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95 community ratings
Calvin Klein

Defy (Eau de Toilette)

Perfumer: Anne Flipo

2021MenModern
5.9/ 10
Community score
95 ratings
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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.

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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.

Longevity
5.9 /10

Keeps you company for a few hours, a quick refresh fits nicely.

Sillage
5.7 /10

Leaves a light trail and stays polite in a crowd.

Bottle
6.1 /10

Looks good without trying too hard.

Value for money
6.1 /10

The price makes you think, so a small size is a smart start.

Blind buy risk

High 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.

  1. Fresh
  2. Citrus
  3. Aquatic
  4. Green
  5. Sweet
  6. Synthetic
  7. 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

  1. First minutes

    • Bergamot
    • Mandarin orange
    • Cedar leaf
  2. First hours

    • Violet leaf
    • Lavender absolute
    • Clary sage
  3. Towards evening

    • Haitian vetiver
    • Musk
    • Amber

When to wear it?

Seasons and occasions, by user votes.

  • 36%
    Summer
  • 33%
    Spring
  • 22%
    Autumn
  • 9%
    Winter
  • Daytime
    28%
  • Casual
    27%
  • Office
    19%
  • Sport
    18%
  • Evening
    4%

Least picked for evenings.

Smells like this

The closest scents by notes and accords.

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Last updated: October 26, 2026