JASON ARSHAN
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If aliens came down to Earth and said, “we need summer fragrances” I would point them to Calvin Klein and Escada. That’s not to say there aren’t other brands with amazing summer scents, but if the fate of the Earth is based on these aliens getting their hands on lots of summer fragrances — those two names have cornered the market.
Escada’s yearly summer offerings are always a mix of delightful fruitiness and fun. What that shows is a firm grasp on what a summer fragrance should be all about.
I’ve mentioned this before and I’ll keep repeating it until it gets re-released — Escada’s Sunset Heat is one of my all-time favorite summer fragrances. I currently have 2/3rds of a bottle left of Sunset Heat that almost gets the same reaction of excitement as the famed fragrance cellar that it’s housed in. Whenever visiting fragrance enthusiasts get that rare look inside my fragrance cellar, they clamor over Sunset Heat. Yes, among the niche fragrances, international exclusives, and personally curated fragrances from world-renowned perfumers — that bottle of Sunset Heat is one of those special fragrances that always catches their eyes, noses, hearts, and dreams. It’s that good.
Luckily for all, Escada knows summer fragrances and while I wait for the second coming of Sunset Heat, Escada’s yearly summer offerings are something I always look forward to.
This year Escada Summer Festival brings a sweet, fruity, airy blend that is less concerned about the details and more about having a good time. When I think of festivals, I think of earthy notes such as patchouli and frankincense. Yes, that’s a generalization, but based on my own festival experiences, I would’ve liked Escada to take a bit of a risk to really highlight the festival in its name. They’ve got the summer down solid. I think it’s missing the festival aspect. With that said, to properly review a fragrance there are rules that are put in place to help avoid as many biases as possible. One of those rules is to be completely unaware of what fragrance is being reviewed. All I get upon my reviews is a blank bottle. So not knowing the “festival” aspect of it — I immediately recognized it as a fun, comforting, warm weather scent that I know I’ll be wearing a lot this summer. Only after my first impressions were made, with meticulous note taking, and fragrance rating, did I see the packaging. I wish Escada would have taken a risk with this and added some earthiness, but I take nothing away from them for keeping it simple. The aliens seeking summer scents would be pleased with Summer Festival and so am I.
Scent Profile: airy sweet fruits.
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Having dedicated over a decade of his life to the psychology of scent, "the voice of fragrance" joined Pinappos with the express purpose of sharing his passion for perfume from a unique perspective. During this psychological journey, he has quietly built a reputation as one of the world's foremost fragrance connoisseurs.
