Defy (Eau de Toilette)
Perfumer: Anne Flipo
95 ratings
From your scent profile
Calvin Klein Defy Eau de Toilette is a fresh men's fragrance that ties the brightness of bergamot and mandarin orange to a green, woody base of lavender and vetiver.
Skunky's take: Like opening a window: the room feels lighter at once.
How does it perform?
From 80 community ratings, all out of 10.
Keeps you company for a few hours, a quick refresh fits nicely.
Leaves a light trail and stays polite in a crowd.
Looks good without trying too hard.
The price makes you think, so a small size is a smart start.
Blind buy risk
Only 36% of votes are positive.
Notes
They open one after another, from the first spray into the evening.
Top notesfirst 15 minutes
Heart notesfirst few hours
Base noteswhat stays into the evening
Accords
From most dominant to most subtle.
- Fresh
- Citrus
- Aquatic
- Green
- Sweet
- Synthetic
- Woody
What does Defy (Eau de Toilette) smell like?
It opens with bergamot, mandarin orange and cedar leaf, giving a citrusy, airy start. In the heart, violet leaf, lavender absolute and clary sage add a green edge. As it dries, Haitian vetiver, musk and amber settle it onto a woody, lightly sweet footing, with an aquatic and synthetic tone running throughout.
Longevity and sillage are moderate, so it stays fairly close to the skin without pushing itself on a room. Most voters pick summer and spring, and daily wear, leisure and the office are the favoured settings, with few choosing it for evening. Most voters read it as masculine and modern.
How it changes through the day
First minutes
- Bergamot
- Mandarin orange
- Cedar leaf
First hours
- Violet leaf
- Lavender absolute
- Clary sage
Towards evening
- Haitian vetiver
- Musk
- Amber
When to wear it?
Seasons and occasions, by user votes.
- 36%Summer
- 33%Spring
- 22%Autumn
- 9%Winter
- Daytime28%
- Casual27%
- Office19%
- Sport18%
- Evening4%
Least picked for evenings.
Smells like this
The closest scents by notes and accords.
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Ed Hardy · 2008
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Aaron Terence Hughes · 2022
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Versace · 2005
47% matchArt of Universe
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47% matchStarwalker (Eau de Toilette)
Montblanc · 2005
47% matchWeekend for Men (Eau de Toilette)
Burberry · 1997
47% matchTurathi (Blue)
Afnan Perfumes
44% matchPercival
Parfums de Marly · 2018
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Last updated: October 26, 2026















