Beauty Calvin Klein perfume – a fragrance for women 2010

(Play List – “Summer Breeze” – Seals and Croft…
“Summer Breeze makes me feel fine – blowing with the jasmine in my mind.”

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This perfume is one that really had to grow on me. I knew that I liked it when I first smelled it, but it took over 5 years of spritzing at the retail store before I actually purchased it. Some have called it generic or have made statements in reviews saying that this is fairly common, but this may be before they have actually worn this a week or more in the spring/summer to see how magnificent the jasmine/cedar combination is when this is worn in the heat of the summer or at the gym – or a workout.

I too, was “on the fence” with this one – when I first bought it, it sat in my drawer – boxed for a year and a half before I added it to my rotation of perfumes. I liked the bottle and packaging – it is elegant and a “new” type perfume style for me, very modern. The perfume itself really had to be worn a full week before I realized how well this interplayed with my chemistry. During the week of wear, I witnessed the enchanting look in people’s eyes when they would ask what perfume I was wearing, or would make comments as to how they liked my perfume. I typically go for perfumes that are much more of a statement — and a lot of my perfume taste leans towards perfumes that have more of a powerful 1980’s type blend. This perfume was a genre stretch for me.

This took awhile to see the value of this. It was easy to dismiss, until turning the corner on the perfume and realizing that this has a subtle power within itself that some of my other, more bold perfumes seem to be lacking. This is an understated, elegant, and yet casual enough to be worn every day – or could be worn as a signature. It is not screaming at you from across the room, but more of a relaxed, calm, solid type voice that doesn’t need to scream or screech for recognition. The beauty of this is that it is natural, calming, and peaceful. It isn’t trying overly hard to make a statement or to be perceived as overly powerful; its strength is in its ability to be understated, calming, reliable, and naturally well grounded.

This perfume is a well blended, harmonious, gentle, with a delicate air of minimalism. It is an easy reach and a sophisticated choice. The chord is a livable, a natural alto range chord. The more that I wear this, the more I appreciate it. Spa-like (at times, this even has a quality to it where it reminds me of light breeze of aromatherapy — this is probably when the jasmine is in full bloom, more in the heat of the day or after a workout); the first initial minutes of the spray brings to mind the sea salt notes in the air by the beach near the coastline. There’s a hint of musk that sweetens the chord (but is not so present that it over shadows the jasmine).

If this perfume were related to decor, this perfume would be the equivalent of a soft, neutral, livable paint tone that offers a calming nod which grounds the home. A perfume which says, “everything’s ok, you GOT THIS” – in a reassuring fashion without appearing like you are bragging.

This is natural, clean, fresh, relaxed elegance, calm, peaceful, harmonious, attractive – but isn’t trying to force things – this perfume has a nice low key, relaxed gracefulness about it; pretty but isn’t guilty of trying too hard. Delicate strength, after the first 20 minutes spray, this blends more into the skin like a finely milled soap with just a slight trace that you are wearing fragrance at all.

This is one of the best spring/summer casual day-wear perfumes that I have found in the past 3 year search (you could probably wear this year round, but the best part of this perfume is when the jasmine really blooms in the heat — for this reason, I see this primarily as a spring/summer fragrance).

This is one that has really surprised me, I catch myself mid-day forgetting that I sprayed this, then smelling this gorgeous, soft, soap-like – “just out of the shower essence” that makes me sniff my arms again and again.

Calvin Klein’s Beauty is natural, modest, simple/less complex, gentle, classically-elegant where this perfume smells high end but not overly flashy. This is perfume that is comfortable in its own skin, it is not having to feel as if it is putting on airs or trying too hard. The ingredients are streamlined where there is an uncomplicated, pure, natural type essence. This is one of the easiest reaches in my perfume collection. If I am not sure of what perfume to wear, this is a reliable and inoffensive choice. It is the closest thing that I have found to a minimalist perfume (and I’m not really a “minimalist” typically, that is why this perfume has really caught me completely off guard). The ingredients are: Top note – Ambrette (Musk Mallow); middle note – Jasmine; base note – Virginia Cedar (some have even thought that this smells almost like Birch).

The compliments that I’ve received with this are proof that this perfume can hold its own when compared to a lot of the other perfumes that I wear on a regular basis. (I never would have guessed that a softer/less intrusive perfume would draw this much attention) – they have that sprinkled with pixie dust and “touched by Tinker Bell’s magic wand” – look in their eyes after commenting on this. This perfume has a way of opening doors, I’ve never worn a perfume where people are going out of their way to be of service to me or to give me free merchandise (oh, the tea is on me, can I take your tray to the table, here – a free Mac makeup bag). This is an odd thing about this perfume… it draws compliments – people shyly mention the smell of this after they have been standing within several feet of me. This is a “whisper” perfume, it doesn’t “shout” its entrance and cause you to double take from 10 feet across the room. This perfume is more intuitive and intimate. People notice this more when you are in closer in proximity to them.

On me, with my chemistry – this perfume blooms more and opens up in the heat – in the dry down phase. This is when this starts to smell similar to the dry down phase with Alien. (I’ve already seen the reviews that refute this, but I must state… “on my skin and with my chemistry” — and qualify this further — “in the dry down phase — about 5 hours into the wear”… Beauty is extremely similar to Alien in this phase of wear. I KNOW – because I am trying them, side by side.

[Comparing Alien and Calvin Klein’s Beauty – side by side…
Similarities: Almost the exact same chord range… and what I mean by that — if the individual notes within the chord were an exact “range” played on a piano – the chords would be within the same stretch, in the same location on the piano keyboard. Beauty is more paired down (less complex), it has less perfume notes that make up the chord…however – it is less “perfume-y” and is more spa-like (like a soft version of aromatherapy).

Differences: From the git-go (the first spray through the first couple of hours of wear, these two have different notes that you notice. Alien leads with much more of a grape, purple, tobacco chord — and Beauty leads with a less complicated, more natural essence of cedar, musk.

Dry down phase – as Alien relaxes into wear, the more purple, tobacco notes subside and tone down leaving more of an essence similar to Beauty. On my skin, after about 4-5 hours of wear, they become about 88% similar (yes there are still subtle traces of the Alien woods and tobacco notes, but for the most part they are extremely similar).]

Wait for the dry down, and I must say — this perfume works better for me in the heat because of the way this blooms on the skin when the weather is warm — or a HOT day.
The dry down on my skin very similar to Alien, without the grape and the darker, deeper, woodsy heavier notes (similar to a tobacco base)…
With my chemistry, Beauty is like a spa-like, cedar/birch version of Alien.
And yes, I have both perfumes. I have tried these side by side.

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The more that I wear this perfume, the more I appreciate it. It is definitely a new genre of perfumes for me, something that I wasn’t really seeking – but so glad that I found.

This is the type of perfume that I would have loved back in junior high and high school, before I was exposed to perfumes that had more of a 1980’s perfume-type strength.

Great fragrance for a day when you are not wanting something overly perfume-y, but still want to fresh smell. Several people recommended this perfume for a fragrance that can be worn to the gym, yoga classes, pilates, walking the dogs, hiking, etc… this is a fresh, spa-like, clean smelling perfume. This is also a perfume that isn’t overtly strong or distracting — an excellent office, day-time perfume — and one that may even fly below the radar for strict perfume codes in industries such as the medical, hospital, doctor’s offices, dentist offices.

The most incredible thing about this perfume is the dry down, because this mixes extremely well with my chemistry. This moves into a soft smelling musk-y type clean soap smell, which is heavenly on. It is really a Beauty in the dry down, for sure.

Calvin Klein’s Beauty is perfect for times when you want a lighter, fresh, soap smelling fragrance that is not over powering or too perfume-y. I love this, but this does not replace the perfumes that I typically like to wear for more presence and evening wear. This perfume doesn’t market itself as a romantic type perfume – although men will probably really like the smell of this, on. The woodsiness of the cedar/birch almost makes this lean in the direction of a unisex type perfume, although the dry down of this leans feminine.

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Is this a Signature Worthy Perfume?
Most definitely on the right person.
This is a great day wear, outdoorsy, or office type perfume.

For me and my taste in perfumes –
This perfume would be in the running for a Signature Perfume if it were slightly stronger and had a bit more presence. I wish this perfume were more alluring and if it leaned more feminine than unisex.

I really love this one for what it is — the more I wear this one, the more it grows on me.
This is one of the biggest surprises in my perfume search. I would never have guessed that I would like this one as much as I do. The dry down of this is what pushes this perfume into a range of perfumes that is really fabulous with my chemistry.

The compliments that I have received on this perfume are also an indication that this is really good, ON.

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This is young and fresh without being juvenile.
Then again, this is grounded, clear, with a level of thoughtful maturity that you know is trustworthy, with a sense of purpose and leadership.
This fragrance has the type of freshness which allows it to transcend time. This doesn’t limit itself to a particular age or level of maturity. This perfume is like the person that you appreciate because of their bright shining eyes – and their love of life, no matter how many years they have lived. There is a freshness with this particular perfume which comes out more when this blooms in the heat (yes, this is one of those that I didn’t even completely understand, until I had a chance to wear this a week – and see how this perfume blooms on my skin in the heat. This perfume shifts the paradigm of age and time. This is ageless, timeless, and something that resonates with being soulful… there are moments when this becomes heavenly and divine.

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I would definitely sample this or at least spritz this one first to make sure that this is really YOUR THING.

This is a shock for me, this was a perfume that I saw in the store several years before purchasing it. I had sprayed this a number of times, and liked it – but didn’t feel compelled to purchase it. After Covid quarantine began, I went on a mission to find another signature perfume. I began sampling a few perfumes that were less heavy than the other perfumes that I usually had the tendency to wear.

Eventually, I rationalized purchasing this. However, I first found that I was reaching for heavier perfumes, the type that I have always had a tendency to wear. This perfume was less heavy, so it sat in the drawer for over a year and a half – I never really thought to wear it — then I was clearing my space of things that I haven’t used in a certain time period – and I decided to wear this every day for a week. A few days into this – I was hooked! This is a GREAT perfume – for what it is…
Great for day wear, the office, outdoors activities like walking the dog, going for hikes… walks… spa-like — could be worn to the gym without offense….
I really like this one – and the more I wear it, it is turning into a LOVE!

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Just as with other perfumes, the first 10 – 20 minutes of this is stronger, but I do not detect the typical perfume “chemical” smell –you may really like this one, if not LOVE IT!

This is one of those perfumes which I liked, but had not truly loved till seeing what this does when it blooms on the skin when it is warm.

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Other Jasmine, Musk perfumes which are similar – but in the general spa-like/natural theme of Calvin Klein’s Beauty.

If you like Calvin Klein’s Beauty but want a perfume that starts about twice as strong, try Natalie Wood’s perfume. They are in the same family of perfumes…both have an essence about them that could be categorized as spa-like and leans towards being more in the range of aromatherapy. Natalie Wood’s perfume is much more of a classic floral perfume with more obvious notes such as gardenia and starts with a more obvious floral bouquet aroma than Beauty. Natalie Wood’s perfume has more ingredients: Neroli, Bitter Orange, Freesia and Rose Oil; middle notes are Orange Blossom, Gardenia, Jasmine, Narcissus and Hyacinth; base notes are Woody Notes, Vanilla and Musk. (This starts stronger than CK’s Beauty, but lasts just an hour or two on the skin).

Jennifer Lopez’s Love and Light is just a shade or two more intense – than Beauty, it has different ingredients and notes, but the overall essence is in the same family as CK’s Beauty. The ingredients in Love and Light are: Top notes – Pomegranate, Red Currant and Mandarin Orange; middle notes are Jasmine, Rose and Apricot; base notes – Patchouli, Praline and Musk.

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Elizabeth Arden’s White Tea perfume is slightly different, it has more of a tea-like essence, but the general effect of that, is similar to this range of spa-like perfumes. EA’s White Tea: Top notes – Sea Notes, Fern, Mandarin Orange and Clary Sage; middle notes – White Tea, White Iris and Mate; base notes – Ambrette (Musk Mallow), Exotic Woods, Tonka Bean and Amber. (I love the smell of this, but the longevity and endurance is just an hour or so, without the need to refresh… still – I love the general smell of this perfume).

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No, I wasn’t given a sample of this – and I wasn’t hired by Calvin Klein to chat this one up.
This perfume has really taken be by surprise. I never would have thought that this would be one of the perfumes that I would take a liking to. It is a shock even to me!

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Foot Note (In response to the “Aromatherapy comment”:

Ok, thanks for your comment on the “aromatherapy” comments —
Notice, when I stated this, I said that it is like a “light breeze” of aromatherapy.

I also made an adjustment after reading your review – and stated that this happens when the jasmine is more in full bloom – in the heat of the day or during a workout –

And – keep in mind, I always write my reviews based on my own personal experiences with the perfumes. With my chemistry, when the jasmine blooms in this perfume – it is ever bit as much like aromatherapy as I stated… but more like a “Light Breeze” – rather than full on aromatherapy oils.

If you haven’t worn this yet in the heat of the day or during a workout where you are sweating, then you won’t know what I’m talking about. This perfume changes in heat. It gets MUCH BETTER!