Reveal Men Calvin Klein cologne – a fragrance for men 2015
I am fascinated by the fact that if a fragrance is too original, it gets trashed just the same as if it were too common. It seems to me this peril is a good reason to rely on one’s own instincts when selecting a fragrance.
I sniffed Reveal Calvin Klein Men just twice before I decided it was delightful: once in a sample I received and again in person at Macy’s, currently the exclusive RCKM retailer. This is also my first fragrance purchase of the New Year and so far I have not regretted it. Wearing RCKM is like turning a fresh page on my fragrance life with a forward look to spring and warmer weather. The opening is unobtrusively sweet with the moderate presence of pear, mastic, brandy and African horned melon (which has the tropical aroma of bananas, cucumber, limes and passion fruit). This soon gives way to an earthier agave with a bit of saltiness, but not exactly in the sense of a Margarita. These gourmand accords are modified by the oriental triumvirate (ginger, tonka and amber) found in several Calvin Klein fragrances. After awhile, the Haitian vetiver becomes known, overlaying the concoction with a sharp, slightly smoky and unexpectedly medicinal cast. This island veneer affixes further mystique to the fruit and brandy and acts as a counterbalance. Not an easy trick. (I do not know why “Aquatic” is listed above under “Main Accords”. There is nothing aquatic about this fragrance. Possibly it refers to the salt note, but I think nothing of the sea was intended in this instance.) Once the fragrance has more or less died, a subdued sweetness seems to linger on the skin.
RCKM really is a clever, intricate fragrance with a decidedly masculine tether. It also offers up its own “revelation” which is that I find something new to like about it each time I wear it. The strange pact of its composition is unique and mildly transformative while retaining the minimalist composure which is the hallmark of all Calvin Klein fragrances, and one of the main reasons I enjoy wearing them. I am not troubled that Calvin Klein sold his company. I still like the aesthetic, which seems to prevail here. The 100ml. bottle is also one of the most beautiful in my cache. It is heavy, has the hand-blown look of a silvery blue glass pillow and sparkles with metallic élan.
Two caveats I would offer are that the longevity of this balm isn’t astral and the category of its projection should be listed as “personal space“, but the pleasure of wearing RCKM as it discloses its secrets on the skin seems to compensate for these shortcomings. Given the way I use fragrance, 4-6 hours of life is fine; however, I think others will want to see it project slightly better and last a bit longer considering the cost ($80) and the opulence of the packaging, which seem to indicate substantiality.
Overall, I think RCKM is an example of successful teamwork and breaks away completely from the multitude of aquatics, leathers, citruses and other typical male fragrances I so often find myself weary of sniffing. I like the non-conformist approach Ann Gottlieb, Marypierre Julien, Olivier Gillotin, and Rodrigo Flores-Roux took in the creation of this aroma and I think a lot of thought went into its creation. I will be wearing this attar for the rest of the resort season and in the spring and summer, mainly in the daytime, and ideally for outdoor lunching, beach walking, coffee dates, etc.
