of serenity and joy that eluded me during the TM classes in which my mom enrolled my foster sister and me. Ancient retail reveries notwithstanding, Truth seems to have benefited a lot from its mandatory time-out in cold storage. It's still far from what I would call strong, but the evanescent quality is part of its charm. Sometimes it reminds me ever so slightly of Elizabeth Arden's Green Tea, but without that rhubarb note that kind of bums me out. I have been trying to think of a good perfume to wear to a memorial service this weekend, a fragrance that isn't likely to sicken or offend or even register as a fragrance at all. Truth might qualify for that. It could easily be mistaken for a luxurious European lotion or soap. It also contains a distinct but discreet lily note, which will surely be in abundance. Earlier today I put on Calvin Klein Beauty, and now I'm amusing myself with "Beauty is truth, truth beauty" affirmations, wondering, not for the first time, if Keats was dead wrong about that equivalence. At any rate, Calvin Klein's Truth doesn't have much to do with his Beauty, although both come in elegantly austere bottles and have enjoyably pretentious names. Beauty isn't very slutty for such a jasmine-forward frag, but she's much more of a cishet girly-girl than Truth, which smells like clean spaciousness and quiet luxury, perhaps like that meditation-therapy room presided over by the beautiful ageless Indian staffer in the last season of The White Lotus, before the gunfire abruptly shifts the vibe. I also pick up on the mimosa, which is quite beautiful, though I wish it were stronger. Maybe it just can't compete with the lily and lemon. Or maybe it will come out more as the juice ages. I wasn't sure I knew what bamboo smelled like, but I definitely get the clover and a kind of milky, almost sandalwoody-figgy accord that I think is the bamboo. Bamboo is horrendously invasive where I live, but I wish I had taken the time to smell some before my neighbor got rid of his in favor of something more regionally appropriate. Update: Applied liberally, after a shower, it smells of lemon, freshly mown grass, and an amorphous haze of florals. Clean but also a little earthy. I hope I'm not noseblind to the musks because I don't think this is projecting much beyond the skin, but what if I'm wrong? Every so often, I think it has faded away, and I get a sharp chlorophyll blast, like green stems and young leaves. I wish I got more sandalwood, but perhaps it is a green sandalwood that blends in with the more herbaceous and milky bamboo accord.

Whilst setting on a journey through olfactory memory lane, I just repurchased this beauty for an incredible discount. Regardless of amount paid, I feared a disappointment- that a scent with such a romantic personal memory when gifted 20 yrs ago, would feel now dated as my skin chemistry and taste in perfumes has changed. Happy to report its not the case. Quite the opposite. Truth, if anything, smells even more unique, and more engaging. Of course, summer is also a good moment to sample this. Whats even more incredible, it has stood the test of time proudly. Truth still smells relevant in todays overcrowded perfume scene and presents undeniable quality in the midst of all new niche houses popping up. It is expertly blended, well balanced and in a class on its own. I do think though that to appreciate it, one needs more experience with niche houses. For a beginner fragrance lover like i once was, it may-be too nondescript and subtle or damp and rainforesty. My new buy is not watered down or missing notes as far as i remember. Rather, like true 2000's child this freshie is quite heady with musk by today's standards but also delivers gorgeous dampness of woods with comforting herbal-white floral mix in the middle. On my skin, even the first spritz carries no lemon, its also not heavy with alcohol. Instead, i smell vetiver instantly with a bit of mint, and white clover thats such a childhood scent, someone mentioned "freshly mowed grass" and thats exactly it- freshly cut grass with lots of clover in it, after rain. Patchouli is very tamed here thankfully, but present all the way to the dry-down. I'm not familiar with the bamboo note, and this is probably the secret ingredient that gives Truth slightly metallic, almost rainy feel that still manages to keep warmth. Like during monsoon, you're wet to your bones, but still hot. In 30 min honeyed mimosa with white lily is taking over, throwing a thin flirty veil over the vegetal dampness, making Truth a bit more feminine and less unisex (i still think men can pull this scent off though). After an hour the scent is slowly starting to dry down with some more woodiness from sandalwood. This is the freshest yet most comforting phase for me, when i smell like just out of shower, or soaked by tropical rain, or after the evening swim in the lake. Freshness doesn't overwhelm and Truth becomes less perfume-like, more like your skin just smells amazing. Btw, no vanilla on my skin, or any sweetness for that matter. It lasts well, over 6 h is well detectable on skin and is quite a bit longer on clothes. Sillage is good, especially in warm weather as freshness of the scent cuts through anything else. Overall, i'm very happy to own it again and for this price, its much underrated beauty. I'd recommend it as a unisex warm weather scent thats fresh and unique during the day and charming and mysterious at night. A modern masterpiece.

I'm quite sure that oakmoss (edit: and also guaiac wood and acacia) are also in this fragrance...I remember looking up this scent on Basenotes about 11 or 12 years ago as a teen girl (I was that obsessed with it), and I actually memorized the notes (don't know how accurate the notes-list was in Basenotes though at the time, but mimose was definitely not in the list, I can't wear scents with mimosa). It used to smell deeper and more lush, more green and warm. Lately it smells more like lemon water...maybe it's reformulated or whatever old stock they had is turned, or most likely they are fakes...bottomline, the bottles being sold in some shops nowadays just don't smell the way it used to a decade plus ago (or maybe I've just been unlucky and there are still some good bottles around that I have yet to come across, who knows). It's funny, but when I first tried Dior Addict a few years ago, something in Addict immediately reminded me of Truth...maybe it's the silkwood blossom and blackberry, and the sandalwood. To me, Truth is Addict stripped out of her dark and heavy sweet velvet garb, warm, radiant and quivering, scrubbed down with moss and dew, showering under a waterfall in a humid rainforest...or rather, Addict is Truth dressed up to the nines with vanilla, velvet, flowers, spices and taken out of the forest into the nightlife of a wild city. A friend of mine who had Addict as her signature immediately fell in love with Truth, and it surprised her because she was usually not a fan of clean/green/citrusy scents. Now I realize why. There is a sensual, succulent vibe in this fragrance that sets it apart from the other scents in its category, it's such a unique scent, the bamboo note comes off so beautifully, the most sensual bamboo accord I've ever come across in any fragrance with the note. I miss this stuff, it was my first real fragrance, and was my signature scent in my teens up to my early 20's when it got discontinued. I had always gotten compliments on it (especially when I would layer a little of the sensual bedtime fragrance with it..OOMPH!) and I loved the fact that I smelled different from the other girls, most of whom were wearing fruity Escadas and Ralph at the time.

I got Truth back into my rotation from the back of the drawer and decided to finally say something about this one of a kind perfume. All the top notes listed are definitely there and very distinguishable from each other. All of them together also remind me of freshly cut grass with clover flowers. In the first 10-15 minutes after spraying the scent can overwhelm in any weather. And then in an hour or so it seems to be very faint, almost completely gone. Keyword is "seems". I've had this large bottle since the year it was produced, 2000. Yes, I get distracted a lot to other scents and rarely finish a bottle soon. So I immediately thought: oh well, it disappeared fast, must be because it's an old bottle. Nope. As I went on with my day the scent kept appearing out of nowhere, when the wind would blow, or when I moved faster, when I would turn my head I would sense this delicate aura of perfume just hanging around me all day, almost 8 hours, and surprising me when I would already forget about it. The initial woody/green notes develop wonderfully into tasteful floral mix - I am not a big florals fan, it has to be just right. And this enigmatic scent absolutely gets it right. I smell more of mimosa, lily and vanilla in the development stages. Don't get much of peony. The bottle annoys me though. I never paid attention to its design, but noticed it right now, that it's actually made at a slight angle, like it's bending in the wind or something like that. Unless, that's how the designer wanted to convey the perfume's association with a bamboo shoot, or a grass stalk. I'm almost done with my bottle from 2000, and thinking to get a new one, but I noticed that the liquid in the bottle in the photos looks much much lighter, than the one I have right now. Mine is darker, almost cognac-colored. And it was this color from the beginning, it didn't turn. If you bought Truth recently, is it really light-colored juice, and how does it compare to an older, darker version?

I'm new to this one and a bit puzzled, firstly because for years I had it filed with all the other CK releases of the 90-era with naff names (Escape, Eternity, Contradiction). In a vague sort of way I thought Truth would be a variant of Eternity, ie a nasty aquatic. Finally I started noticing favourable reviews of Truth which suggest that it is a minor masterpiece that has flown under the radar for years. People often mention it having been d/c but it is easily had online. Secondly, there are several notes in the there I'm unfamiliar with. Bamboo? Does that even have a scent? Clover? Hmmm ... so that's the green grassy accord. Peony? Don't know it well except that it's often paired with rose and I feel I can smell rose in this perfume, especially on fabric. I do smell lily quite distinctly and I enjoy its savoury, almost salty quality. I don't get much vanilla or amber or sandalwood, but it's early days. I feel that this is the sort of perfume that will reveal different notes and nuances as I keep wearing it. At the moment for me it is a clean, juicy green floral with interesting sweet/salty effects and moderate sillage and longevity. Although a green fragrance Truth does not include galbanum, hyacinth or okamoss, as so many greens of an earlier era did. I like old fashioned greens but they can be statement pieces rather than something I'd wear every day. And finally, for a clean fragrance the musk is relatively moderate. In Truth, everything is held in moderation, very nicely balanced. Perhaps that makes Truth an unadventurous Plain Jane of a perfume? The choice for people a bit timid about wearing perfume at all? Maybe. Or it could suit someone searching for something intelligent, subtle and chic. The distinction between the two is fine. A woman who wears Truth might include in her look one very particular signature accessory, for contrast: vibrant red lipstick perhaps, or statement earrings.

I just picked this scent up from Walmart. It's very like-able. I can see someone not gravitating to it, but I doubt anyone would be offended by it. It's not for women who want to smell like cupcakes and turkish delight. It's quite unisex in my personal opinion, because it has a feminine perfume-y quality to it along with a masculine aftertaste. It does smell like alcohol and something strong and caustic upon first spray, but it simmers down nicely. To me, it smells like a distant whisper of Elizabeth Arden Green tea (it has that sharp tickle, probably from the lily), mixed with tree sap (what you smell when you break a young branch) and sawdust (the dry version of the same tree). I'm surprised with how non-synthetic the wood note smells. It doesn't smell like that horrible fake cedar note used so frequently now in new perfumes. I did think this perfume would smell a little more leafy like Bath and Body Works Rainkissed Leaves, but that's alright. I actually think it would layer well with the BBW lotion. The musk is also great quality...definitely not a laundry musk, it blends very well with the skin, it smells dense and natural. I don't really get vanilla or much sweetness at all. The longevity is not bad, I really like the sawdust-like, peppery masculine drydown. I don't smell the similarity to Dior Addict unfortunately. Maybe with more wears? I was afraid this would smell aquatic like Cool Water, my arch nemesis, but there's nothing ocean-y about it at all luckily. Now I'm catching whiffs as I move around, and the air smells like peppery grass clippings mixed with perhaps the rind of a grapefruit. The clover is coming through, it's bold and strong, it's dark green, not the yellow-green tendrils of baby leaves in the spring. Very unique and interesting. Overall, I would recommend this scent to anyone who has grown tired of their gourmand scents and would like to branch out and smell branchy.

I've been wearing this absolute beauty from it was first ever launched back in 2000!! For Me it was love at first sniff & after wearing it while out Shopping with my Mum I bought it before we left Debenhams for home!! I simply call Truth my "Uncomplicated Perfume" as on me it's deffo really fresh,green & very up-lifting & yet cosy at the Sametime!! As other people have mentioned this perfume will deffo not smell the same on everybody that wears it & that aspect of it I really do like!! From the very first time I ever wore this perfume till this very present day,I've never received so many compliments whenever I wear this gem!! & actually had two guy's follow me,a little unnerving lol'lol'lol'lol & then stop me to ask me what's the name of that stunning perfume your wearing!! & Being a senior Theather Pre-Op Nurse many patients,colleagues,Dr's & Surgeons have also said how lovely I smell. In My opinion,this is the BEST Calvin Klein perfume to date!! It's absolutely gorgeous & I Really do love it!! There's no other perfume out there that smells the same as this!! Don't honestly no whether it's the fresh green/clean aroma or the Bamboo that's in this perfume that makes it so unique!! But whatever it is it surely work's it's special magic on me!! Just hope that Calvin Klein never discontinue this gem,& they realise just how special this creation really is!!

I was 13 when I first sniffed upon this glorious scent. I would collect sample vials of it from magazines and beauty counters. Throughout my teen years, I thought of Truth as the most perfect scent ever created. I finally got the gift set from my parents as a high school graduation present (I think they discontinued it the same year or the year after). I treasured every drop. It was my college scent. There was a sensual bedtime fragrance that came with the gift set that was simply divine and I used to layer the two. I purchased a second bottle just a few years ago and was really disappointed, it smelled like a pale imitation of the first bottle I owned. I got only warm lemon water flavored with bamboo. The way it used to smell, it was a luscious and sensuous, balmy forest air smell...refreshing, but also deep, soft and dense, with some warmth and sunshine. It was complex and unique, and captured nature in a bottle. Bamboo was the star but you can still smell all the other notes, the lily, clover, vanilla, citrus and vetiver. When I tried the original formulation of Dior Addict, something sour and velvety about it reminded me of Truth (balmy note + blackberry maybe?), though they are night and day in terms of personality. Truth is something you can picture a forest nymph smelling like.

The perfect green, feminine, floral freshie. As soon as I sprayed it for the first time I was hooked. It's this hint of sweetness from the flowers that make this so feminine. The blend is mixed very well and the all the notes feel very balanced. I get mostly bamboo, with flowers, citrus, a hint of woodiness in the background and some crisp from the patchouli on the side, which works so well with the wet woods and feels like you're taking a short hike in the forest right when you spray it on. That balanced mix of notes does mean that nothing really stands out much except for the bamboo I smell quite well. In some way the bamboo comes off in some kind of aloe vera way. This fragrance either contains aloe vera or is the result of an accord of notes in it and I can't seem to put my finger on it, but it keeps intriguing me. Maybe that is because it should remain as a mystery. I find Truth to be really elegant without trying even a bit. It stays simple and I adore simple done well because it radiates confidence and strength in a very you-get-what-you-see-, or rather a you-get-what-you-smell-way. It oozes class, feminine class. Truth is extremely timeless as well. And I keep inhaling deeply through my nose because it doesn't matter how many times I smell it, it keeps pleasing my senses.

CLOVER MANIA! Making clover chains throughout my entire childhood, the scent is clear and tangible in my memory - catching lots of lily, bamboo, vetiver and lemon but whooooa boy there is CLOVER in this baby. Loving the distinction the silkwood blossom and musk bring to this airy, sweet and fairy-like composition. Again, the clover -- it's the cool, green and somewhat ethereal bit that remains from the beginning 'til the end. Sweet, but light and blended beautifully with lily - it's a fresh, dewy breeze on a summer morning. This brings back early, early memories of my childhood. During Summer months, I'd be carted off to daycare and on the walk down the hill to the entry way, there would be a dewy cold breeze and soft mists around fields of clover. Our entire school grounds were covered! The scent comforted and energized me, knowing the coolness would soon evaporate. I remember laying under the sun and picking the petals off with my fingers, rubbing the remnants between them to savor their perfume. Effortlessly, this scent wears "spring/summer daytime" to me and is an instant love. No idea why trend simply allows for gems like these to be tossed aside -- loving the cool, crisp feel of the early 2000's vibe this has. Not aquatic, not overly green but balanced and beautiful!

I agree with @corkscrewcurly. This is a floral green scent. Aromatic, herbal, fresh. I usually don't go for green scents as I find them somewhat nauseating, but this is a wonderful exception. I get a blast of bamboo, clover and lily in the beginning, which subsides a bit after about 30 minutes at which point vetiver and patchouli peep out to give these notes some earthy support. The middle which comes about 2-3 hours later smells like a garden of lilies and clover right after they've been watered or rained on. I think this is my favourite stage of this little gem. It then morphs into a warm blend of amber, musk, lily and sandalwood in the dry down (about 5 hours later on me). I find that Truth reacts differently on my skin depending on the weather. I get a "refreshing/rain forest" vibe during cooler weather or rainy days (the bamboo, clover, lily and vetiver stand out here), and a "fresh, warm and cosy" vibe during hot weather (the lily, amber and sandalwood stand out here). I like it better during rainy weather. This is East African weather mind you where temperatures range from about 15-28 degrees.

I like it, overall. It's very alcoholic at first but that always passes. I enjoyed the smell that first hour I was wearing it, but it faded during that time. I can lift the neck of my blouse and still pick it up, but no one else can. I wish it would linger, because I very much like the way the scent has changed. Fresh, female, and clean. I only had a tester tube, I might have one more application left. It might last longer if I layered it. EDIT: Probably three weeks since I first reviewed Truth. Every time I wear it I love it more! the alcoholic smell passes in a few minutes, and the first real scent I get is a lovely floral rose with probably some jasmine mixed in. it smells good all day when I put on some Truth lotion first. And that scent at drydown is so wonderful! Clean but still intimate, like freshly washed skin. Not exactly musky, not exactly spicy, just pleasant. Still having trouble finding both lotion and perfume I can afford, but I'll get it.

This fragrance is not only a masterpiece and something quite different in this day and age, it's also become my signature scent, as a man, even though it's targeted at women. There is something so elegant, so transportative about this perfume. Warm seductive skin and the sound of trickling brooks through still verdant pastures come to mind whenever I wear it. Initially, I too also thought the longevity and sillage were garbage, but I was just plain wrong. In summer, 5 sprays have been lasting me all day and even as a skin scent when combined with my natural body odour it still emanates a kind of cleanliness you just can't shake off. I can't believe it's so cheap and statement making and available to all, yet men are wasting their paydays on the next AI churned out Rasasi Hawas Exotic Elixir Extreme Prive Absolu...etc etc.... Calvin Klein Truth will still be around for decades to come because this is no gimmick. This fragrance is pure art.

this fragrance blows me away in the fact that it's totally different than what I was expecting. It starts very green fresh crunchy and Dewey. I smell gorgeous bamboo Clover and lime. soon it starts to smell like a completely different perfume , it's very complex in my opinion. It turns into a warm, ambery ,vanilla and Lily fragrance with a small trace of bamboo left. I get what other people are saying when they say it smells like Dior addict, eau frache version. I started wondering did I have Dior addict on my shirt from last time I wore it? was it in my hair? Then I realized it was Calvin Klein truth. Very unique and wonderful for summer and spring. It's fresh and green but still warm and Ambery. It seems to have great longevity and sillage with my chemistry. Longevity is about 6 hours, sillage moderate. I'm very happy to have this perfume! I expected a green scent all the way through but it's so much more than that!

First of all, let’s talk about this sleek, modern but at the same time elegant bottle. I love the feeling when I hold it. The flat front, with the curved back, almost ergonomically made to fit your hand and your fingers around it. I had to have this perfume because I am a Morillas fan and what a gem this is! It is a zen, calming scent, a meditative scent that makes you feel at peace with the world (and yourself). It smells like flowers and flower stems, when you cut them, or when you open the plastic a bouquet comes wrapped in. If I didn’t know this was a Cavin Klein perfume, I would think it’s a scent from Issey Miyake. I’ve used the word “soapy” in many of my reviews bit this also, is a clean, fresh, out of the shower scent. Too bad that on my skin it doesn’t last as long as I would like to. Nevertheless, this is a somehow hidden gem that needs to be seen, touched and enjoyed.

This is my review of Truth by Calvin Klein I originally bought this fragrance upon launch in 2000. It was groundbreaking at the time. The start of the new millennium very Minimalist, clean, fresh. My eldest daughter Verity was born in April 2000, and I named her Verity because her name means Truth. Truth is pure, truth is honest, truth is strength. The edp is very long lasting and still amazing today in 2020. Upon first spray it is quite strong the 1st notes are very green. However wait 20 minutes for the fragrance to settle and it becomes rounded and quite stunning. Bamboo, grass, sandalwood absolutely gorgeous. It is elegant, sexy and pure class. The 100ml glass slimline bottle with Metal lid is being sold on Groupon at the moment for £19.99 the rrp is £68. Excellent value for money. Don't just try it, buy it!you will love it! A huge thumbs up from Decodawn.

My husband complimented me on my perfume today :o This is a rarity. This was my first time wearing Calvin Klein Truth. I regularly subject my poor husband to some powerhouse smoke, incense and boozy perfumes but lately, I've been cleansing my palate with freshies. Calvin Klein Truth opens with all of the fresh citrus, green and floral notes all together. I get the initial impression of mimosa. This scent seems to last for a long time without transitioning. CK Truth stays pretty linear on me but given that it opens with such complexity, I am very happy. The longevity of CK Truth was all day on my clothing. I have no complaints. So fresh and green in this 75 degree weather. Many hours later, it finally dries down to a soft pleasant floral. My husband complimented this perfume. That's high praise. I will always have a bottle of this one!

Truth Calvin Klein, a forgotten cheapie. I've known this fragrance since it debuted in 2000 and reach for it every year as a spring prelude. The opening is like walking across a lush green meadow combined with a visit to a flower shop. I love that coolness mixed with lush stems in the water, interspersed with the floral scent that dozens of petals carry. I find the echo of that in truth. After more than 20 years, Truth smells better than many green flower novelties. Instead of the classic fragrance pyramid, it's two opposing phases that are lush and sensual. The lush green part of the composition is so pretty, as already described, just look at the notes: bamboo, vetiver, clover, patchouli, mimosa, blackberry, peony, lily, lemon, bergamot. The sensual phase isn't my favourite, but still good but overloaded with musk and vanilla.

I loved this fragrance from the first time I smelled it as a child. When I was in primary school my mum used to send me in with an orange to eat at morning break time, and Truth has always reminded me of the smell of coming back into class after break. The way that the zest and oil from the orange peel would get under my nails and make my hands smell of orange, the smell of cold damp British air and the green sappy smell from grubbing about in the damp grass and the occasional grass fight. It doesn't smell like the listed notes to me, probably because I formed my opinions on it as a child. It is very "zen" in the style that was popular at the time and it is strong and long lasting. I'm sad to say that I've become a little bored with it recently but I still love the memories.

This side of the lily pad: crispy stalks floating on a warm spring creek, scintillating reflection so pure you feel you could pluck the sunshine out of the water. That side of the lily pad: a trickly green stream of something synthetic and oily mixed with fresh clover honey. On the whole: It's a spa attended by cyborg elves! Not as truthful as it claims, the nature is a little counterfeit but how good it is at faking it. The best rollover on clover fragrance out there. On a less-er ridiculous note, if you're half as into spa stuff as I am you'll climb quickly on the like to love scale since this unusual green number has one foot on the river-pierced forest and another on a high-end disposable polymer bottle. Smashing. Memorable. Beautiful. And of course, discontinued.