Especially Escada Elixir by Escada

I bought it blind thanks to a significant discount; lately, that’s how I discover perfumes, since the original version wasn’t in stock. I’m not an expert in fragrances or notes, just a passionate enthusiast. The opening was intense and I didn’t like it much; I felt it was synthetic, somewhat reminiscent of a bathroom disinfectant, perhaps due to the ambrette musk. After an hour, the Turkish roses became noticeable, and at four hours, close to the skin, it smelled soft and talcum-like, similar to the original. For now, it’s a no; I think it will be hard for me to wear it.

The bottle is gorgeous—it’s not the typical feminine design and really catches the eye. The scent starts with very potent Turkish rose, then settles into plum with a powdery touch. It lasts about four hours. It’s only for the brave due to the strong opening. Better to try it before buying.

The bottle caught my eye and it was on promotion. It comes out very sweet, with sweet fruits and roses. It has a fine, delicate, feminine aroma. The saleswoman said it was potent, and yes, it is in the opening. I enjoy it a lot in cold weather; in summer, I think it might be overwhelming because it’s quite sweet.

I bought it blindly because it was cheap. At first, it didn’t convince me, but I gave it another chance and ended up liking it. The opening is bitter and synthetic (I assume it’s the ambrette musk). Then the rose comes in with a hint of acidic fruit, and that bitterness lingers. It’s silky until the musk joins in. Very good, but it fades fast.

I bought it blind during a super promotion at an unbelievable price, and it was a hit. The opening is citrusy, feeling grapefruit fused with ambrette, creating an exotic and unconventional halo. A few minutes later, the roses appear, accompanied by the acidity and soft sweetness of plums. Finally, an amber touch adds delicacy and elegance. The curious part is that those delicious ‘plum-tinged’ roses are constantly immersed in grapefruit, something original that works really well. The bottle isn’t ugly, but it doesn’t truly represent the perfume. Longevity on my skin is about 6 hours with moderate sillage. The price is excellent. I loved it and would buy it again.

This review is from a hot summer. The opening is a bit tart, which is interesting since fruits are usually sweet, but it’s a fresh grapefruit that makes you raise an eyebrow, supported by a soft floral and musky base. The rose comes out in two minutes, mature and refreshed by the grapefruit, without green notes. It’s soft, not creamy. The musk adds softness, not that Narciso-like silkiness. I bought it because people voted it similar to For Her Fleur Musc; it has some of that spirit but isn’t an alternative. It could be a fresh, light version. After two or three hours, an amber note emerges that balances the tartness without losing freshness, plus a bit of patchouli that adds depth. It achieves the perfect balance between grapefruit, mature rose, and sweetness. It’s ideal for summer—a fresh floral that doesn’t slip into soapy territory. It’s chic, suits a stylish, lively woman without being rigid. It doesn’t feel synthetic to me; the grapefruit and rose are realistic, though the musk and amber might be a bit artificial. I was pleasantly surprised. The downside is it doesn’t last long, only 3-4 hours even with heavy application. Maybe in autumn or winter it would show more of its amber and vanilla side. Wish it would!

The salesperson tried to sell it to me as the more potent version of the classic Especially (which I like) and got offended when I said they weren’t similar. I opted for the classic, but I ended up bringing this one home. It’s sweeter due to the vanilla and doesn’t resemble the original at all. I feel they added darkness and masculinity, hardening it. It lost its youthful, innocent, and fun charm. Also, for an Elixir, it lasts the same or less than the classic. Fun fact: the next day, it smelled like a men’s perfume in the dryer. I don’t like it; I recommend the original.

I didn’t like it at all. Strong, artificial, synthetic smell. It reminded me a lot of Dior Addict Eau Delice, which I also didn’t like. And on top of that, it lasted a long time, haha.

I bought it yesterday after searching for it for a while. On my skin, it smells spectacularly clean and lasts a long time. I previously owned the original version and liked it, but I save this one for the evening. The rose feels modern and intense on me. It’s rare for a perfume to turn out badly on my skin chemistry, but this one truly pleased me.