Escada Perfume Guide
Island Kiss, Sexy Graffiti, Moon Sparkle & the Discontinued Summer Editions
What Is Escada Perfume?
Escada is a German luxury fashion house founded in Munich in 1978 by Swedish-born designer Margaretha Ley and her husband Wolfgang Ley — “escada” means staircase in Portuguese. Escada Beauté released its first fragrance, Escada Margaretha Ley, in 1990. What made the house a collector's brand was a 26-year run of annual summer limited editions: launched in 1993 with Chiffon Sorbet, each was sold for one season and retired forever, ending with Miami Blossom in 2019.
Nothing that series produced was ever reissued, and the house changed hands repeatedly — insolvency in 2009, then a sale to Regent in 2019 — so nearly every Escada fragrance sold today is discontinued original stock.
Top 5 Escada Perfumes Every Collector Should Know
- Escada Margaretha Ley (1990) — the debut fragrance, an amber floral by Michel Almairac named for the founder, in the original heart-shaped green flacon.
- Escada pour Homme (1993) — the men's signature and still the highest-rated Escada on the review databases: cognac, orange, lavender and lemon over cinnamon, carnation and juniper.
- Sexy Graffiti (2002) — the pink heart-motif edition that marks the point the summer series went fully pop.
- Island Kiss (2004) — by Philippe Romano, inspired by the Greek islands; its blue gradient bottle and red kiss mark are the best-remembered Escada of the 2000s.
- Moon Sparkle (2007) — un-tropical by Escada standards, built on soft berries and strawberry, in the last of the classic-era gradient flacons.
The Escada Summer Edition Timeline
| Era | Key Editions |
|---|---|
| 1993–1999 | Chiffon Sorbet, Ocean Blue, Que Viva Escada, Sunny Frutti |
| 2000–2004 | Tropical Punch, Sexy Graffiti, Ibiza Hippie, Island Kiss |
| 2005–2010 | Rockin Rio, Sunset Heat, Moon Sparkle, Marine Groove |
| 2013–2019 | Cherry In The Air, Sorbetto Rosso, Miami Blossom |
How to Authenticate a Vintage Escada Bottle
- Read the bottle base, not the front. Genuine bottles are mould-marked underneath with the house name, concentration and volume — an authentic pour Homme Silver base reads “ESCADA POUR HOMME / SILVER — EAU DE TOILETTE / 4.2 FL. OZ. — 125 ML e”.
- Expect a distributor line. 1990s export stock often adds a stamp such as “ADIPAR LTD. DIST. NEW YORK” beside the Paris address — normal for the era, not a warning sign.
- Be sceptical of “new” bottles of scarce years. Sexy Graffiti and Moon Sparkle were single-season releases; a sudden large supply of a 2002 edition is a red flag.
In stock now: Island Kiss EDT 30ml, pour Homme Silver EDT 125ml, and authentic 2–10ml travel sprays of Moon Sparkle, Island Kiss and Sexy Graffiti.
Shop the Escada Collection →Frequently Asked Questions About Escada Perfume
Is Escada Island Kiss discontinued?
Yes. Island Kiss was the 2004 entry in Escada's summer limited-edition series, created by Philippe Romano and inspired by the Greek islands. It was sold for that season only and never reissued, so every bottle available today is original vintage stock.
What is the most collectible Escada perfume?
Escada Margaretha Ley (1990) for its heart-shaped debut flacon, while Moon Sparkle (2007), Island Kiss (2004) and Sexy Graffiti (2002) are the summer editions with the most sustained demand.
Is Escada pour Homme the same as Escada pour Homme Silver Light?
No. Escada pour Homme (1993) is the warm amber-oriental original built on cognac, citrus, lavender and spice; pour Homme Silver Light (1997) is a separate, cooler woody flanker with green apple, mint and grapefruit.