Technically speaking, Eternity is an 80s fragrance (it was launched in 1988). However, the Calvin Klein scent of the 80s is unquestionably Obsession, a heavy and sultry scent, worthy of Alexis Carrington, your mother and that lady who just left her mark in the elevator.
Eternity, on the other hand, is much more of a 90s scent, with the entire minimalist Calvin Klein look, Christy Turlington and your old pair of black pants. I started wearing it in late 1993 as a day fragrance, and have always had a bottle around, even at times that I could go for months without actually putting it on.
It's my happy scent. A sunny, sparkly little thing, never intimidating or pushy. It's floral, and a white one at that, but not in a diva, tuberose way. Christy Turlington embodied it well: pretty and clean, yoga-practicing, scandal-free, no drug benders or assistant assaulting. Who doesn't want to look and smell like Christy?
The long lasting drydown, with its sandalwood goodness, is still uplifting and cute. It's not deep, moody or very evocative, but the reason for it is perhaps all those years of Calvin marketing. It does call back some old memories, but they can't be separated from the Eternity image and ads.
I no longer bother with full-sized bottles. My local Target has it in 0.5 oz bottles of EdP, which are perfect and just enough for my needs.
