Note Pyramid
Eternity for Men
Calvin Klein Eternity for Men Eau de Toilette has been on sale since 1990 and has outlived nearly every masculine fragrance launched beside it, which is the strongest argument anyone can make for it. Carlos Benaïm composed it, and the version in the toilette is leaner and more direct than the heavier concentrations in the range.
Mandarin orange and lavender open it, and that is all the opening needs. The mandarin is sweet and quick, the lavender clean, herbal and slightly soapy, and the pair of them set the tone for everything that follows: tidy, groomed and completely unembarrassed about being conventional.
The middle is a trio of herbs. Basil is green and a touch peppery, geranium sharp with a leafy bite, and sage dry, dusty and a little bitter. There are no flowers and no fruit in the way, which gives the heart of this version a clarity the fuller editions do not have.
Sandalwood, rosewood and amber close it out, the first smooth and milky, the second sharper and faintly peppery, the third a soft resinous warmth underneath them both. Eight materials in total, arranged plainly, and the restraint is why it has aged so well. As a toilette it is moderate: four or five hours, with the first hour doing most of the talking. Spray it generously and expect to reapply if you are out all evening. It suits work, interviews, weddings and ordinary weekdays, it reads as masculine and slightly formal, and it remains the fragrance to recommend when somebody asks for something that will not offend anyone.
This is an American business of 1968 vintage, born in a New York fashion studio and still selling far more denim and underwear than perfume. The 2003 sale to PVH put it under its present owner, while Coty produces the fragrances as a prestige licensee.
Please note: images are a guide only. Packaging and bottle design may occasionally differ from those shown due to manufacturer updates or promotions.
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