Our take
What does Reveal smell like?
Calvin Klein launched Reveal in autumn 2014, with Doutzen Kroes as the face and Charlie Hunnam beside her in the campaign. The concept was unusual for a mass market scent: salt. The opening pairs salt with three peppers (black, white and pink). The effect is dry and prickly. The heart brings ambergris and iris together. Think warm skin after the beach, with a powdery edge. The base stays clean: cashmeran, sandalwood, musk and vetiver. Cashmeran gives it a cottony, almost woolly texture. On paper the idea is original. On skin it turns out rather quiet, and the salt fades fast. Compared with Obsession, the house's big oriental from 1985, Reveal feels minimal and much drier. Few mainstream launches have dared to put salt front and centre, and that alone makes it worth a sniff.
When to wear it
Wear it during the day in spring or autumn, on freshly washed skin. It stays close, so you can be a little generous.
It belongs to the Oriental / Amber, Woody family. Reveal is one of 24 creations by Calvin Klein in our encyclopedia.
