Reviews of Escape (1991)
by Calvin Klein

I wonder why this scent's name is "Escape" but by thinking about it my mind escape for a while. Very sweet & lasting.

'Nice,' in the most boring sense of the word. I don't actively dislike it at all, but there's nothing here that does it for me either... I've heard it called a marine fragrance, which I suppose is accurate. If it were a person it would be a big, dumb oaf. 'Big' due to the strength, 'dumb' due to the complete lack of complexity or development, 'oaf' because you can't really relate to it, nor can you find it in your heart to really dislike it... it is what it is... it just isn't for me. I should mention though that this is my dad's girlfriend's signature fragrance, and she seems quite happy with it (judging by the over-generous application;-)

I wore this pretty steadily when it was still relatively new on the market until one day - ugh! - it turned on me and made me incredibly dizzy and sick-feeling. It's been touch and go ever since, and I always experience some degree of trepidation when trying it on again. Bottom line: this is an extremely strong fragrance that may make others in your presence want to ESCAPE if you apply more than a few extremely discreet dabs. The topline of it is innocuous enough, actually quite soft in some ways due to the pretty noticeable chamomile with its fruity mellowness. That's all fine and good, but once you start venturing into the rather heavy heart segment of the composition, replete with coriander and clove, things begin to get more intense. What kicks it into hardcore head rattler, though, is a very pointed dose of sandalwood in the basenote. Too much sandalwood can be a serious dealbreaker; it's the reason a lot of people have trouble with Samsara and, as best I can tell, with this one as well. Sandalwood can become bug-spray city sometimes, in certain combinations and intensity levels, and I am quite sure it's the culprit here. I guess not everyone's bothered by it, as there seem to be quite a few Escape lovers out there, but do be cognizant of the possible sandalwood-induced side effects of this one!