cK one Gold
Calvin Klein (2016)

"Fool's Gold"

I got two (out of three) Top Notes: (some) bergamot and fig -- but no sage. Heart Notes? Base Notes? All of them AWOL/MIA. Even severe overspraying didn't help -- ten minutes later, nothing.

Glad I bought a 10ml bottle, instead of the 100ml offering. That said, I'll keep it... for the bottle.

I rather enjoy the smell of this sage dominated floral citrus fragrance, very unisex, but performance is far below average on my skin.

If you're looking for a more jacked up, take on Geir Ness, you might enjoy this, eliminating the soft florals and replacing them with herbs and citrus. Sage is the big note here to me, so make sure you enjoy it. The sage here is well rounded, not sharp at all. Worth a try if you want a nice soft floral citrus that can be masculine as well as mass appealing, and garner compliments, but all in all, I find this fragrance sort of lackluster, due to its horrible performance.

Ok I confess: I bought this for the bottle!

I think it is genius. Unfortunately the jus doesn't match and I do not like it.

It's a bit of a mess in the opening and heart: synthetic, spicy but no teeth, floral, citrusy but barely. It's like it does not know what it wants to be.

Sure there is art, but not the obvious wow perfume artistry but that rather abstract not for the masses kinda art, which for a 'for the masses' jus does not work.

This is probably due to the 'must be unisex' requirement and I think it falls flat for this. It is light but ever-present. It leans too feminine to be unisex for me. Perhaps it wears better on others.

It reminds ever so lightly of Comme des Garcons 8 88, itself a 'gold' fragrance(!?)

If it was an EdP it would do better. As is, it is best a skin scent for snuggling ... if you and your partner happen to like it.

cK One Gold is amazing for two reasons: It's a flanker that is not a seasonal redressing of cK One (1994), and it actually takes the nameplate in a new direction without the need to make two separate gendered versions a la cK One Shock (2011) and cK One Red (2014), meaning it's both a unique-smelling and still truly unisex flanker in the series for the first time since cK One Scene (2009). Typically this kind of scent is left to the bigger niche houses outside the cK series; just sniff anything Mancera or Bond No. 9 and outside obviously-named creations, you tell me what sex is -supposed- to wear it? It's an area of pure art that designers don't touch because their demographic research won't allow, outside of Calvin Klein's deliberately and ostentaciously unisex cK line (plus all the intial designer imitators of the 90's). Usually my hat's off to the "Nuveau Niche" houses (Guerlain and Penhaligon's have been at this forever so they don't count), but in this case, Calvin Klein has proved capable of delivering a unisex scent that has a lot of character for a change, since a lot of the cK seasonal flankers riffed too close to the original for comfort. cK One Gold is the second "Gold" flanker to appear in the Calvin Klein catalog outside a set of them for the Euphoria nameplate in 2014, but shares no other commonality. The warm, woodsy, fruity, and sensuous cocktail here was made for fall use but is light enough for summer too; it has only fair sillage but really good longevity and presence. You'll know cK One Gold is there all day but you won't knock anyone down with it. Like all cK One bottles, the atomizer is separate, so be careful if carried to work (or stuff a tube over the neck if atomizer is left in). If you're anything like me, you'll want to carry this delicious number to work more than a few times, it's really that good.

Fig, bergamot, and a strong sage open up cK One Gold, and it's almost so sweet initially that one might be convinced this is going feminine, but actually things shift towards aromatic as the sage creeps up to dominate and turn this into almost a peach ghost note opening similar to Mario Valentino Ocean Rain (1990) or to a much lesser extent, cK Be (1996). Now before you crucify me for comparing a Calvin Klein scent to a creation by the almighty late Edmond Roudnitska, it's really just the opening, and doesn't have the animal sweat factor he was known for, although it does take a semi-meaty turn with neroli, jasmine, and violet playing with tarragon in the middle, which is how the pedulum swings back to gender-neutral here. By this part, we realize that this stays not only sexually ambiguous but also devoid of the "Kleinisms" fantasy notes like most CK creations tend to have; I'm not saying there aren't synthetics or custom captives here, they're just the mortar instead of the bricks, and therefore unlisted. The base is simple enough with patchouli, vetiver, guaiac wood, and what is a "slightly Sauvagy" norlimbanol/ambroxen/woody aromatic chemical filler alongside a slight dollop of white musk. It's a far richer experience than any cK series scent since perhaps the original cK One, which itself was only really rich with profuse white musk at the end. I feel cK One Gold is indeed a little rounder and weightier than the landmark original, but ironically less stifling because the musk is dialed down. These now-standard-issue synthetic base fillers don't take over the scent like they can in other creations containing them, but despite the natural pyramid, we're neither dealing with vintage nor niche, so their use is almost expected. It's all fairly well-done and immaculately balanced. I still feel that maybe women will dig this more because of the soft fruity tones, but guys who can ensure them will surely love the dry down phase.

Sadly the nose is again unpublished, so I don't know who's responsible for this little treat of a scent. I think it's good enough to be an anchor, but Calvin Klein likes wasting those on far more pandering creations they think will fill the coffers based on whatever their latest focus groups tell them, and this is ironically too niche in design for such a risk to be taken; it's just a sign of the times I suppose. Much like cK One Shock for Him or cK One Scene, I see this being bought in the mainstream segments for the bottle graphics (a handsome gold-dipped clear cK One bottle), and praised by perfumistas in the know, while everyone else just ignores it as yet another brand-abusing cK One flanker without ever giving it a try due to their presumptions. My only complaint if any, is this does seem a bit aimed at the club scene, and sniffs slightly of "what Paco Rabanne 1 Million (2008) would smell like if it was a cK One flanker", but it's only in general feel, since the fragrances don't share any significant notes at all, and cK One Gold is about eight years late to that party. Oh well, at least this one isn't a seasonal run, so it might have more than one batch made, in case I use up this tasty little treat and wish to seek more in the future. Dare I say this flanker almost surpasses the original? Nah, but it is on equal ground and easily my favorite cK One variant to date. Recommended for romance or evening use, but can get you by on a hot day as well, you just might attract more attention than intended if you're at work! This one's solid gold baby!!