Escada Margaretha Ley
Escada (1990)

This smells of well-heeled decay. Marietta Fortune would wear to put a hit out on her daughter's beau,one manicured hand holding the phone, the other one clasping a stem of martini glass,eyes on the mirror,once again studying her own ageing face with renewed shock and horrified disbelief at the cruel tricks of time.in a psychotic show of power she decides to deny others what she herself can't have any more,and Margaretha Ley fits a mood like this perfectly.this smell like perfume, like the way perfumes used to smell before the influx of fruity -florals, gourmands and fruitchoulis.it is classic.it is classy.it is elegant.

Opens with huge indolic jasmine burst, followed by intense hyacinth-hyacinth begins to warm up and become honeyed which suggests ylang ylang in kicking in-not getting peach or bergamot.then hyacinth joined by a heavier iris and orange blossom as the perfume warms in the middle.the jasmine are still projecting but not dominating.there is a deep-throated, bitter-green orange blossom right at the heart of this perfume that suits a lady with a wealth of worldly experience.the iris is lush and velvety, not powdery,just deep.the dry down maintains the wonderful nature that has been present, but in a softer form, while sweet vanilla, ylang and warm sandalwood make an appearance. gorgeous warm and so sexy.

Once the redundant bergamot and lime intro flies off, Margaretha Ley is revealed in all her sugar coated orange blossom and ylang ylang glory, eating canned peaches - in a nail parlour.

It's actually not bad - while the florals hold up - but these soon decay to reveal a heart so massively sweet that even Barbara Cartland might have found it schmaltzy.

Then comes the long slow descent into the banal, and slightly awry, oriental drydown.

This was my all time favorite and I am just devastated that it's discontinued. I used to buy the ", Collection" bottle every Xmas. Why did they discontinue such a work of art and will they ever sell it again? I wish I knew so I could've cherished a bottle.

This is a flowerhouse scent of the first degree--lots and lots of gorgeous flowers--iris, jasmine, orange blossom, ylang, ylang--support the star of the show, the hyacinth. The scent smells like it has other flowers smell like freesias, honeysuckle and muguet--in fact like a whole host of flowers that aren't even included. It is a juggernaut of flowers! There is enough vanilla and musk in the base to give this a floral oriental designation, but for me, the flowers smell too fresh, too much like a florist's cooler, to be truly oriental, with all of the rich spiciness that implies. When this came out it was completely unique and was perfect for the time. An elegant, sexy floral. I am not really sure what the Escada brand promise is, or what the fashion line is like, but this was their best offering and it is a shame if this has in fact been discontinued. This is a perfect fragrance for spring or for when a woman wants to be reminded of spring in other seasons, like wearing an Easter bonnet all year round.

I bought this scent when it came out in 1990. I just love it. Too bad it has been discontinued in its original formulation. I've got a few bottles but guard them jealously. Wore it the other day and after a few hours i got a scent of something wonderful when the wind blew - realized it was me! I will caution that this is a very heady scent and must be used sparingly. If you use more then 3 small sprays you've probably over done it and will be disappointed.

Sure wish they hasn't changed this one. If anybody has original they don't like let me know.

I loved this scent on a friend and went in search of an affordable version on line. So disappointed. It knocks me out, almost literally.Not just in being overpowering, but it also makes me sick, headachy, sinuses swell ....guess what my friend is getting for Christmas!