Contradiction

Contradiction, inspired by Calvin Klein Contradiction for women (1997)

Contradiction lives up to its name, pairing cool, almost metallic flowers with a base that feels close and comforting. The top is a crowd of white and pink blooms, led by lily and peony. Then comes the twist: eucalyptus, with its camphor-like, medicinal freshness, alongside blackberry for a dark fruit tone. The usual summary of the effect is 'cold but warm'.

About the original

Ann Gottlieb and Daniela Andrier created Contradiction for Calvin Klein in 1997, and a men's version, Contradiction for Men, followed in 1998. Its eucalyptus heart gives it a distinctive late-1990s character. Long-time wearers say later batches were reformulated and feel less intense than the early ones. It does not appear on Calvin Klein's US fragrance page, while European retailers show mixed availability.

Our version

Ours is an independent eau de parfum made to evoke the same character. It is not Calvin Klein stock, not an official relaunch and not the original formula.

Who it suits

Fans of clean, airy florals from the late 1990s will recognise the style straight away. The eucalyptus gives it a cool, medicinal edge, and the overall impression can read as soapy or metallic, which some wearers love and others find cold.

Notes of the original fragrance, as listed in fragrance references.

Top notes: Lily, Peony, Lily-of-the-valley, Orchid, Mock Orange, Rose

Heart notes: Eucalyptus, Lilac, Jasmine, Blackberry

Base notes: Sandalwood, Musk, Tonka Bean

The top is a dense floral cluster of lily, lily of the valley, orchid, rose, peony and mock orange (a shrub blossom that smells like orange flower), cool and dewy.

Eucalyptus and blackberry define the heart, a camphorous freshness set against dark fruit, with lilac and jasmine keeping it floral.

Sandalwood, tonka bean and musk give the drydown a comforting, slightly powdery base that offsets the cool start.

Is this the women's or the men's Contradiction?

The women's, from 1997. Contradiction for Men (1998) is a separate fragrance.

What does the eucalyptus add?

A cool, camphor-like freshness in the heart. Paired with blackberry, it gives Contradiction its unusual cold-and-warm character.

Is Calvin Klein Contradiction still made?

We have not been able to confirm whether Calvin Klein still produces it; availability at retailers is mixed.

Inside the EU, delivery is free on orders of €49 or more. Below that it is a flat €4.99. Outside the EU, delivery is a flat €4.99 on every order. We send every order in 1 to 2 working days. It arrives in 3 to 7 days across the EU and in 7 to 14 days outside the EU. You have 14 days to return an unopened bottle.

Calvin Klein and Contradiction are trademarks of their respective owners, and all rights remain with them. Parfumour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to Calvin Klein in any way, and no business relationship of any kind is implied. Our product is an original interpretation created to evoke a similar scent profile, and the trademark names are used purely for honest, descriptive comparison, so that you can quickly identify the style and fragrance family you are looking for. We make no claim to sell the original product, and we do not use the same ingredients or formula. Any similarity lies in the overall impression of the scent as interpreted by our own perfumers, not in the source materials.