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oroni2 – :
This is sweet, woody and soapy. Longevity and silage are moderate and OK. In fact, the silage is a smooth, sweet musky aroma. A pleasant fragrance from CK that you could wear anytime.
Slafik – :
I remember selling this scent when it first came out, and have to say it was better back then. They have changed it somewhat.
This opens a tad soapy. Fresh, clean yes. After about 20 mins, it settles better into a light fresh scent that lasts about 4 hours.
A good choice for the office, or summer wear. A flexible choice that would appeal to most but the very discerning frag fan.
Reason being is the new formulation has taken something away that made Contradiction special, and the discerning nose will pick up on that.
Still a solid choice.
arkrozv – :
I bought this a month ago and returned it.
The current version of contradiction is incredibly weak. It lasts for 15 minutes no joke. The price to be fair was a joke-22 euros for the big bottle but it is nothing like the version from 2000. That was much much better.
Buy it just for the bottle lol
I don’t know what else to say about coty…
(try the current version of obsession and you will understand).
PsyX81 – :
there is something wrong with the Fragrantica’s description of this fragrance??
this frag is for men 🙂
undeadwap – :
Blind bought this at Marshall’s alongside Davidoff’s Horizon (I’m telling you, blind buying fragrances is a kind of addiction lol!) Green, powdery, fresh, a bit abstract. CK Contradiction is a very interesting and pleasant aroma that I can’t believe I am only trying now. Came out in 1998 apparently, but smells modern, timeless. This stuff is pretty good! Versatile, shower fresh. I can’t see any occasion that this stuff wouldn’t work for. I’d give it a solid 8/10.
ThePolugan – :
lavender + lime & touch of pepper, nice scent but its name is not fitting – this cologne contradicts nothing, this is an easy-going crowd pleaser
the basenotes are slightly sweet and remind me of Lanvin L´Homme
nickgang – :
Quality: 3 out of 5 – It’s smells good, but doesn’t make a lasting impression.
Originality: 3 out of 5 – This is different, but with some effort you could find something similar.
Projection (Sillage): 2 out of 5 – soft; only people intimately close to you can smell your scent. I lightly applied 4 sprays; 1 on each side of my neck and 1 on each wrist. Maybe I should have been more liberal in my application.
Longevity: 2 out of 5 – weak; 3~4 hours. I couldn’t smell it on afterwards even as a skin scent.
Versatility: 4 out of 5 – This scent is very versatile; in my opinion it works well for either day or night, autumn, multiple occasions, for males around 25-50.
Value: 4 out of 5 – £18 for 100ml is cheap. This would get 5 out of 5 if I didn’t want to put this £18 towards something I actually love rather than just like. Oh, it’s on sale? Even cheaper than £18? Great!
Compliment Frequency: 2 out of 5 – Nobody moved away but I didn’t get compliments on it either.
Packaging (Bottling): 4 out of 5 – Much thought seems to have gone into the packaging; it’s attractive and highly functional.
Overall Rating: 2 out of 5 – Mediocre – It’s not bad, but not inspiring either. It is receiving a bad score due to a combination of quality, originality, projection and compliment frequency. This can easily be worn by people without discriminating tastes, but fragrance collectors will likely avoid it.
Recommendations: Try before you buy.
TySiA – :
The same nose is behind this as Yves saint Laurent
La Nuit de L’homme so there is no denying that the cardimom note is very prominent, and i dont know why people keep dismising its performance as I sprayed it on my pillow one night and had a very pleasamt sleep, when I awoke after a soothing 12 hour powernap, I could still smell it on my pillow. The performance on this is not just good but amazing.
220577 – :
There is nothing unique about it other than contradicting with its name. This cologne is as same as wearing Axe body spray. Yes, it has a fine smell when sprayed. But it lasts as same as it takes you to put the bottle back in your dresser.
I felt like CK R&D team was on its way to developing something when they found this as a byproduct because CK team failed to deliver a finished product. This cologne needs further work on projection and importantly longevity.
Projection: 2.5/10
Longevity: 1/10
Smell: 6/10
ionterra – :
A classic favorite of mine. I have kept a bottle of this since 1999, and it has never failed me. This is a great cold date-night scent, and my woman always appreciates it.
tutorialzz – :
It’s hard for me to tell all the notes here, they’re quite mixed. I can smell the citrus all the way through which is not bad as many citrus fragrances lose the citrus after very few minutes , but for this one the citrus stays. I can smell lavender next and maybe cardamom, but ver weak. Musk is also hidden in the background.
It’s not a unique fragrance but it’s the most projecting of all CK I tried, as my experience with CK tells me the frags are very weak.
Overall not bad , but not something I would envy.
tgq282Bessinepome – :
I already wrote my review of this a couple years ago, and it hasn’t changed. Please see below for that. This is just to address a couple miscellaneous things.
1) For some reason, the description here on Fragrantica describes the women’s version of Contradiction, not the men’s. There are other sites that have the correct breakdown of the notes.
2) I am not an expert in the fragrance industry. But even though Calvin Klein doesn’t offer Contradiction on their website anymore, I think they or an authorized company still manufacture it to be sold elsewhere, such as Amazon or other reputable places. It has been a LONG time since you could purchase this juice on the CK site – more than a decade, if I am not mistaken – but the bottle that I bought from Amazon directly (not a third party seller) has a code that indicates it was manufactured in 2013.
sgerenko – :
it’s 10 times better than Mr. Burberry. Longevity and sillage can beat Mr. Burberry. easy to wear and easy to love. i love the warm spicy and light woody vibe plus it is very reasonable price.
шурикот – :
Recently replenished to the collection as a gift and again I’m in the process of working out what it is I find so wrong with it given an array of good ingredients.
The citrus notes are perhaps overly crisp, pepper notes too light and other spices lacking. Lavender which quite often is overpowering in other fragrances is moribund or perhaps away for the season.
Though there is no accord given to aqua notes in CKC it certainly twitches my nasals in a similarly displeasing way to many within the CK line.
Then there is the powdery dry down that comes across as being quite second rate and more in keeping with a back street gay bar.
Despite the poor review I have to admit that CKC is not terrible – which is perhaps the closest to Contradiction I like to be.
bwj859elipseskism – :
Blind bought this one yesterday. Opened it as soon as I got out of the store and gave myself a spray on the back of the hand. Disappointed is an understatement. Got such a powerful chemical blast in the opening. Basically, that cheap cologne smell that people complain about. Hated it so much, I nearly through it in the trash can in the parking lot. However, once the chemical blast evaporates, it’s not too bad, very soft. I get a little citrus and floral. I can’t pick out other notes unfortunately. Once it dries down a bit, it’s a safe scent. It’s very average. Not unique in any way. I will probably keep it and give it a few more chances. Gave myself two sprays about an hour ago, it’s fading quickly. Again, very average to my inexperienced (yet picky) nose.
BoymnSton – :
Was fantastic in the late 90’s. Still quite nice today.
edvard7074 – :
I am really mad at this bottle.
This smells very good, sharp cardamom and vetiver for cheap, but has abysmal longevity – one or two hours max and suddenly it fades away, then it completely disappears by the third hour
Style888 – :
Iconic fragance! 80 s 90s CK creations were mastercopy, inventive, singular and newfangled fragances Contradictions for him smells quanty and powefull … glorious creation …
V1per33 – :
My grandmother got me this as a gift in the late 90’s and I grew into liking this and it was a nice looking modern bottle. It even reminded me of the twin towers (before 2001). I haven’t seen the fragrance ever since until recently I see it a lot at marshalls/tj maxx stores for 19.99-29.99 price range. Also I’ve seen it in some department store or some friends that own it. When I smelled it again, it did not remind me at all what it used to be when I owned it. Was this reformists, or since its discontinued, I’m only smelling old batches of it and maybe the juices have gone bad? I wonder be chase when I owned it i remember the juice being a clear light blue. Now everytime I see it has a yellow colores juice and the smell ain’t that pleasant. It smells like cleaning chemicals that have been stored for years. I also noticed that many of the bottles I seen have the sprayer always wet dirty and sticky from the juice. These are indications of the juice being old as well. I still have not seen the contradiction bottle that had the blue juice inside like I remembered when I had it and liked it. Not even Calvin Klein stores have it. Still want to find it a and remember when I was a the only teen wearing this lol, but all I see it some new contradiction or old one with the yellow juice. Anyone else have this issue or noticed the juice?
UnwiseeGignee – :
I briefly dated a guy that wore this and to this day, the slightest whiff of it makes me weak. It’s clean, peppery, and indisputably masculine but with a slight roundness to the finish that makes it less aggressive without losing its assertiveness. It’s a good for any time of day and any season, but probably best in the summer.
Koveks – :
It is completely not what the poster shown…It smells woody,sophisticated,smokey….while I suppose it to be an tender,romantic one……
I’m WRONG,totally~
vlad-murman – :
not strong enough for me, very weak and boring like most of the women in my life
katyouha – :
Despite being discontinued, I spotted it again in a shop and finally gave in and bought a bottle for myself. What a wise decision! This is perhaps the finest male fragrance of the turn of the millennium. Although nowadays it appears retro, the fragrance as such is beautifully composed: elegant yet casual, youthful yet manly, sweet yet fresh. Hence it is aptly titled, and it comes in a stylish bottle.
To be sure, CK did create some fine male fragrances during the 2000s (Man, Euphoria, In2U), but this one makes their last truly great creation. Have a go and let yourself be warped into the times when the internet was new, the war on terror wasn’t yet declared, the euro about to be introduced, and the Cardigans made their best records. I’m not saying that those days were better, but CK’s fragrances certainly were.
*****
lyudmilapanina – :
Absolutely hate-love relationship with it. Sometimes I get easily tired of it but I barely realize coming back to it more often than I would like. I suppose it is because I love the opening which it seems to me one of the most original I have ever tested; sparkling and fresh but dry, elegant, magnificent at the same time. Little by little it starts to turn into the “powdery” fragrance that many people talks about. This is what it causes me a conflict because it is nice and also pleasant but nothin special and in my opinion it ruins the amazing start although it gives the fragrance enough versatility. This is a contradiction itself and this is also for what you can lengthen your office time to an informal event or to have a dinner without going through a shower. It lacks a little bit of quality and consequently the cheap price, and the design is superb as you can check but who cares in this sea of products?
Basic wardrobe
7/10
andreneo – :
I wonder what kind of reviews this fragrance would get if ‘Hanae Mori’ was on the bottle, or just about any house’s name other than Calvin Klein. lol
I say that because I actually had a chance to sample that fragrance this past weekend over a friend’s. I was surprised at how similar it was to Contradiction, but much sweeter (to my chemistry’s detriment). I can’t help but think the designers were inspired by HM; sought for ways to put some different spins on it minus some of the sweetness; and ended up with what we have here: a well-developed citrus-like peppery floral with average projection and moderate sillage.
You can catch a BIT of the Escape wave also, which was also still popular at the time this juice hit the market. Don’t look for melon anything here though.
Sample a fresh bottle if you can. I am not sure when Contradiction was discontinued (or if it was), but I recently purchased a bottle made in August of 2013 from Amazon.
bctrecha – :
beautiful smell, not sure why calvin klein would want to discontinue it. smells clean, fresh and need to wear it with summery colours
mulik – :
The House of Klein picked the right noun to describe this fragrance. Just when you think it is the right scent for formal use…surprise, it also wears well on date night, in the office or any time for that matter. Taking that name a bit further, what first opens as some serious citrus calms to what I’d categorize as “sporty powder.” To me, these contradictions are what the House intended.
allevs62 – :
Great work on this fragrance I love this it’s strong in the beginning but overall a great citrus scent
Komb – :
Not bad, nor excellent. Citrus opening, 12 on Chemical Richter scale. Evolves better, sweeter, slightly sticky, low projection, longevity above moderate. Nice bottle, quite nice.
I have to say: the first spray really reminds me of a can of insecticide, feel free to disagree but can’t help it. And what’s more: this opening gives me a slight headache, every single time. So that’s another problem. Considering this, I thought … well, congratulations!. You actually did it again, another miserable blind buy… should have waited ’till the sales to buy that scent you really wanted…
But before putting it away, I decided to perform a little test and presented it to a dozen of females. And everyone really liked it. They really did. Now that’s what I call a contradiction. Guess I’ll better keep on using it.
Update: appreciating it a lot more now. It does has some class. But the opening still remains hard for me.
almir – :
It’s a nice fresh smelling scent. However, the longevity is not that great and the sprayer is quite stiff. I don’t know if it just applies to my bottle. I have to press quite hard to get a spray. The sillage is moderate too. The smell is quite nice actually and is good for daytime or evening wear. It’s got a mix of sporty and mature scent, that’s how i’d describe it as. You can wear it on dates in the evening. I wish the longevity and sillage was a bit better though. I got myself a 50 Ml bottle. I won’t be getting this one again though. It’s a nice perfume overall. I actually wanted to buy David Beckham’s Intimately Yours. However, i saw the CK Contradiction box and wanted to take a look at the bottle and how it smelt. I was surprised when i saw the classy and stylish look on the bottle. This is one of the main reasons i bought CK Contradiction for Men. However, the scent is quite good too.
keba73 – :
Too a daily scent so fresh and cool fragance, it’s perfect foy day time and casual enviroment!
dmitrik94 – :
I didn’t like this one at all! (a purely shaving-foam smelling scent).
I own a sample of this fragrance, and it seems to have gone stale (or is it that it smells like stale perfume?).
фив – :
I just ran into it in a shop which still sells it, and nowadays it already gives me a strange sense of nostalgia. How quickly time passes! Now it suits those who want to revive the years around the millennium change. Nice one if you’re into retro stuff.
*****
WladimirD – :
This was my signature scent back in the late 1990’s early 2000’s. I wore it year round. Peppery-citrus. I always thought it was grapefruit like. Some people think it’s synthetic…it was pretty natural on my skin. I think it resembles Perry Ellis 360, without the projection.
Sainten – :
It opens with a headache inducing mixture citrusses and lavender… After a while it settles down to a more comfortable juice. It is spicy no doubt as all i can smell is pepper and different kinds of it too… It smells like your a walking into a spice shop! Sorry but not for me! Smells kind of like spicebomb and they are equally bad! (For me of course).
Delagypelew – :
So-so at best. It seems more aquatic than anything else. The best description I can come up with is: water, dust and powder.
elektrik380v – :
Good lime-cardamom combo, period. Maybe it’s me, but it doesn’t last. I Used to like it a lot, now I found it boring. Still there are some 10 ml. in the bottle; I will wait for the memories to grow old, maybe time can take some of that charm back. Meanwhile, there won’t be more CK in my wardrobe, it just don’t work on my skin.
***
Buen combo de lima-cardamomo, punto. Quizá soy yo, pero no dura. Solía gustarme mucho, ahora la encuentro aburrida. Quedan unos 10 ml. en la botella; dejaré que los recuerdos maduren, quizá el tiempo pueda traer algo de ese encanto de vuelta. Por lo pronto, no habrá más CK en mi guardarropa, simplemente no funciona en mi piel.
ssasha – :
My boyfriend use it. I find it delicious, so mysterious with such a depth, and totally alluring, i cant get enough. I had to find some more when he ran out of it and give it to him as a gift, from me to him…to me, oh well.
AzTeK – :
I once owned this little gem a few years ago and I remember the softness and lightness of it! Its a feather disguised as war hammer but still has a nice kick to it. Just why was it discontinued?
So my first impressions on this rare gem…soft woody aroma with a very strong presence of vetiver. The musky smell later turns to a soapy and sweet scent but not overwhelming at all. I do remember getting compliments on it and would wear it to work comfortably without offending anyone. It did lack staying power but overall it was unique and did its job in keeping you smelling fresh.
Well now I can not say much else about it since its been discontinued but if you do find it for a good price (under $50) I would recommended it.
8 out of 10
alex000 – :
I am wearing this scent today for the second time and I have to say I am liking it. Firstlly I don’t like to stamp the brands. Each perfume should be reviewed without looking at the brand.Initially I thought it is too synthetic but I was wrong the depth of this scent is excellent. I am giving full marks to longevity. The initial lavender and citruses are good,middle spices are great and base of vetiver,sandalwood and musk are brilliant.
My ratings out of 10 are as follows-:
Scent – 8.5
Silage – 8
Longevity -8.5
Overall 8.5
Citala – :
Personally nauseating. Smells fresh and citrus-like in the opening. I can’t handle the drydown for some reason. It makes me sick to my stomach.
gevers – :
That was one of my first parfumes and for sure i ll be happy if i would get it as a gift.
neville483 – :
Im not a fan of CK fragrances. I never liked any really. As a kid i liked smelling ESCAPE cause it recalled fruity and bubble gum kid scents because it was fresh and soft and different from all the other male fragrances out that were brooding strong & older smelling. Eternity never called out to me and my dad had it. CK ONE and BE was ok but EVERYONE wore it in school especially girls. OBSESSION was the least i liked as a kid cause it smlled like older man. CONTRADICTION was given to me as a B-day gift by grandma. I remember liking it and at the time i held it close to me cause it reminded me of her and of how i didnt have a collection of fragraces as i do now as an adult. When TRUTH & MAN came out i recall smelling it but i was over CK fragrances that paid no attention to it nor recall what it smells like. But i did realize CK is trying to release a little more mature scents. But now as an adult, I saw Escape as old school. When I smelled it again, yuck Id be embarrassed to smell like it in public. smelled CK one, its too recognizable. smelled Eternity and it was ok. smelled Obsession and i think its probably the only fragrance from CK wearable and with class. very man & timeless. I smelled the new one Euphoria, and way too sweet and mundane. Im used to seeking high end and unique fragrances now. But now i need to smell Contradictive. I want to remember what it smells like and remember when it was truly the only CK fragrance i owned. I also believe i liked it out of all CK fragrances. Its hard to find in stores since its discontinued. I might have to just get it online.
KONATRA – :
This is on my top 10 list and I just love it. It’s my choice for a light, morning scent. On my skin it evolves beautifully and gives me a lot of comfort when wearing it. It gets a lot of compliments wherever I go, and has great projection too.
In my opinion maybe the best CK out there.
anthonz – :
Nice and soft, not a head turner. Buy if you can get it cheap
sahak-1996 – :
Got my piece just now. You will get great feeling to wear it at office. Try it once.
27-Apr-11
After 2 months use i have gotta feel bad about it, cause it has so strong smell that gives me headache I checked this frequently to testify my statement and it is the fact, at least for me. For good or bad reason its longativety is about 4 hours, for first hour it smells great but after 3 hours it starts giving me headache. And I don’t consume more than couple of puffs. Can’t use it regularly but still want to wear it after a week.
02-Jun-11
Nevaeh_fromAF – :
After a series of fragrances that meant nothing to me this Calvin Klein is a more than welcome departure from the unisex CK One and way too many indistinctive stuff that came after. To me it comes close to Jil Sander’s Feeling Man which was good news since the latter is despite having been out of production for years one of the most sought after (and by now almost worth its weight in gold) cologne.
It is strong modern and sexy without being overpowering or obnoxious. Suitable for use in daytime as well as on a date.
Advenseinsevy – :
Contradiction for men is an unique fragrance. Is perfect for work. A little spicy, but soft at the same time.
waskorus – :
It’s interesting smell, my husband wear it sometimes. He likes Calvin.
vgh070JeomiWogkig – :
Decided against it. Sorry.
The lime is not a bad lime, it’s a soft lime that mixes well with the floral notes and compliments the spices.
The citric-floral-spicy nature of Contradiction is perfect for professional wear, though the projection and longevity IN the projection is weak and will not grab any attention.
I’m wearing Adventure today, and when I smell NEAR the hand on whih I’ve tried Contradiction, I can smell the Adventure over it. I have to have my nose quite close to me hand to smell it.
The eucalyptus is interesting to know of, though I can’t smell it. I’m Aussie so
I’m probably use to it lol
I find this very close to Issey Miyaki
puh111 – :
I gave it to my brother who is 20. And I wanted to purchase for my husband who was 30…but I didn’t : this fragrance doesn’t last. It’s annoying because I really liked this perfume : positive, young and soft.
Pancho – :
Ouch! nailed it right on the head. Office is right! Precisely what I used it for everyday a few years ago. Its a clean, complex, scent that fades gracefully as the day goes on
21bek2007 – :
It took me some time to realize that was the lime the note I was trying to figure out. This, the pepper and other spicies make a scent a little different, more to the citric side . It remembers me some Cartier, I think Must pour Homme. It is original, but a bit boring too, to my sense.
lnd032speagoessenda – :
A very complex fragrance. Opens with a burst of lime, lavender and pepper. This is definitely not a very commercial-type fragrance and appeals to a certain discerning customer. Good sillage and longevity. Great flacon!
SOWAGI – :
Although I’m not a fan of Calvin Klein’s fragrances, I quite like this one.
It’s very fresh, citrusy & a little bit sweet, but I like the fact that the citrus dominates rather than the sweet; at least on me! Someone below mentioned citrus candy and I have to agree that this is a most apt description.
For the price (I got mine for AUS $25 for a 100ml bottle), and considering the reasonable sillage & longevity, I say go for it. A word of warning though; try before you buy, as the quite dominant (synthetic) citrus may not be for everyone.
natdem – :
A real limey! Such intense lime throughout its very short time on my skin. I get hints of soapiness and a potentially delicious drydown, but it never truly develops on me; I’m lucky if I get 3 hours out of it. All this said, I still enjoy the brief encounter!
bjork – :
CampyCamp. These are not “Rules” this is my opinion. Everyone has their own interpretations of scents and what they evoke and it’s as simple as that really. This is why we have the options at the bottom of the page to voice our OWN opinions on what scents suit what style..ie..Summer Scents…Evening Scents..it’s just opinions, not set in concrete.
Chill…
Romario79 – :
This scent just screams..OFFICE at me. It’s the perfect scent for work at the office. Not too intrusive, clean smelling, lasts all day.
It’s in the same vein as Truth for men by Calvin Kelin.
It smells slightly citrussy and slightly soapy. It’s different from your run of the mill “MAN…AFTERSHAVE” scent. But it’s a safe one…a safe bet for a present.
Nix-19 – :
Great smell. No longevity.
lla321speagoessenda – :
a little bit of citruses,a bit of woodsy notes and a bit soapy at the first sniff,it doesn’t seem to be something at least at first 10 minutes.
now it has remained on my skin for 10 minutes and it’s getting more intense.it smells like lemon candy mixed with cardamon.I like it better now,though still it’s not something I go crazy for.
as the times passes it just remain as a typical cologne for men.I don’t get any special note,it’s just citrusy summer fragrance and it fades away soon.so what does the name contradiction mean here?I don’t find any similarity with the name and the long lasting power is not good.
sersch – :
Both oriental and nippy.
Active and contemporary.
For a man who found a balance between work and family, cares about his look and good state of mind, who is not afraid of adversity and can surprise you with his ideas and attitude.
ioninaSpomoma – :
Very citrus, longevity but I’m using this one as a room spray cause to be honest, it’s just too soapy.
fergeson.dima – :
a different fragrance which is extremely synthetic. most people find it displeasent on me and some suggested me to wash it away immediately. i threw away a full bottle of this.
вова111 – :
Great purfume for Great People, an oriental scent that make change moods, very noticable aroma that srrounds you.