Truth Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein (2000)

A sharp lily and sapwood accord that makes a thick and sickly brew.
There was a good idea behind this but with three cooks stirring the sour it's no wonder got a bit confused.
Later, when left to his own devices, Morillas honed the idea into Mugler Cologne.
A big improvement.

I love both men's and women's Truth by Calvin Klein as they seem similar to me, the men's with a stronger freshly mowed grass scent. If I'm not mistaken, doesn't the women's Truth smell similar to Odeur 53 by Comme de Garcons? I am unsure, but from what I remember about the two, I think they may smell similar. I love wearing Truth in the winter months when one's body heat makes the fragrance more noticeable. I hope Calvin Klein doesn't discontinue these gems. They are definitely unique and I can't name any other fragrances out there that smell similar (except for the Odeur 53, of course). Stock up in case they do decide to discontinue these!

This is an innocuous little thing, designed more for the person who really feels she must wear something, but isn't really into scent per se.

Turin gives it four stars, names it incorrectly as a "floral oriental," and correctly defines two simultaneous accords: one a "green, sharp, florist shop floral," and one a "creamy, woody." The silly names given on this page don't really define the ingredients that must have actually been used.

This "feels" like an oceanic, in its lightness and inconsequentiality, but has none of the ingredients of that scent type. Light florals over light woods with a bit of vanilla and amber - and none of them above a whisper.

Okay, but ordinary and unremarkable.

The first thing that hits me is soap, followed by something quite strong and floral. Honeysuckle? Not a big fan of this at application, as it's rather sharp.

An hour later it's got that open, round "refrigerant" smell - I don't know how else to describe it, perhaps synthetic? The floral is still there. Reminds me a bit of some aqua scents I've tried in Sephora.

Genre: Woody Oriental

Few scents from Calvin Klein appeal to me, but Truth is more interesting and pleasant than most. It also smells very, very familiar to start with, but I can't place it. Herbaceous green and citrus top notes smell so much like something I know. What? What???? Wait, I know! The top notes are Annick Goutal's Le Chèvrefeuille. In fact, Truth's opening gambit echoes the signature Goutal citrus and green floral motif that appears in varied form in Folavril, Eau du Sud, and Eau de Ciel, as well as Le Chèvrefeuille.

Truth sweetens and becomes more opaque over time, as powdery amber, vanilla, and discreet woody notes establish a relatively lightweight oriental motif beneath the green floral accord. Properly engineered, this gambit of juxtaposing two apparently incompatible olfactory constructs can establish exceptional vibrancy and sustained interest in a fragrance. Angel, Tubéreuse Criminelle, Aramis, Sublime, and Yohji Homme all work their own variation on this trick with great success. Scents that get the balance wrong wind up as train wrecks – Montale's Aoud Ambre comes to mind. Truth manages quite well, maintaining a highly charged, yet ideally poised balance between its bitter, herbaceous green floral and sweet woody oriental components. There are times when Truth can smell a bit chemical, but it is never boring.

While by no means a shy or ephemeral scent, Truth is tactfully modest in its power and projection. Carefully balanced potency works very much to Truth's advantage, as a more aggressive stance would risk emphasize the somewhat chemical quality of its green floral accord. As executed, Truth is clever, engaging, and good company all around. It also strikes me as no less gender-neutral than Calvin Klein's determinedly unisex CK One.

Let's start with scent and truth. Bamboo? Wet Woods? Silk tree flower? Seems a bit insincere from the start, I'd say. If you're going to list ridiculous note without a trace of botanical truth, why not branch out from botany and list notes like fractiousness, regret, serenity or stasis.

But I love the way Truth smells. It shows a wonderful and converging use of synthetic tones. There's a green woody sappiness and a tart fruit/musk combination that both extends and redefines the ‘freshness' that defines the middle of the road of designer fragrance. The result is a beautiful ambiguity without a hint of tension.