FRAGRANCE | Casual Friday EDT by Escada is more than just casually gorgeous

halfwhiteboy - Escada Casual Friday EDT

I have never heard of Escada Casual Friday before until I was offered a partial bottle last year, a good 20 years since it was first released. After my first sniff, I knew I made good with this blind buy, more so since it's already discontinued. It smelled familiar and it took me a while to realize that it reminded me of Penshoppe Dusk, a local cheapie back in the day.

The presentation's nice. Instead of the standard rectangular box, the bottle slips into a cardboard casing that follows its shape. It's a fairly uncommon style similar to Geoffrey Beene's Bowling Green. The color scheme is also quite unusual in that I haven't seen this shade of green used in any other fragrance before. Meanwhile, the opaque bottle takes after Escada pour Homme's predominantly corrugated aesthetic. I'm also digging the cloth label and the colors used, which complement the whole brownish green base perfectly.

The scent is essentially a spiced up lavender with some vanilla and a mild powdery overtone. There's a fleeting citrus at the start but it's negligible. I get a warm anise in the background, dutifully playing support to the lavender instead of competing with it. It's not a standout note in the composition but it plays an important role in providing the flower an added character. This is classic perfumery where you know there are a ton of ingredients in there but it's hard to pick them all out individually and all you get is a cohesive and wonderful blend. And I'm not complaining.

The anise later fuses with the other spices, the resulting amalgamation tempered but nonetheless conspicuous. The vanilla is just as controlled in its sweetness, providing the scent with a pleasing and dependable base. As the fragrance's powdery character grows, the scent teeters a bit into barbershop-style fougere category. But the mild sharpness of the spices holds it back, so it doesn't really go there. Besides, there's not enough oakmoss to complete the picture.

Casual Friday may be casual by name but I don't see any problem with wearing it to more formal affairs. It projects quite good and lasts long enough to get you through the day. Although it was marketed to men, I think it can easily work for the opposite sex just the same. If you have the chance or if you come across a good deal, I strongly suggest giving it a shot. It has a fairly unique scent profile, and I don't think there's a lot of frags in today's marketplace with a similar smell. I do hope Escada brings it back. But until then, I'm holding on to my bottle.

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