Escada Marine Groove

I’m sure I’m not the only one who counts the annual Escada scents among my “guilty pleasure” perfumes. You know, the perfume equivalent of “Valentine’s Day” or “The Bounty Hunter” (or, in my case, Star Wars and/or Trek): unsophisticated, but fun. Escada Rockin’ Rio came out in 2004, when I was a wee middle schooler going through an unfortunate goth phase. Yes, I was that girl lurking outside of Hot Topic. Let us collectively wince, and then move on.

It’s okay. You can laugh.

Anyway, the predominately pineapple tropical drink that is Rockin’ Rio was a ray of sunshine in my $20 black t-shirt world. It’s been six years since Rockin’ Rio was discontinued, and every year I try the new Escada, hoping to recapture the magic. They all have that fun, fruity, vaguely tropical feel, but not a one was ever quite as special as RR. This year’s offering, Marine Groove, is closer to my memory of Rockin’ Rio. The official notes, as listed by the Escada website, are “passionfruit, peony, jasmine and musk.” It really does smell an awful lot like passion fruit, a fruit that freaks me out to no end because of its’ eerie resemblance to larvae. Check up on it:

I told you!

Bottom line: it’s no Rockin’ Rio, but Marine Groove is a pleasant and enjoyable fruity floral. It can be found at Sephora and Nordstrom, and is available in the EDT formulation for $40 for 1 ounce, $52 for 1.7 ounces, and $70 for 3.3 ounces.