I vividly recall the first time I was introduced to the fragrance. It was 1990 – one of the most emotional years of my life. With emotions running at an all-time high, we were on our tour of a lifetime. It was supposed to be our final hoorah before we part ways. We grew up in the same neighbourhood and went to the same daycare facility. We even went to the same school and college. Now, the four of us had job offers in four different states. Our bond would be stretched like the elastic on the rubber band. Landlines and letters were the best forms of communication then. We decided to make the best of it. We were on our way to Revere Beach in Revere, Massachusetts, USA. Our group’s ladies’ man came out wearing an aromatic scent that was hard to resist. When I enquired about it, he mentioned it was the newly launched Eternity for Men by Calvin Klein. Thirty-one years later, iconic scent, undoubtedly, remains my favourite perfume.
History
Calvin Klein found the eponymous American fashion house with the help of his childhood friend, Barry K. Schwartz, in 1968. Within ten years into the industry, CK was rakings in over $30 million in annual revenue. The brand saw exponential growth in the 1980s, which skyrocketed in the early 1990s when they enlisted Mark Wahlberg to promote their brand. Currently, the brand’s specialisation includes jewellery, perfumes, ready-to-wear, haute couture (exclusive customised fitting), lifestyle accessories, leather, and home furnishings.
I still hold on to bottles from the first batch, which I use only for special occasions. I also buy newer editions that are my go-to perfumes for most occasions. Recently, I purchased another bottle of the classic Eternity for Men by Calvin Klein.
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Unboxing
The black box with silver borders was wrapped in transparent polythene. I got rid of the polythene to look at the box closely. The front side had “Eternity for Men” on the top with “Eau De Toilette Spray Vaporiser” a little below the centre written on it. The brand name and quantity were on the bottom. I had purchased the 3.4 fl. oz. (100 ml) variant worth $85. There is another variant available which costs $67 for 1.7 fl. oz. (50 ml). These are the two choices I had from the official Calvin Klein website. The back of the box had the list of ingredients in the perfume, the brand name, and the company’s address. The top of the box had the brand name too, while the other sides were empty.
As soon as I got rid of the box, I found the classic bottle. They have not changed the design of the bottle till today. The square-shaped glass bottle is filled with light-green liquid. The transparent stick inside the bottle is barely visible. The front side had the same things written on it as the box’s front side. The only minor exception is that it did not mention the quantity. The bottom of the bottle had the product as usual. The other sides were squeaky clean. There is no knob on the top of the bottle. The spray head is square-shaped in its usual glossy silver colour.
The ingredients had not changed either, even though the fragrance has been reformulated many times. Even today, Calvin Klein uses the composition of Carlos Benaim. The legendary American, who ruled the world with this iconic scent, is widely revered as Master Perfumer today. His formula was for the men’s rendition of the everlasting Eternity for Women by Calvin Klein, created by award-winning Sophia Gorjsman in 1988.
Ingredients and features
The top notes of the men’s fragrance were Lemon, Mandarin Orange, Bergamot, and Lavender. The nine-element combination of Sage, Coriander, Jasmine, Basil, Lily, Geranium, Juniper Berries, Lily-of-the-Valley, and Orange Blossom made up the middle notes. Lastly, Vetiver, Musk, Amber, Brazilian Rosewood, and Sandalwood wrapped up the base notes. Many perfumers have tried to use similar and different ingredients to replicate the success of Eternity. Unfortunately, all of them have miserably failed.
The first sprays from the bottle are delightfully tantalising. The strong, refreshing Lavender opening with flanks provided by the citrusy Lemon, Mandarin Orange, and Bergamot will pull the floor from your feet. The floral, sweet melancholy of the middle notes is difficult to miss. It is fresh, sweet, aromatic, and a little spicy too. Meanwhile, the base notes provided the icing on the cake with its soft, warm, and smoky scent.
Although it is suitable for regular daily use and high-profile social gatherings, I have always preferred using this perfume for imperative business meetings. It had a dominance that overshadowed everything else. Every meeting I attended seemed like the men were on their back footing while the women went crazy. I have received several compliments and phone numbers throughout the years for their outstanding performance. This fragrance can be used all year round, whether it's summer, fall, or winter. It never loses its touch.
Moreover, the longevity of this perfume is shocking. It lasts a very long time. Sometimes it even managed to overshadow my other perfumes if I did not wash them off my body. In addition, the silage is astounding. Sometimes, I can even smell it in my office the next day. People always go gaga over it.
Perhaps, the best thing about this fragrance is its affordability. The great price to quantity ratio makes it affordable for everyone. So, everyone could use it as their signature perfume if they want.
The drawback includes the loss of longevity and silage from the recent reformulations. The changes in the formula have knocked off at least 4-5 hours of longevity and silage from the classic perfume. Hence, if you are looking forward to buying this iconic scent, you should look for the older batches of this perfume.
Conclusion
Here are my preferred ratings for the sensational fragrance:
Fragrance 9/10
Bottle 7/10
Longevity 9/10
Silage 9/10
Overall 8.5/10
Here is a quick overview of my review of Eternity for Men (1990) by Calvin Klein to cut a long story short.
The Pros are:
- IT IS CALVIN KLEIN!
- Appropriate for all seasons
- Suitable for day to day use
- Suitable for any occasions
- Long-lasting smell
- Amazing silage
- Great price to quantity ratio
- Very affordable
The Cons are:
- Loss of silage and longevity in recent formulations.