Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Grooming

Calvin Klein’s New Cologne Pairs with the Fresh Face of Richard Madden

Jon Gugala
By

It doesn’t take a rocketman to see that Calvin Klein’s selection of actor Richard Madden for its new Defy fragrance is a great choice. Announced Thursday, July 1, the former Game of Thrones star will be forevermore linked with the scent, which follows a long company (and industry) tradition to personify their fragrances. As one might expect, the announcement was followed by a promotional video and a slew of imagery.

Related Guides

Related Videos

The 35-year-old Scottish actor, who previously played Robb Stark in HBO’s GoT and agent John Reid in the Elton John biopic Rocketman, joins some truly rarified air as a CK fragrance face. The company has a long history of tapping some of Hollywood’s most in-demand men for its campaigns, and past spokesmen include Ed Burns (Eternity, 2014), Jake Gyllenhaal (Eternity, 2017), Charlie Hunnam (Reveal), Alexander Skarsgård (Encounter Fresh), and Jamie Dornan (Free), among many others. Beyond its fragrances, the company has come up with some truly iconic ads featuring men across generations wearing its clothing and underwear, including Mark Wahlberg in its boxers and Justin Bieber’s blatant plagiarism of the Wahlberg concept, just to name a few.

“It’s been an exciting opportunity to partner with Calvin Klein on this new launch for Calvin Klein Fragrances,” Madden said in a release. “Making the Calvin Klein Defy campaign was an amazing experience; I’m excited about this partnership and our work together.”

Related

Crafted by Anne Flipo (Burberry, Coach, Giorgio Armani, Yves Saint Laurent, and just about everyone else), along with Pascal Gaurin and Loc Dong, Defy skews toward the woody, with a Haitian-sourced vetiver oil, and it’s featured in an asymmetrical glass bottle with a denim-blue box and cap, the latter two of which are an homage to the company’s legendary jeans.

Calvin Klein isn’t the only fragrance company to tap Hollywood leading men to epitomize their scents; Dior is probably the greatest example of doing it right, right now, and it’s practically sunk a mint into Johnny Depp, utilizing the famous Disney actor since its scent’s release in 2015. Some say they can still hear Depp burying his jewelry in the desert as a buffalo wanders by.

While Calvin Klein Defy won’t hit Macy’s and other department stores until August, the hype machine is fired up, and we expect to be seeing wall-to-wall playback of Madden’s new ad in front of every YouTube video we watch until then (which, to be clear, we don’t necessarily view as a negative). Will the scent become a tentpole fragrance for Calvin Klein, as CK One and Eternity have been? Or will it fade like a seasonal scent, with Madden’s mug the only reminder? We’ll withhold judgment until August, but in the meantime, we’ll enjoy Madden as the latest in a long line of leading men to rep the brand.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
New Year’s Grooming Is Easy to Maintain With Barrel and Oak
Barrell and Oak's grooming products

Once you figure out how to untwist the Black Oak All-In-One wash from Barrel and Oak, be careful — you’re not going to want to rinse the bergamot and black pepper soap off of your hands. The perfect mix of citrus perfume and piquant pepper is only the start of Barrel and Oak’s inspiring products to step into 2022 so fresh and so clean.

It’s an accepted fact that a well-groomed man enjoys and exhibits much more confidence. When you’re washed, shaved, and smelling of Bourbon Cedar, you radiate self-esteem and exude a magnetic aura. All you need is water and a brand like Barrel & Oak that brings the goods. The grooming products offer a full spectrum of exclusive body products with pared-down choices made with simple, time-honored practices, and premium ingredients “because we think our bodies deserve more,” Barrel and Oak says.

Read more
The 10 Best Men’s Body Sprays To Buy in 2022
mens body sprays best for men 2021

Seasonality in your grooming routine is every bit as important as seasonality in your wardrobe, and that's where the best men's body sprays enter the equation. It's wise to replace your spring rain gear or winter boots with lightweight picks as the weather warms, so think of the best body spray as an alternative to strong cologne.

It's a wise choice to lighten things up and freshen yourself up in a hurry. Many body sprays are designed to last through hotter temperatures, and some body sprays treat specific scenarios. Case in point: Body sprays designed to eliminate odors that crop up post-workout (swamp crotch for example) or even after a shower. Some body sprays are even designed to cool you down along the way.

Read more
Super-Dry Winter Skin Got You Itching? You Need a Healing Salve or Balm

When the lower temperatures of winter hit, humidity levels drop. You may already be reaching for a humidifier to keep your home comfy -- and your sinuses happy -- but if you’re heading out into the season’s cold, arid climate, your skin may need a little extra help.

Sure, you should still be using a basic moisturizer, but for a more intense treatment, turn to thicker, creamier balms, salves, and ointments. They’re particularly helpful for extra-dry patches, plus cracked, itchy, and chaffed skin that oftentimes comes with colder weather. The best balms for dry skin offer a more intense level of moisturizing and healing action to restore the skin's natural barrier to keep the skin healthy.

Read more