Saturday, January 13, 2007

Escada edp

Escada edp is the eponymous scent of a house of many bottles. Released in 2005 you would be forgiven for being surprised at how many Escadas (with actual names) preceded it. I am reminded of The Cure's 13nth album (depending on how you count them), "The Cure" though thankfully the quality of this odd fragrance does not cause grieving and renting of clothes as listening to that album does.

In the face of this not uncommon in fragrance-land names confusion Escada edp is often called Escada Crystal and Escada Signature. Neither of these names appear on the box, the bottle or any of the advertising. Where these names came from as used by varying stores and fragrance lists is a mystery.

This Escada, in a sparkling and very attractive green box has a vivid and simple appeal. It smells of American department store, the scent of cucumbers as presented by jillions of body products, and a round orange blossom note who's chalky center reminds me of Dior's Pure Poison. The American department store notes are not shrill or cheap but immediately familiar. I am almost ready to leave off browsing The Gap and make my way to the food court for an enormous pretzel. There is nothing bland about it and from this expats perspective the whole thing is kind of neat. It's a nifty place capsule that is well done and enjoyable in it's own right. It should be that Escada edp smells like many other fragrances but it is strangely non-generic. Perhaps it is more an interpretation of a place and time scentwise, a place and time with brightly lit shelves displaying bottle after bottle of American perfumes.

The advertising for this Escada captures it perfectly.

Escada edp was designed by Pierre Bourdon, of Malle's Iris Poudre fame.

Top note : Bergamot, Black Currant, Green Leaves, Cucumber, Lemon
Middle note : Magnolia, Jasmine, Lily-of-the-Valley, Orange Blossom, Rose, Peony
Base note : Amber, Musk, Tangerine, Vanilla, Iris, Patchouli,Sandalwood


Sunday, January 07, 2007

Lancome Tropiques: Postcards from the Gift Shop


Yesterday in the 34C heat I was happily making mango ginger marmalade. It came out perfectly. I filled a pretty, smaller jar to give away but now I'm keeping it because it's the best jam I've made in a while. About 8 small mangoes, 2 oranges, crystallized ginger and some lemon juice. And sugar of course.

Lancome Tropiques is a part of their travel series, limited editions released only to duty free outlets at airports. Asia and Africa will be coming out this year and the next. Throw in some ginger to Tropiques, and a touch of saffron and it could have been the Asian edition but Tropiques is definitely more of a hula number, though a somewhat stately one. Middle aged hula with little likelihood of anything falling off mid hipsway in the sand. For those that fear tropical means the pubescent punch offered up by Escada this is good news. Creamy mango with a faint touch of wood in the drydown the brightest moments are the fleeting top notes. I wish they lasted longer because they are quite delicious and I turn into a topnote huffer with this one, reapplying for my fix.

The dignified mango Tropiques settles into is quite unique. Often a perfume seeking to distance itself from youth but still include fruit will use the fruit as a minor chord but that is not the case here. It's mango. It's tropical. It's espadrilles and "maybe I'll go in the water tomorrow". Meanwhile, let's hit the gift shop!