($43 each)
I can’t remember anybody who didn’t heart at least one of Escada’s numerous fragrances. In the early 2000s the company’s fruity florals were booming, which made us dream of island hopping every time we spritzed them on. Sexy Graffiti was my personal preference then, so I was curious to test it on my skin when I learned that they were back on the shelves again. I found them at Ulta, together with Rockin Rio and Island Kiss. First impression – the bottles are different, but to me all that matters is the perfume itself.
I tried them all and, while they revived some of my memories, all three of the fragrances appeared somewhat different from their older versions. Although it’s hard to detect what exactly was changed, they seemed a little off to me. Not bad, but not quite the same either. Maybe I’m the one to blame, because my perfume tastes and preferences changed a lot in a past decade. But it feels like the company edited a note or two for these new versions.
Notes:
Rockin Rio new: coconut, pineapple, tangerine, papaya, sugar cane, peach, sandalwood, musks.
Rockin Rio old: pineapple, mandarin, papaya, sugar cane, coconut, sandalwood, musks.
Sexy Graffiti new: wild strawberry and raspberry, grapefruit, mint, Lilly-of-the-Valley, Red Peony, Violet, cashmere, vanilla, musks.
Sexy Graffiti old: wild strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, Violet, Lilly-of-the-Valley, Red Peony, cashmere, vanilla, musks.
Island Kiss new: orange, Passion Flower, mango, orange, Magnolia, peach, sandalwood, musks.
Island Kiss old: white flowers, Magnolia, Passion Flower, mango, orange, passion fruit, raspberry, peach, hibiscus, sandalwood, musks.
In any case, for nostalgic personalities those three are worth revisiting. They still contain Escada’s signature sweet-musky-fruity-floral accents that scream ‘vacation’. I personally moved on, but I still enjoyed trying them all again after so many years.
