Secret Obsession by Calvin Klein | Fragrance Fragrance
What does Secret Obsession smell like?
Secret Obsession is a departure from the intense, power-house animalics of its 1980s predecessor, instead offering a modern, woody-oriental experience that feels like textured velvet. It opens with a...
The consensus on performance is that it is reliable but restrained; it offers solid longevity that can last through a workday, though its projection is polite rather than room-filling, making it a "skin-plus" scent that works well for intimate settings.
Fragrance enthusiasts frequently compare its woody, comforting drydown to Estée Lauder Sensuous, noting that Secret Obsession feels like a more mysterious, spiced alternative to that genre of woody perfumes.
While marketed for women, the community often discusses its unisex potential due to the heavy emphasis on mace, sandalwood, and cashmere wood, which can read as quite masculine on certain skin types.
It is overwhelmingly favored for fall and winter evenings, with many users identifying it as a "comfort scent" that pairs perfectly with cold weather and knitwear.
There is a notable debate regarding its name; many feel it shouldn't be associated with the original Obsession line because it lacks the heavy civet and incense of the 1985 classic, standing instead as its own modern, spicy-floral entity.
