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Post by Azar
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Hello APJ,
This summer the Pacific Northwest USA has been uncharacteristically hot and dry. To make matters worse, less than 30% of the homes have central air-conditioning. Ours is one of the hot ones! I have yet to acclimate to the 95-100 degree F temperatures that continue to blister the foothills of the Cascade Mountains.
In an attempt to deal with the sweltering heat I pulled out my big, refrigerated bottles of Italian colognes. Sadly, these refreshing fragrances have done little to alleviate the effects of the breathtaking temperatures. The alcohol evaporates too quickly to be effective, leaving not a trace of comforting scent on my skin.
Calvin Klein Obsession
Calvin Klein Obsession for Woman by Jean Guichard 1985
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Green notes, mandarin orange, vanilla, peach, basil, bergamot, lemon
Heart: Spices, coriander, sandalwood, orange blossom, jasmine, oakmoss, cedar, rose
Base: Amber, musk, civet, vetiver, incense
Sweating over a solution, I recalled a recent comment by Cookie Queen suggesting the use of big orientals in hot climates. Her timely advice and Anne-Marie’s recent post inspired me to dig out the squat, kidney shaped bottle of the original Calvin Klein Obsession for Women from its cool, dark tomb in the lower floor storage. Even though I had a vague recollection of Calvin Klein Obsession for Women as nothing more than a spicy cliché typical of many 80s bombastic orientals, I was desperate enough to give it another try. I resurrected Calvin Klein Obsession for Women from the nether regions and carried her up into the bright and toasty upstairs living area. I gave myself a quick splash and WHAMMO…! The power of Obsession was so uplifting and distracting that I totally forgot the scorching heat. The juice in the old bottle had aged to perfection and provided me with a much-needed respite from the stagnant summer air. The overheated atmosphere of the house also revealed the beauty and complexity of Obsession. After 30 years of neglect I was finally enjoying fragrance notes I had never detected before, including almost everything on Fragrantica’s list. I fell madly for my old cologne and hurried to purchase more vintage Obsession for Women.
Photo Stolen WikiMedia
Calvin Klein Obsession for Men by Bob Slattery 1986
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Tangerine/mandarin, grapefruit, lime, bergamot, coriander, lavender, cinnamon
Heart: Nutmeg, carnation, jasmine, sage, Brazilian rosewood, pine, myrrh, red berries
Base: Amber, sandalwood, patchouli, musk, vanilla, vetiver
I was even able to find the original 1986 Calvin Klein Obsession for Men and imagine that almost every element of CK Obsession for Men (and for Women) is synthetic. The jasmine in my vintage version is probably hedione (methyl dihydrojasmonate) and the musk is most likely civetone. For me Obsession for Men packs the distracting punch of the distaff version and is refreshing as well. I also find CK Obsession for Men to be incredibly sexy! My reaction is probably related to hedione. Recent research suggests that this old aroma-chemical activates a specific region of the hypothalamus associated with the release of sex hormones, especially in women. In other words, hedione might actually turn women on!
Photo Stolen WikiCommons
But there is MORE:
Animal behaviorists in South America routinely use Calvin Klein Obsession for Men to lure jaguars to camera traps in the jungle and zookeepers keep their feline charges active and entertained with CK Obsession for Men.
Further reading: Now Smell This and I Smell Therefore I Am
Fragrance Shop has $26/110ml
My Perfume Samples has $2/ml to $7/5ml
I’m wondering if YOU love or hate the various Obsessions? Do you ever wear heavy orientals in the summer heat? Have you tried the Sex Panther fragrance referred to above?
In closing – some like it hot…so be cool!
Azar xx
Australian Perfume Junkies 