Defy Parfum
Perfumer: Pascal Gaurin
31 ratings
From your scent profile
Calvin Klein Defy Parfum opens on cardamom, mandarin orange and pink pepper and settles into vetiver, sandalwood and cocoa shell: a fresh, citrusy yet sweet and spicy fragrance for men.
Skunky's take: A night owl's pick; made for evenings out.
How does it perform?
From 25 community ratings, all out of 10.
Holds up through the day and fades gently toward evening.
People close to you notice, nobody gets overwhelmed.
Looks good without trying too hard.
The price makes you think, so a small size is a smart start.
Blind buy risk
Only 45% of votes are positive.
Notes
They open one after another, from the first spray into the evening.
Top notesfirst 15 minutes
Base noteswhat stays into the evening
Accords
From most dominant to most subtle.
- Fresh
- Citrus
- Floral
- Sweet
- Synthetic
- Gourmand
- Spicy
- Woody
What does Defy Parfum smell like?
Its longevity and sillage are rated as good, though the number of votes is small. Most voters pick fall, followed by spring and winter, with summer well behind. It leans towards evenings, nights out and leisure time, and reads masculine.
The opening is a fresh, spicy citrus built on cardamom, mandarin orange and pink pepper. Ginger, lavender and geranium form a floral, spicy heart. In the base, vetiver and sandalwood give a woody footing while cocoa shell sweetens it, leaving a powdery, creamy, gourmand dry-down.
How it changes through the day
First minutes
- Cardamom
- Mandarin orange
- Pink pepper
First hours
- Ginger
- Lavender
- Geranium
Towards evening
- Vetiver
- Sandalwood
- Cocoa shell
When to wear it?
Seasons and occasions, by user votes.
- 35%Autumn
- 27%Spring
- 24%Winter
- 14%Summer
- Evening25%
- Nighttime23%
- Casual20%
- Daytime18%
- Office10%
- Sport5%
Least picked for the office.
Smells like this
The closest scents by notes and accords.
59% matchVenetian Ambre Edition
Armaf
56% matchJack
Fragrance World · 2024
54% matchEgoluxe Masculin (Eau de Toilette)
Otto Kern · 2010
53% matchIconic Nuit Cerulean
Grandeur
52% matchTiffany & Love for Him
Tiffany & Co. · 2019
51% matchSeductive Homme
Guess · 2011
49% matchAl Nashama - Caprice
Lattafa · 2023
45% matchLa Nuit de L'Homme Bleu Électrique
Yves Saint Laurent · 2021
More from Calvin Klein
By the Same Perfumer

Plum in Cognac Vintage 24
Scents of Wood · 2024

1499
S-Perfume · 2014

Apricot in Cognac
Scents of Wood · 2024

Plum in Cognac
Scents of Wood · 2020

Malbec Black
O Boticário · 2019

Armani Privé - Rouge Malachite
Giorgio Armani · 2016

Polo Cologne Intense
Ralph Lauren · 2021

Häxan
Heretic · 2025
Last updated: October 26, 2026















