Balenciaga L'Essence Balenciaga for women

If you liked L'Essence you might like Ganymede edp. They're both violety suede woods. Sort of like modern descendents of Jolie Madame.

One of my all-time favourites. I can't wear a lot of perfumes, they either disappear or I smell terrible after an hour, but this suited me perfectly, it lasted for hours and I was always complimented when I wore it, so you can imagine my devastation when I found they had discontinued it! It has a distinct smell and I have not found one to replace it. The nearest scent, in my experience, is the original Je Reviens by Worth (which I wore decades ago).

Another masterpiece from Balenciaga. Green, violet, woody perfume that becomes more powdery once it dries down.
Usually violet perfumes tend to smell very similar, but this one stands out because of those green notes.
Beautiful fragrance, I wish they brought it back.

This is a blind buy. I was just encouraged by the good reviews here. I did not hate it when I first smelled it, but it is really different from what I have in my collection. I’m usually a fan of citrus, fruity, and sweet scents and this is none of the above. However, that makes me want this scent more. I smell the nozzle of the bottle every now and then as I just love the powdery smell of this. It is very comforting. It feels like hugging an older sister or friend for comfort. This is definitely a woman’s perfume but it does not smell old. Just now, I sprayed this in my room and the powdery smell just makes me feel like my pillows are fluffy clouds.

I overspent to get a backup bottle because this is discontinued. It’s pretty yet open and airy/green, like a sunshiny forest with flowers all around. I can make my new bottle last but if they did bring it back, I could use it more liberally. I’m sensitive to synthetic, chemical smells and this does not give me headaches. I love it and I’m so glad I have a back up bottle.

Green and floral top notes - a really vibrant burst intially! I really like how it starts out- clean, fresh, crisp, wet. Soon turns rather powdery. Much more floral than woody. I'm undecided! To my nose, this could use more herbal or leather notes, to deepen it. Longevity is great. Smells Parisian somehow, elegant, chic.

Drydown base notes the wood emerges. It's growing on me.

I have not yet tried the original Balenciaga Paris to compare this flanker, but a mini is arriving soon.

EDIT:
L'Essence is discontinued and hard to find, but I like it enough to search out a bottle, lest it disappears forever!

It was my favourite for all occasions. I can't believe they stopped it. Cedar, violet leaf... What a beauty!

Violet leaf and flowers bomb. Aquatic, green, unisex and incredibly elegant. They should bring it back, this is an amazing scent for violet lovers. It does remind me of She wood but this is more gender neutral and sleek. Excellent quality.

A lovely compelling fresh green fragrance. Evocative/ distinctive/ unique/ endearing composition that highlights violet and violet stems and the rooty medicinal aspect of vetiver.

This can be worn equally well by both women and men.

Recommended!

I've been on a bit of a violet testing jag and remember liking the original Balenciaga Paris, so was able to snag a 4ml manufacturer sample of this one. I was hopeful based on all the positive reviews. I'll say that in the context of being a designer mainstream perfume, it does stand out. It was marketed as leaning androgynous and "edgy". However, I can't really say that I like it more than the original, or at all really. I do like the short-lived top notes which are a bit watery and green from violet leaf. After that fades, the slightly powdery amber-wood takes over. It's a bit sweet, chemically, and persistent, with not much development from there to my nose. I'm actually finding it a bit grating. It doesn't scream violet to me either. I don't find it particularly edgy, though it may have been compared to whatever was on dept store shelves that year. I think the Olsen's Nirvana Black was a much edgier violet and achieved the androgeny more succesfully. And I liked it more. I'll probably never reach for this BP beyond my testing...
If anyone is interested in swapping for this 4ml sample, message me!

This is what the fairies wear 💕✨

Normally I don't like aquatic or green fragrances. But this is so GOOOD! Green fresh notes and vetiver with violet and violet leaf. This is also more floral and powdery than I expected from the notes. I think this is like a Dior Fahrenheit without the leather.

Was this scent discontinued?! I'm getting conflicting info.

Silver. Like aquamarine, like the spring mist in the park. Violet - wet, in the forest grass. Sandalwood in this fragrance gives an incredibly gentle powderiness, vetiver refreshes the composition, and overall, Balenciaga L'Essence has a completely magical effect on me... A native smell, I won't even voice it, too personal associations. Good in wet warm weather, in the heat has not yet decided. I recall an excerpt from Paustovsky's "Fleeting Paris": "Paris exists as something whole, huge, flooded with smoky sunlight, sparkling with the brilliance of windows, shop windows, foliage, the dizzyingly high blue of the sky and the green of those parks where it always smells of spring – first authentic, and then the one that oozes with the smell of violets from greenhouses, flower stalls and cafes.
They say that this smell can be heard in Paris even on wet winter days. "
My perfect violet of Montmartre:).

Bought this on a happy whim as I went on a little shoppingspree in my local perfume shop.
I already have the original Balenciaga Paris, and I love that one. This one, I have seen before, and thought the bottle was so beautiful, (maybe I even tried it on as well, a few years ago) but now I had heard that it is discontinued. So I was surprised when I saw this on the shelf in this nice woman’s little shop. Decided to buy it, since I realized that I probably will not have another chance. Just 30 ml, but I am perfectly happy. I have got the original after all, a big bottle, and this is just a little something extra.
I think it is quite much like the original, but a little deeper, with some extra warmth. The violet is prominent in both fragrances, but in this it is a little more like candied violets, or violet candy. And I feel a little trace of liqorice too, somehow. A little extra of both soft powder and some creamyness, almost like babylotion.
I am glad that I got the chance to have both. Same same but different... 💜

P.S.: If they still would have both options, and it would be time for me to repurchase, and I could only choose one: I would choose this.

I was attracted to this perfume by the bottle alone. It is a beautiful gray green with a unique shape. I bought it blind after reading the notes and reviews, and I am very happy with the fragrance. It is watery, woody, mysterious, fresh, complicated without being heady. It feels very peaceful and elegant to wear. The bottle perfectly matches the perfume inside. The first few minutes are watery violet leaf, then the vetiver makes a soft appearance. The dry down is close to the skin, then I can smell the sandalwood and the violet again. There is not much projection, but I can smell it on my skin hours later. If you enjoy violet or fresh florals, I think you will really appreciate this perfume.

To me this is a masterpiece and I'll explain why !

It's fresh, powdery, warm, steamy, green, ozonic, aquatic, floral and woody all at the same time. Violet flower is very pronounced, but not in an old fashioned way, but in a modern wearable way, and due to that powdery quality, Balenciaga L'Essence reminds me of many classic Prada fragrances.

To me it does show a little rose on the top and then some leather in the middle, that's just how I receive it, works very well with any leather jacket or a dress, and it does make an impression of an expensive and unique perfume.

I would wear it in spring and fall, simply because it is a mysterious scent that loves the play of warm and cool, dark and light, as it is full of contradiction. I would recommend it for a woman who is a little naughty, just like a rose with thorns, a personality that does not intend to please anyone. I find this fragrance very poetic, a modern version of a very good old story... This is for artists and loners, it is a little Gothic to me, and the bottle with its shape resembles a window of a cathedral or church. Imagine a fallen angel, sitting alone in an empty temple, her face half in the light and half in the dark. This duality is very sensational to me.

I am in love with this one !

This is an old friend's signature scent. She's extremely glamorous, beautiful, outgoing, cheerful, and has had countless lovers-- in short, the opposite of me. On her, L'Essence smells extremely fresh, green and dewy.

I'm ashamed to say, it smelled so good on her that I had to copy, and buy my own. It's the first time I've copied someone's fragrance- it felt extremely taboo, but I reasoned with myself that x number of women must also be wearing it, it's fine. She's moved to a different country now, and I miss her, and I think I wanted to be reminded of her, but also to see if I could capture some of that glamorous quality.

On me it's an entirely different perfume-- a very sticky sweet floral, with the violet overpowering everything else and a hint of very ripe melon. After a while, the woods come through, and I get the warm patchouli and even a peculiar green cucumber scent, which is not unpleasant.

Some days when I wear this it doesn't impress me at all, and just feels too sweet. Other days I adore it. It works very well in cold and rainy weather for me, as it's so floral that it can be too much for the heat.

Projection is very powerful, and longevity is truly impressive. It's still almost as strong after a good 9 or 10 hours. Men seem to love this scent, for some reason- far more than I love it on myself!

I love love love this.
This ended up being the most reached for perfume over spring summer. Bottle almost over.

I love everything about it, it has everything I like, each just a tiny tiny bit. Tiny bit of Woody greenness, tiny bit of floral powdered sweetness, doesn't stay for long on skin, but -like a reviewer here commented- worn in humid weather, it surprises you hours later when you cannot detect it anymore on your wrists, with gorgeous wafts of a scent that is different from what you smell on skin. (I thought it was someone else's perfume at first and kept looking around.)

I just love it.

This had me going on a search for violet perfumes, I found out I do like violets, but especially in this.

Edit: after wearing this for a year, I love it even more. I tried many violet and green floral scents but nothing like it. Fresh, soft, ethereal, covertly sensual, calming, mysterious. I agree a bit gothic.

Thank you Mr. Olivier!

Though they only share two notes this reminds me so much of Robert Verino's Gold, also created by Oliver Polge. Light, airy, beautifully composed. Though Gold is considered a floral it comes off more like a green floral, just like this. If this behaves the way Gold does I think this will be gorgeous in the warmer months. It's gorgeous now!

Silage is great on me too, though deceptive. I only used 2 spritzes (one on neck and one on wrist) to test, and didn't think I used enough. But within 10 minutes I could smell this beautiful soft fragrance loud and clear. It also has great longevity. I tried it at 2pm while shopping today and can still smell it now at almost 11pm. It might seem expensive, but it appears you get your money's worth as far as longevity and silage is concerned. This is definitely full bottle worthy.

A unisex version of the original Paris by Balenciaga. I like the patchouli note in this one.

i can't remember if i've reviewed this one. it was one of my perfumes before i even got into perfumes. i think i smelled it in a magazine and knew i needed it! i still have it in my collection today, as well as a small back up which i got a while back since it's discontinued.

i liked someone else's description, this smells like "a summer morning before a rain storm"

sometimes (often) violet irritates my allergies and it's suffocating for me, but this really isn't like that at all. it's so natural smelling you could almost imagine drinking it.

it's really beautiful and classy. whenever i want to feel elegant in the spring time, i wear this. this was always much better for me than the original, which I don't really even like. that one smells too old fashioned to me. this is a lot nicer if you can find it.

I got nothing but very strong parma violets up front and was quite disappointed. I wanted wet summer rain woodland glade like others got. Well it sort of got better and nearer to some of the descriptions here but I don't think it lived up to the hype. It dried down to sweet woody violet, more expensive smelling but not the damp forest experience I wanted.

I have original Paris now, and I much prefer L'Essence. That extra green/lush/wet/juicy bit makes ALL the difference. Paris smells very very similar but also feels like it's lacking something.

I think 90% of the reviews here prefer L'Essence.

I even have a backup now (YAY!!!!) because a gift set of 2.5 perfume/lotion was a great deal on ebay.

Paris also does remind me of SheWood, but I prefer SWood over Paris.

I have a big bottle of Paris, which I do adore, but I wish I could have tried this first. This is Paris, equally sweet, equally modern, equally violet. But this opens with that ozonic feeling in the air on a summer day, when it is about to storm. You have a base that makes a trio of the most gentle representative of the cedars, the patchoulis and the santals. You get a perfectly vague woody base that is warm but not heavy, nothing sharp or intense. This is a rare perfume in which I am experiencing violet leaf in a way that it has equality with the violets. There isn't sharpness here, just grassiness and a lush garden.

I absolutely love this! This was a cheap blind buy, 95% full with no box.

This is perfection. I love green/powdery scents, and this is so wet and lush/juicy, yet soft and powdery, with pretty good sillage/potency/lasting power. The best part of this-- it reminds me of my favorite scent: Vol de Nuit, except juicy/wet with violets. The violets also remind me of Apres L'Ondee. So basically I call this a "Night Flight After the Rain" (combining the two Guerlain names).

This is perfection. I would love to hoard it, and buy many backups, but this bottle was a crazy good deal and it's otherwise very pricey. I will treasure and use this to the last drop, and keep my eyes peeled for a backup.

I love this one dearly. Those violets, the sandalwood, patchouli. Heaven.

This is basically how I originally envisioned Cacharel's Eden to smell like. A dark, mysterious forest. But while Eden's notes become too loud and medicinal on my skin, L'Essence develops into a deeper, lush perfume. Something about this evokes rain to me. As far as I know, there are no aquatic notes in this, but the green sharpness I get at first subsides into a velvety emerald haze. This isn't your average forest either. Think of a medieval french forest from a fairy tale, like the ones in those unicorn tapestries displayed in The Cloisters, shortly after a rainstorm.

At the same time, though, L'Essence is very modern and chic. It's unisex and I highly encourage that anyone interested in trying it not be driven away by L'Essence's refusal to be categorized. It has a crispness that many other perfumes fail to incorporate on a similarly skillful level, and that adds to the impression of freshness on my skin, as well as the "just rained" vibe. I cannot see myself wearing this as an everyday scent, mostly because this beauty is discontinued, and I am savoring my bottle for as long as I possibly can, but also because I could only wear this when it's raining and I feel particularly brooding and deep in thoughts of dreamy abstraction.

This is a masterpiece to me! Unique, exceptional, green-powdery, leather-like, velvet-like, sensual, violet fragrance and I am obsessed with it... <3 long lasting, close to the skin, slightly balsamic... oily scent, full of contradictions.. The bottle reminds with its shape a window of a Gothic cathedral. This is a scent for both sinners and saints.

I only wear this when ity's raining, I actually look forward to summmer rains even more now that I have this beauty. Very similar to She Wood Dsquared, but this is more elegant, very classy and the perfect amount of sweetness! I never was big on flowers but this one is just marvellous! It's sort of low key, there's a calm and confidence, grown-up woman here but not at all boastful. Kind, a little playful, friendly. Very beautiful!

My second review for this, almost one year after my first one (when I had just received this perfume for the first time).


After one year of wearing L'Essence almost daily, I thought I'd add my experience.

First of all, this being a light and somewhat airy scent, my nose has grown so used to it that I hardly detect it any longer. But then I suppose that's quite common.

Over the last year I have received a lot of compliments on this (EDIT: and that's quite something, as people over here in Europe are usually not quick to compliment anyone on anything, especially not scent) and even more silence, usually because it's simply too close to the skin to be detectable by anyone who doesn't enter one's "comfort zone". I have found however that spraying it in the air then walking through the mist will grant it a much more powerful and lasting presence - perhaps because scent clings to hair more easily than it does to skin, I don't know. This way however ensures that people will get a very quick, very fleeting whiff of it whenever I pass by. It's there and then it's gone, like a whisper of paradise just out of one's grasp; a dream that lasts for less than a second. This makes people curious and most certainly helps L'Essence's "enchanting" quality. It's that je ne sais quoi, that thing that you just can't put your finger on.

Compliments have ranged from 'beautiful', over 'flowery but at the same time not flowery' to 'soft'. 'Soft' tends to be the general consensus along with 'indescribable'. And yet I find it heavy-ish, yet extremely light and not heavy at all... It's truly a symphony of contradictions; soft but sharp, light but heavy, elusive yet present... Words simply do not suffice to describe this, as it really is an experience. This scent tends to catch people off guard. They simply don't know what they are smelling and experiencing, nor how to put this sensation into words - but somehow it always leaves them wanting more. It really has its very own kind of magic, a dream-like quality like a Sofia Coppola film.

On a somewhat less positive note, this ethereal quality sometimes has people either noticing it but forgetting it immediately afterwards and sometimes not noticing it at all. L'Essence is definitely very elusive.

On a somewhat negative note, one of my best friends doesn't like it. She considers it an "old lady" scent, which is probably due to the somewhat powdery note the violet brings to this. Personally I find the powdery note to be very, very subtle (I don't like powdery perfumes at all. It's one of THE notes that make a perfume "perfume-y" in my opinion). Fortunately, this powdery quality takes a seat at the very back in L'Essence letting the green, the wood and the dew stand in the spotlight.

I still stand behind my original opinion on this: it smells like a lush, green forest just after rainfall. It's very natural and not at all a "PERFUME".

I can still vividly remember the day I first smelled this. This is odd because it was a very unremarkable day. The day before I had received a letter that my order couldn't be delivered because nobody had been at home so my package had been dropped off at a nearby post office where I could pick it up the next day. That day in late May started warm, grey and a bit humid. The week before had been quite warm with lots of sunshine so all the trees and flowers were positively blooming, yet aching for a bit of hydration.

I left for the post office in the late morning (around 10am) and a slight drizzle started to come down from the heavens. When I stepped outside the post office, this drizzle had turned into full on rain - not pouring like a summer storm, but still quite heavy. For some reason I enjoyed this chilling shower immensely, decided not to put on the hood of my jacket and take the long route home which leads through a large park with an abundance of trees, shrubs and some flowers. As the rain started to soak my hair and rolled off my skin, I took off my jacket, letting my light summer clothes underneath become soaking wet, cooling my entire body. It was weird, I know, and more than one person - who were hiding underneath trees - gave me some curious looks. But it felt absolutely amazing. I felt so alive, so refreshed, energetic yet deeply calm and at peace; this experience touched the very core of my being. And the smell that went along with it was exhilarating.

Now when walking through a forest or park in summer sunshine, the flowers will decidedly steal the show. The woods are still there, but more as a backdrop. But when it rains, the roles will be reversed. The woods and leaves and the green will become more prominent, enhanced by the wetness of the rain, all against a faint backdrop of soft flowers; all of them revived and rejoicing in the life that this much needed hydration after a time of drought and heat provides.

This walk home was like a dream.

When I arrived at home I did not want to shower. I wanted to hold on to that moment as long as I could. So I unwrapped the package which contained my sample of L'Essence. I took a whiff of the bottle and immediately thought: CRAAAAAP! Total waste of money. It was so extremely woodsy and masculine - I think it's the cedar and vetiver that simply overpower all the other notes when smelling it from the bottle - it even had a very artificial quality to it, like cheap hairspray. So then I went on and applied it to my wrists which smelled neutral at that point (so no shower gel/body lotion/whatever that would distort the fragrance. Just plain me). Initially it smelled just like the bottle and I was ready to put the small bottle away in a drawer so it may never see light again.

But then - after a mere minute or so - I was suddenly back in that park between the trees and flowers, thick, fresh raindrops soaking and refreshing me to my very core. A waking dream, a transcendental experience. At that very moment I fell in love with L'Essence and - with it being discontinued (how could you, Balenciaga?!?) - if I were to win the lottery, I would immediately buy all the available bottles the internet has to offer.

I really cannot put it into words any better. I could use adjectives like 'elfin', 'airy', 'light', 'enchanting', 'nymph-like', 'forest-y' but the fact of the matter remains that this scent CAN'T be described properly. No one description could do it justice. I can say that it's green, that it's lightly floral, woodsy, ephemeral, airy and it certainly has an "aquatic" vibe to it. But it's not aquatic in the traditional sense; it's not a marine scent. It does not feature any “sea-like" quality. There's no salt, no ocean breeze nor sand. No. This one has a breeze, the breeze that the long awaited rain after a warm, humid week brings with it. It's dewy and fresh, but not in a soapy way, nor is there a citrus accord to it. Again, it can’t be described with words.

There's a scene in the tv-series ‘Versailles' in the very first episode that depicts a dream of young Louis XIV. He dreams about his future palace and along with it a young, mysterious woman who is only credited as ‘Nymph'.

It can be watched on YouTube here: youtu.be/jy1osHWrgG8

And this scent is exactly what would go along with it, even more with the accompanying piece of music which can be listened to here: youtu.be/z129yIOHEPQ

L’Essence really is very unique. This is something that everyone who has smelled it on me can agree on. It is otherworldly and enchanting and extremely intriguing, as there really is no one note that particularly stands out; they're blended together like a beautiful Monet watercolour. All elements flowing into each other, yet somehow still distinctly present.

Over the past year there was one time when I had finished my bottle and could not afford to buy a new one, so I had to go without L’Essence for about one and a half months. By this point I could hardly smell it anymore as I had grown so used to it. But when I finally got it again, I fell in love with it all over again. Some may say that this is not signature material, as it's too soft, too unremarkable, too fleeting... But I dare to disagree. As long as I can keep getting my hands on this, I will.

A natural, aromatic violet, an easy to wear summer scent. A fresh, forest aquatic that leans masculine but not hard for a woman to love.

I get between 2 and 2.5 hours before it fades. I'm happy with that amount of time considering what L'Essense is composed from, making it easy to switch to a different scent later in the day.

Edit: I have worn this several times this past month, in July, and it performs best in warm weather. My husband who is a bit picky, loves this scent. It comes across natural and well made. This is not a punch in the nose perfume. It really is a quiet stunner.

Balenciaga L`Essence is lovely, creamy green scent. The violet leaf is pronounced and a bit bitter but its smoothed out with the powdery violet.

This fragrance is very clean and office friendly. It's neither overly feminine or masculine. It walks a fine line that is pleasant and inoffensive.

I believe it's been discontinued, but it's currently widely available and worth snapping up.

Very beautiful lush green luxurious scent with some surprising violets. Really classy! I think it's unisex, tried it on the husband who was sceptical but he smelled so delicious. Actually, I like it more on him than on myself :)

It lasted about 6-7 hours (2 sprays) when I tested.

Second review:

I sprayed this on my neck, close to the hairline and some in my hair. My hair holds onto scents pretty good, and knowing it's relatively delicate, I didn't want it to disappear.(just reread this.... it's the perfume, not my hair I find delicate and didn't want to disappear, lol)
Now the results:

Since it's near my face, getting wafts of it, it smells very aquatic, forest~y, earthy, but sweet scent. Smelled great, then something happened and I got an artificial scent of plastic wrap and felt a tad queasy for about 5 minutes.

Thank goodness it past and "unwrapped" a natural aroma that was more blended.
It can be a masculine scent for sure.

So now the visual:
Sitting on a gray colored damp stone in the forest, next to a mossy green puddle, I am inhaling sweet wild flowers and some nearby honey from the honey bees, and eating small oranges.
Unbeknownst to me, there is a madman slowly but surely, wrapping everything in Saran Wrap, squeezing everything together, and I....I am in the middle of it all.....I PANIC.....Then it starts to disappear, and I am left in the exact same place with honey, cedar, violets and orange pulp and wild flowers stuck to the gray damp stone where I am sitting. Smells pretty good.

The End

This is a really beautiful forest floor scent. Shade trees. Cool air. Violets everywhere. Unicorns!

Charming and loveable scent
Very similar to discontinued Trussardi Skin but Balenciaga lacks the citrus note which Skin had. However, I love the feeling this scent gives to me. To me it is more creamy than green. It is delicate and tender. It makes me smile so to me it´s happy scent :)

Reine de neige, Tigerlilliana and everybody else here said everything just beautifully. Yes, it's like inhaling all the greens of a deep wood, with a very, very shy sun gently caressing the trees,yet heavy grey clouds are still present on the sky and the moss and grass are still humid after a short and light rain. Between the trees, you see lots of wild violets spread into large flower beds. You're alone and introspect. This is why the silage is so close to skin.
In the opening, I swear that for some moments I smelt nutmeg, similar with the violets - nutmeg combo from Simply by Jil Sander. The bottle, oh the bottle. I would just keep it for its beauty on my counter. Lovely, quite melancholic and cold color of the container, too.
extraordinary inspired celebrity to represent this perfume...Charlotte Gainsbourg - and I said everything with this..

Gorgeous silky violets in this composition. I love this so much. I thought I loved the original Balenciaga Paris and had considered buying a full bottle. Balenciaga L'Essence though is one I find I would wear more often being more versatile than the dressier Paris. That's not to say you couldn't dress L'Essence up either.

This is a classy, aromatic, ozonic fragrance that is a great choice for those who want something in aquatic territory that isn't Light Blue, Gioia, or Miyake. This composition is so much smoother, energetic yet even tempered with a nice woody base and what feels a little like green musk.

L'Essence has a subtle juicy quality about it. I'm surprised that there is no citrus listed, like a twist of pomelo. It reminds me a little of a more vivid and smoother DSQUARED2 She Wood.

Energetic yet meditative all at once. Violets do that to me, both the dark leaf and the silky flower. I love the cedar in this too -- more pronounced than the other woods, aromatic yet soft and well balanced with rooty, bitter vetiver, sweet sandalwood and light-handed patchouli.

Much like other reviewers have noted, it reminds me of rain -- nectarous, fat, glassy raindrops falling from the soaked brown leaves of a tall limb, catching the scent of sweet air as it falls onto my tongue.

I've received a tester of this for which I've paid far too much, because I was intensely curious.

Let's get one thing out of the way right now: this is definitely unisex. In fact, I believe that 9 out of 10 random blindfolded people would guess that this comes from the men's department.

But I think this is mostly because of what mainstream perfumes dictate as 'masculine' and 'feminine'. 'L'Essence' does not care about such labels however. In fact, I've never smelled a scent that's more averse to letting itself be labelled than this one. It's indescribable.

So let me just tell all you ladies who conform to the 'traditional' femininity as it is dictated by Lancôme for example (and there is nothing whatsoever wrong with that): this is not for you.

'L'Essence' smells like a walk through a fresh, lush forest during and after rainfall. And just like nature, it does not have a gender. So instead of calling it unisex, I'd say that this is simply genderless. Not even androgynous, just completely without any gender associations.

The scent opens very sharply, a sharpness that will continue to exist through the entire ride, which really shouldn't come as a surprise, what with violet, violet leaf, vetiver and cedar.

In its heart the scent becomes a bit softer and more forgiving, without ever losing its intense freshness. Happily this freshness is nothing like the freshness most are used to which usually comes from citrus - which I detest. No, this one is fresh like a forest is fresh; the light, misty air, the green leaves glistening with thick raindrops and dew, swaying softly in the breeze. Though this is not a light forest, it's a dense, deep, dark forest. The forest that holds mystery behind every tree, where you can't spot a single animal, yet you know they're there, probably hiding from the rain. And it's green. So. Intensely. Green.

It reminds me a bit of my grandfather's aftershave and his Paco Rabanne, though it's not nearly as definitively masculine. This association may also come from the fact that my grandparents' house bordered a deep, dark forest in the back. In the morning granny usually opened all the windows and the fresh scent of the dewy morning forest would enter the house like an invasion. It often rained there during the night, and this scent is very reminiscent of that. So this might explain my association with my grandfather's scent as they were always a part of his morning routine and went hand in hand with the forest smell. (This is probably also the reason that I imagine Van Cleef & Arpels's 'First' a wee bit - my granny's signature).

The more it dries down, the softer it gets, even revealing an extremely subtle sweet note under all that wood. Yet it still never becomes traditionally feminine, just like nature doesn't.

This scent really is a journey, an experience. It's not a perfume at all. I've worn Prada's Iris with a lot of enthusiasm. I'm very fond of non conformist fragrances. And while that one was always the odd one out in the mainstream ladies' department, Balenciaga truly takes the biscuit in this regard.

It's unique, extremely unique. I can promise you that if you wear this you will smell unlike anyone else.

For some this will be off putting and that's alright. For others - like me - this will be exactly what they're looking for.

I am wearing this one 3 days yet and really don't know what a magic is that. Day 1 - it smells almost the same as Trussardi Skin /a lost treasure/, day 2 - very similar to Bvlgari Mon Jasmine Noir and today - completely identical to Prada Infusion d'iris. What an experience! Happy!!!!!

Edit to my earlier post:
I have been on something of a fragrance sample bender during the last few months due to my changing sense of smell (comes with middle age).
I have found a few gems, both niche and commercial, that I am going use, but the major discovery was this fragrance. I simply adore it and will wear it year round.
I think that the reason I enjoy this scent is that it is a not cloying, not too iris-y, not too sugary violet. In fact, it goes so well with the cedar and sandalwood and vetiver that it got me into vetiver fragrances as well (among them the masculine Encre Noir that is just fantastic for a vertiver loving woman like me).
And so it goes with scents. I think that once you get the fragrance bug there is no escape. :-D
I am going to turn to tuberose next.

This is an amazing fragrance.
I love violets but not many violet perfumes.
This one is just outstanding in both composition and longevity. Simply perfect for spring.
It smells green, elegant and complex, and lasted 12+ hours on my skin that usually eats up perfumes.
The vetiver and cedar notes feel like a logical extension of the cool opening green notes (violet leaf) and violet.
As I get older my taste is becoming more diverse and I once again appreciate green, herbaceous, earthy and even bitter notes so I stumbled across this gem at just the right time.

My imagination convinced me to blind buy L'Essence, just because the reviews mention words like green, dark, forest, and elves. I was intrigued.

I don't own any green scents (not a fan, really), nor did the original Balenciaga Paris convince me to buy it, but I am so glad I decided to take my chances with this one!

It took me a week before I decided to write a review and still cannot find the right words. I am enchanted. I reach out for it every day and cannot stop sniffing myself, I'm finding it delicious and love the way it evolves. Nothing sharp, nothing sour, feels like silk from start to end.

Longevity is good, sillage is weak but I only mind because I wish others would experience it. :)

I LOVE this green, mossy, violet smell!

Does anybody know if it was discontinued? I haven't seen it in regular shops for a while now!

powdery violet , great sillage a beauty too !
gosh balenciaga is making my month so nice , very classy and wearable so nice

This one is a very fresh Violet-scent. Perfect for spring-time. Longlasting and good projection. Not too sweet thanx to Vetiver and cedarnotes. A great scent.

Detta är en otroligt fräsch Viol-doft. Perfekt för våren. Hållbar och med skön utstrålning. Inte för söt tack vare vetivern och cedernoterna. En härlig doft.

I do like it - it's a sophisticated scent but there is something about violet that makes me prefer other fragrances. The longevity and quality are wonderful and once the violet top notes have dissipated it dries down to something sweet and delightful.

Woody mossy crushed violet leaves, its gorgeous and unlike anything else I have. Seems to be much harder to source now, but I've just got hold of another bottle

Femininity shines through sweet, powdery violets; and masculinity, through nose-tickling vetiver and soft woods. Greenery makes it feel very natural, like dew drops trickling down a tangle of vines.
It, to me, represents a woman of strength and independence. She doesn't want to settle for being an average girl, she wants more for herself. I see it as being something a woman in a powerful position would wear. Although, I think it can be worn by any woman who sees herself as a leader of her own life, or a free spirit.
I sprayed the back of my hand and had my boyfriend sniff. Mind you, this is something he endures with me almost daily during my perfume testing rituals. This time, instead of sniffing and uttering the usual, "It's good," he held my hand to his nose and didn't want to let go.
"I don't know what it is about it... It's enchanting."
Those were his words, not mine. Although I have to say--I agree with that statement!

I love this. I didn't know what it was, I only knew I liked it. So now, looking up the notes I find cedar, violet, sandalwood. I'm such a cedar fan, it had me from hello! Elegant, expensive, exquisite are all words coming to mind. I was prepared for there to be a tea note, this is so beautifully green; it lasts all day, excellent value. Recommended to try. A personal 10/10 x

I don't have that much experience with the original Balenciage Paris - only sniffed it once at the department store, after having already worn this one, and I didn't like it as much as L'Essence.
I remember smelling L'Essence on a magazine strip and thinking, "I have to have this". It was very me. i'm 25 now, i must have been 19 then. for some people thinking that this is an old-fashioned scent, i would disagree. before i was into perfumes, my 19 year old nose was drawn to this because it smelled classy, elegant, and expensive (not coincidentally).
i remember having a guy around my age ask me out after remarking how nice this perfume was on me too!
I don't even know how to describe the way this smells. Sure, the violet and vetiver are the prominent notes, but... it's so much more than that. It's just so luxurious, and i have a hard time comparing it to any other perfume that I own. It's a very special one -- something I would wear just for me though, not to impress anyone at a date, or a job interview, or a girls' night out. This is one of my "me" scents... i wear it for private enjoyment and to feel like an otherworldly classy lady.

It's just elegant, if I had to describe it in one word - without the soapiness or aldehydes that you get in other 'classic' scents. It's very sophisticated, and I don't think it is for everyone - you need to be a certain type of woman to pull this off and rock it. It's not an old fashioned scent, but it's definitely for an old fashioned type of woman, be she young or old.

oggi indosso un profumo verde e viola: verde di note fresche e legnose di foresta, viola per la preponderanza delle violette con le relative foglie. benchè sia un accordo floreale, il bilanciamento con il vetiver, il sandalo e il legno di cedro conferisce una certa asprezza di femminilità androgina molto gradevole e perfetta per il caldo. la violetta non è dolce, tantomeno polverosa, semmai lievemente saponosa nell'assestamento (questa l'unica pecca, per me). questa fragranza somiglia a she wood velvet forest di dsquared, ma anche all'infusione di iris di prada, nonchè a Myqueen di Alexander McQueen e un tantino all'Eau de Cartier: una viola solida, verde, che sa di corteccia. molto buono.

After finishing 2 bottles of the original Paris, I was ready to try this. I had heard it was somewhat similar except not so 'high' notes. I agree, this L'Eessence is dignified and more solemn, perhaps better suited to a person my age. It isn't as bright and the only way my limited perfume vocabulary describes it is- a darker version violet scented floral combo. I love it better.

I received my mini yesterday around 2pm and dabbed some on the backs of my hands to test. When I went to bed at midnight, I could still smell it, so longevity is through the roof!

At first it seemed awfully sharp and bitter green to me, tickling my nose and aggravating the headache I already had. I didn't detect anything aquatic. There was a trace of original Paris, but this seemed colder, more austere and less floral to me. I decided I didn't care for it. Still, I left it on to see how it developed.

It took about 4 hours for the aquatic note to reveal itself and when it did, it merged with the violets, woods and greens to create a thoroughly enchanting natural aroma. Like a walk on a cliff overlooking the sea with a forest behind me; cool breeze whipping my hair around. Just lovely and lonesome, a bit sorrowful and wistful.

I actually find this to be the more mature fragrance while the original is the younger. It is not as overtly floral; it is woodsier and as I noted before, somewhat austere. I don't usually care for austere fragrances, but there is just something compelling about this. I love it.

The drydown is like Trussardi Skin. Also detected a bit of Hermes Hiris. I smell note of iris it's strange as it's not listed. It all depends on body chemistry to make or break this perfume. Can be elegant but also serious and old ladyish

This is actually a younger fresher version of Paris!! More aquatic, with a beautiful sea side breezy undertone ..nothing old fashioned about it!! I wore it all summer as it smells summery, still with a stylish vibe...Balenciaga makes quality perfumes!! It smells like the color, not in a suntan way, more like fresh air like the ocean, when summer is on its way out...sch a beautiful feminine interesting creation!!

Balenciaga! Your perfumes are so unique and beautifully crafted!
Paris L'Essence opens all green and violetty. Pretty, but in a fairies-and-elves sort of way, rather than a pink-party-dress-for-a-princess sort of way. Dainty and understated but a total work of art, nonetheless.
As the perfumes dries down, a woody mossiness becomes stronger, but it also retains a subtle powderiness, and the violets never quite leave. There is a hint of lemon and patchouli in the dying phases. I'm not a fan of patchouli, but here the lemon (which I LOVE, though it's not listed as a note)violet balances it nicely enough to not be offensive.
I'm wearing Paris (the original) on my other wrist, and find that one slightly bolder, a little more woody and a little sweeter (in a green kind of way!)
I personally prefer the original, I think, though the two really are very similar and I'd be ever so happy to own either! (Still on the wish-list.) Might I add that the bottle are just B-E-A-Utiful too?? Biggest criticism of L'Essence is that it only lasts around 2 hours on my (dry) skin. Otherwise, the story it tells is very beautiful indeed.

This was my second Balenciaga I purchased and I was not disappointed! It's definitely different and I've yet to smell a similar fragrance to this. It's so unique and beautiful.

After wearing it 3 different times this winter, it reminds me of banana peels. It literally smells like banana peels, probably more similar to the taste of the peel.

Anyways, there's a dry note that reminds me of deodorant residue as well. It's still one of my favs.

This perfume is one of the most worn and most reached for in my collection. L'Essence Balenciaga is very similar to “Balenciaga Paris” (cream & yellow color bottle). It is unnecessary to own both in my opinion but L'essence is the more interesting of the two. L'essence is violet dominant, dry woody, sweet, and slightly powdery like the original Paris. The more bitter aspects, which include vetiver and the green violet leaf, counter the girlish nature of violet and make this a rather serious sophisticated scent. I find L'essence moderate in strength and a bit short in lasting power (~3 hours before I feel like I should reapply). I don’t know if others would agree with me, but I think this is a unisex scent although it is marketed to women. I hypothesize if men wore L'essence it would be very attractive on them.

I had high hopes for this one, because I love violet scents, and I really like the look of this bottle and the marketing with Charlotte Gainsbourg. And I'm glad to say, I wasn't disappointed! Or I was, the first few times I tested my sample: I thought it was much too weak and too vague. But that's before I realized it just needs a couple of sprays more than my usual one or two; when applied generously, this really is wonderful, and potent too.

I never tried the original, so I don't know how it compares to l'Essence, but this one is 100% focused on the violets. It's less woody-green than I would have expected looking at that lovely list of notes - I don't get any vetiver, and not even that much violet leaf. That's okay, though, because the violet note itself is really great: never too sweet, waxy and bright at first and dustier and more complex later on. And as I mentioned, with enough of it applied it easily lasts all day with moderate sillage.
It's not a conspicuous kind of scent, not the kind to evoke strong love or hate, I think. It's safe, but not boring at all - "cool" and "elegant" are indeed the words to describe it, as Cunning_blue says. So it's especially fitting for work, although it can be worn in really just about any setting you could imagine. I wouldn't consider it as a signature or anything, I don't love it enough for that, but I do really like it and would like to get at least a little decant to add to my violet collection. I also wouldn't mind at all if scents like this became much more popular instead of those bombs of sweetness you smell everywhere!

When I first smelt this perfume I was intoxicated. It was so green and cool, deep, elegant, powdery. In my opinion it's really well blended and on my skin is perfect. I can turn perfumes sour, but not this one. I can't really describe it but It makes me think of green rocks by a waterfall, forests, aromatic wood, fine silk and rose jam. It's magnificent and captivating but a little cold at heart, so was stalking it for about a year until I finally bought it. I am so glad I did! I cant wait to wear it when the winter ends.

Hm, it's not what I expected. I thought it would be greener and fresher while in fact it smells like something by Narciso Rodriguez mixed with male cologne. It's not bad in any way but isn't interesting either. Just a regular unisex one.
The bottle is gorgeous and the ad campaign, I love Charlotte... and probably this is why I'm a bit disappointed by this scent.

Violet tends to turn VERY powdery on me, usually to the exclusion of everything else so I rarely use it. This is a nice exception - the vetiver, patchouli and green notes keep it very cool and much less powdery than any other violet I've tried. And I love the elegant bottle!

I like it, better than the original, which was a tad too old fashioned for me, too much Violet fbut Essence is cleaner, more modern, and far from being crap!!! You might not like it, but Polge doesn't create crappy fragrances..might be some people' s nose cannot recognize beauty in some fragrances!!!
Seriously, this is balmy, interesting scent, the base is warmer, but stays overall breezy..nothing harsh or heady here...I like it, it isnt my favorite, but it has a real clean unique vibe!!

absolutelly beautiful, extremely elegant classy smell. I would put it into Prada D'Iris and La perla La perla and may be Eau des Mervilles range.....No, it does NOT smell like those, but i would classify those perfumes as high class business-elegant, turn-head-chanel-suit-like. I see the woman with beautiful straight glossy hair, sofisticated and elegant, carrying a good-quality leather bag... Not a 'date' perfume. But DAY perfume. Adore it!!!!



Nothing fruity/gourmand, just crisp, fresh, nice smell. don't read it wrong: NOT aquatic fresh.

Thanks Lynda for the sample, - i am going to buy a bottle today. The biggest i can get!

This opens on a very strong grass-like scent, I guess that's the violet leaf, its pungent to my nose.. don't really like this.. sorry...

What a disappointment this frag was. I admit that I usually go for spicy, heady scents. But I am also able to appreciate a nice fresh scent when the temperature is high. I'm not saying it's bad. It's just so ... granola. So quiet, so tame, so painfully politically correct you might as well not bother. A scent for tree-huggers. Or for those who go into hysterics and scream "Old lady!" if they smell anything stronger than chamomille tea. Staying power is practically null, too. What a pity.

This one surprised me. I got it in a blind swap. After reading the reviews I was apprehensive about the Farenheit vibe; not a fan. Soft, classy violets predominate. No 80's loudness here, this is a subtle skin scent with great longevity. Personally, I'm glad that the patch, vetiver, sandalwood combo is light-handed, not taking away from the sophisticated floral. It reads multi-seasonal to me, multi-functional, from a hiking trail to boardroom, to the opera, where whispering speaks louder than a brassy, shouting scent. It could be considered unisexy with it's "after the rain" vibrancy. What a delightful change for my unusually heavy white (floral) collection.

Hmm. I am a little ticked off, mostly at myself. Yes, yes, I swapped for this unsniffed and that's totally my fault. But you see, I was very happy with the original Balenciaga, I felt it was true to its form, at least in the modern interpretation of the Chypre Floral, the violet/carnation/cedar/airy greens were nicely done...so I looked at this with great interest, a Green Floral version of Balenciaga? Look at all those beautiful wood notes, I must try this...I imagined the green florals of yore, with deep woody bases, and was intent on finding this...

Well. This is NOT a green floral. It is an aquatic/ozonic floral. I smell a cross between a watermelon and the entrance of Abercrombie and Fitch in the top notes, over a weak, watery violet leaf. Perhaps that's what passes for green nowadays.

The violets are there, they barely hold their own...against the Iso E Super/CRAP "WOOD" base that stand in, unfortunately, for most woods in modern perfumes. I'm sorry, but there is no vetiver, sandalwood, patchouli, or cedar in this composition. It's just that laundry musk "wood" that smells to me like burning dryer sheets. Ugh. That's pretty much the perfume--watermelon, ozonic cologne, violet, and a synthetic "wood" base.

Utter crap, the packaging probably had more thought and materials put into it, and this is why I've had it with modern perfumes...

It's perfect for the rainy winter nights! It feels like i'm walking on moist stony green road surrounded by ancient plane trees when it's cold and rainy but I must say it smells really bad in hot weather. In summer, it smells like water in a vase full of flowers have waited for months.

This dries down to a LOT of sandalwood. I wish it didn't, because the opening is sooo beautiful :(.

Smells wonderful and warm on my skin, kind of like an Aveda hair oil I had for years, which smells aromatic, yet not sticky or cloying. The violet is way more noticeable in the original version in my opinion. I had a hard time choosing between the two, gonna get the other one later though, they are so similar yet far apart. The original is very - extremely - flowery-fresh smelling, like enjoying a big ass bouquet in front of you whilst sucking on a dozen of those Flavigny Violet Pastilles.

agentj, thank you so much for clearing that up for me. Now I know what to avoid.
I love the bottle too.

Fioletowy, I believe ozone is the name of the smell you are trying to describe. It's the smell of thunderstorms, when lightning is about to strike as well, hence your connection to static. For me, I wanted to love this for the sandalwood, but it had a distinct cumin smell that I could not get past. Glad to know it's good on others though, I love the bottle.

I LOVE this perfume. I'm a big fan of all things violet - hence the user name - and this is perfect.
Almost perfect. There is a phase as it develops where I can smell, for want of a better term, 'static' as in the static electricity smell around computers. I can't explain. I don't like it because it's a smell I associate with cheap perfume and this most decidedly is not.
Fortunately, that phase doesn't last long and the initial smell and dry down are so lovely.
Can anyone tell me the correct name of that nasty smell?

Balenciaga L`Essence Cristobal is a perfect example of an old & new school perfumery coming together. New minimalism and unisex style mixed with some vintage, classic notes.

This is very classy, "Green" fragrance. Ozonic-powdery-green-woody. Not too sweet. There is also some violet here but it is not very prominent. Not the most natural green fragrance I ever smelled. It's more metro-metallic green.

L`Essence Cristobal belongs in a same line of fragrances as Chanel Cristalle or #19's.

Ok I decided to edit this after I gave the perfume some time. First I would not spray directly heavily on your skin. When I did this I got a mild BO scent however when I spray in the air and run my arm through it smells lovely.

It's somewhat animalic in nature and my husband seems to love it. Definitely a different pefume. Different then many that I own. Not sure what gives it that edgy mild bo thing but it's very similar to Dolce Vita on dry down. The newer Dolce not the vintage. What is even stranger is my husband loves this and the Dolce. Who knows. Maybe a pheromone thing going on here? I wonder if guys in general would find this sexy. I would wear it and it's not like your ranking of onion BO - I just can't quite explain myself here. There is an animalic thing going on. Good? Bad? You must decide for yourself.

Cool green violet, crisp and watery. Just a touch masculine, more cool and clean than powdery. Not too sweet but an elegant cold floral for spring. Very spring like, an almost frosty feel to the florals. Good for work -- the sillage stays very close to your skin so you won't overwhelm anyone.

I actually have Balenciaga Paris 10 Avenue George V L'essence.
I don't know if there is a difference.

However, I will review what I have:

I find this particular scent must be sprayed on top of the wrist, or you won't get a scent at all.
Very sheer, translucent, not much of a sillage.
It's a pleasant fragrance. Starts off very lemony, mandarin-y then grassy with a few sweet flowers in the background, and finally a woody violet note that seems to stay.....all within one hour.

Lasting power? It will stay on your skin for a good 6 hours, however, no one will know you're wearing it but you, and maybe someone close to your skin.

I would consider this a good layering perfume if anything.

I'm quite taken with Balenciaga L'Essence and it has come as quite a surprise to me. I wasn't overly moved by the original Balenciaga Paris, however this fresher take on violet is rather beautiful and energizing on my skin.

I struggle to find lighter scents that suit my chemistry and wear well during an Australian Summer. As odd as this may sound, I compare Balenciaga L'Essence to the feeling of having just brushed your teeth. It provides that same clean, cooling and minty-fresh sensation.

Very rarely do I find a violet fragrance that is neither candied nor powdery. After having smelt Balenciaga L'Essence I would love to see more 'fresh violets' on the market.

It's unfortunate that Australia is now going into Winter, as I would have loved wearing this fragrance during the warmer months. However with that being said, Balenciaga L'Essence could work well during Autumn too as the sillage allows for some versatility.

Vetiver was a brave choice by perfumer Olivier Polge, and I must say that it blends so well with the violet in the drydown. What I love most about Balenciaga L'Essence is that it smells almost masculine, not nearly as feminine as the ad campaign suggests it might be.

For a 'Summer scent', Balenciaga L'Essence has superb longevity and a fairly strong throw. I can't believe it has taken me so long to get around to testing this flanker. I am more than impressed.

L'Essence is reminiscent of Balenciaga Paris but I prefer it much more. It's a clean, subtle, green version and for this time of year, just perfect. It reminds me of the great French perfumes that linger and evolve.

I was one of the lucky ones that was able to pick this up for $30. I was so impressed I went back the next day for the $40 large bottle. Outside of working directly for Coty, I don't think you could do much better.

I'd say this fragrance would be for the person who is attracted to the "almost unisex" style scents like Chanel Chance fraiche, Versace Versence, even Dioressence. It is a wonderful addition to my collection. I can't wait to wear it.

Now after wearing it for a while I can say that Balenciaga really reminded me of Eau de Cartier. It is in fact unisex, but I can handle it. Smells clean, refreshing, just perfect for spring/summer season.
Not a champion in longevity, may be felt for about two hours and disappears. Nevertheless, I'd be glad to come to this lovely creation again.

WIllfulmiss...L'Essence is a beautiful, green scent... especially if you love violets! This is a very elegant, classy scent. Definitely buy it if you can get it for $30! I've been checking my local discount stores for my back up bottle.

L'Essence is a marvelous GREEN scent. It's not really woody to me -- more like grass. It has a touch of sweetness and a slight powdery quality. It's like a contemporary reinvention of Chanel Cristalle, closer to it than other green scents like Prada Infusion d'Iris or Diptyque Eau de Lierre (and with FAR better sillage and longevity). L'Essence is what I wanted all those to smell like. You can wear this perfume anywhere; it is never going to be inappropriate. While I wouldn't say it's weak, I do really like that it's forgiving and won't make anyone choke if you get a little carried away when spraying it, as I usually do (grin).

At first I was hesitant. Its a big, round fragrance. It's unusual and has a significant sillage. You will be noticed in this fragrance. Not in a "fumigate the elevator" way, but in a "heads turn as you pass" kind of way. It's elegant, sexy and a bit unexpected. Spicy, woodsy and a small bit of floral.

Very, very woody. The drydown gives the occasional citrus hint, with a bit of powder. It conjures images for me of a Victorian matron: worldly, wise, reserved, proper, coiffed, and poised. It's nice, but not me.

Here's my promised review from January 13.
The pros of the perfume: It has good durability and sufficient strength of the scent. It is fresh and to some skins develops great .... but not on mine.
Cons: Turns out too green for my taste. Besides the smell of vetiver don't reflect well. Yes, it's true that exudes freshness, but for me is too fresh. I see before me have mentioned it, that there are some unisex note that bother me.
It was a gift to my sister by her mother in law, she gave it to me, and now I give it to my mother. What a circle! What to do, just not my scent, this is it!

One of the most elegant perfumes ever!

It’s woody, fresh and powdery, without any sweetness. It’s delicate, but with strong character. It’s simple like the sunshine in the autumn forest, but also complicated and with thousand faces like the nature can be. It’s not suffocating, but it’s impossible not notice it…and it’s so relaxing!
I cannot imagine my wardrobe without it… I wear it always when I want to leave good impression, but mostly just for myself when I need to clarify my thoughts and find the inner peace.

A graceful rider on a white horse is dashing through the morning mist on a beautiful spring day. The calm serenity of green scenery is surrounding her while the birds are greeting the arrival of the first light. The dawn is breaking, softly unveiling the mystery of a new day. The air is filled with a scent of fresh leaves, mist and a gentle scent of leather. This beautiful moment is captured perfectly in the soft, elegant and fresh scent of Balenciaga L’Essence.

The composition is centered on the violet leaf with its gentle green and fresh beauty. It is so soft and calm, cool and refreshing. I love how the composition creates this aura of freshness without going into the laundry or straight-out-of-shower scent category. It is clean but also very sophisticated. As the composition develops, there is a gentle leather scent that is layered on the green notes. The floral presence is only slightly powdery and never overpowering. All notes are perfectly woven together creating this absolutely gorgeous and elegant scent. The scent is not too strong, but it certainly is noticeable and lasts for hours.

This is a great everyday scent. Sophisticated yet subtle and easy to wear. I love this scent and would not hesitate to recommend it. Overall score 8.5/10

I have been stalking this perfume for quite some time. I tried it on at a Sephora sometime last fall. As I walked around the mall I fell in love with the scent that was wafting around me. A floraly powdery cloud of heaven! Just recently I happened to be at Marshall's and saw this by the checkout at half of the price and I just had to have it. What a lucky day, I love it more than I did before. This may be my signature scent for this spring.

Why do I get iris in this, anyone else having that experience. The first few times I didn't. Anyway, this is a great scent which I like a little better than Paris.

PURRRR, Im in LOVE! Although I feel like there are a few cheaper fragrances that smell slightly similar, the subtle notes of sandalwood and cedar in such a fresh/green fragrance are why I cant replace it. Currently for a steal at Marshalls, Im not sure I would spend the actual full price of 100+ for this. The longevity of this is pretty good (after an 8hr day at work, i couldnt smell it but my aunt said, "OH Y GOD! YOU SMELL LIKE YOU JUST GOT OUT OF THE SHOWER!" and demanded to know what it was. Its definately a winner.

A gift from my sister...
I'm not a fan of violet or green notes, patchouli either .... but this perfume is not bad. It is still early to say anything in particular, but after using it longer will supplement. So far ..... perfume is interesting ....

This fragrance is truly amazing and I think it is going to be my signature scent. I love the green and violet. It is earthy and springtime fresh along with a beautiful powder and softness. Similar to Balenciaga Paris which I also LOVE but this one has a little more green, a little more umph and is just lovely. The scent is like true heaven~ I am so impressed with Oliver Polge and after checking him out, I can see that he has created several fine fragrances which are in my top top top drawer. Wow!

Found this little gem for only $20 at Marshalls so I HAD to get it.

I loved the cute little bag it came in when I opened it up which made it a lovely surprise!

Now to the scent..

Its a very lovely green scent that opens with a nice vetiver and violet. As it settles down, it fades into a beautiful cedar/sandalwood scent.

It doesnt last long on me, maybe about 5 hours at the most, but after about the 3rd hour, its not as strong, but its not too subtle. By the 5th hr or so, depending how much I spray, it turns into a subtle scent thats very close to the skin

Too strong green to my nose. However, it is not bad fragrance, it is just a matter of taste. It smells like a forest after rain. Fresh, green, little woody.

L'essence is a refined smell of freshly cut bouquet of violets just brought in from the forest so it s still has some notes of wood and just a touch of green. Wonderful powdery mostly violet aroma, with long lasting power that stays close to skin. It feels luxurious, will not change on the skin, only softens a bit. Beautiful packaging -bottle in a small pouch.

It was a blind buy, I wanted something green and not sweet and flowery.
After reading all the reviews I thought that no way I wouldn't like it. I was wrong. It smells too masculine, dry and stays on for a why, though I wish it didn't. ..

Thanks to all you 'reviewers' I am surrounded by the beautiful fragrance of L'Essence. I've worn Paris for a couple of years, and adore it--but this is just something else. I also have Ulrich Lang's Lightscape, and wear it often, which is quite similar to L'Essence--not as good sillage or longevity.
I seem to be in my Violet years!!!
Highly recommend, and yes it's definately Unisex.

I love Balenciaga Paris, and thought I'd give this a try after reading reviews here. & I am soooo glad I ordered it!
I am loving the violets, of course, but the whole list of notes pleases me.
Very classy, and now probably my new "What is that wonderful fragrance??" surrounding me.
Silage is close, I think. Longevity is around 8 hours on me.
Highly recommended.

This is an absolutely stunning fragrance. I actually prefer L'essence to the original Paris. Aside from the actual fragrance, the packaging is gorgeous, it also comes with a silk-like draw string pouch which is great for travel.

This fragrance to me feels very androgynous, it is for a personality and sense of style as opposed to a gender, which to me, is how all amazing perfumes/colognes are.

I would wear this in any season, I also find it transcends very well from a day to night setting.

If you are after a perfume that screams "Look at me!" This may not be for you. L'essence is very refined and elegant and is the type of perfume that catches peoples attention in a subtle manner but will always have you receiving compliments.

I'm a huge fan of all the Balenciaga fragrances brought in under Nicolas Ghesiquere, but L'essence for me is by far the best.

What a gorgeous violet scent. I tried it today for the first time. Apparently it's a linear fragrance but the drydown is a little different than the initial offering on the skin. It's so rich and velvety, and plush and suede-like. Perfect for winter, rich, semi-sweet and warm. For those not interested in smelling like a teenager, as the lady at the Balenciaga counter in The Bay told me. Recommended.

I think this is a beautiful compilation. The more I wear it, the more I like it. The sandalwood and violet are elegantly balanced. I agree it's not the most "feminine" scent. To me it is strong, slightly intense and a bit serious, but very beautiful.

Lovely, not too strong, quite feminine, not so noticeable, more close to the skin scent. I think I've found a new ¸floral green I would always love to have. This is so subtle, gentle, almost like a shadow.
Although there is no similarity, there's a note that irresistibly recalls the aristocratic touch of Cartier's So Pretty. And I love it!

This one was a gift, at first I like it, but I was expecting something exotic from balenciaga, maybe like a comme des garçons scents. None of that. It s not a common scent but its a bit commercial. I think I really don't like violets, that s what I felt more on the drydown. Too metallic and cold form my taste.

So soft, delicate but simply irresistible.
It's crisp, woody and fresh.
It's so 'natural' like a second skin.
Very longlasting and inoffensive.
I find L'Essence very feminine.

Perfect day scent.

I love this. Powdery , green and a touch of sweetness. It is heavier than most of the green scents I have worn. This is my go to green scent for winter.

This is a beautiful, green, organic scent. I wore it to bed & I felt like I was taking a nap in a forest. The moss, violets, & wood notes work well together. It's a skin scent for sure, so I'll save it for bedtime so I can have sweet dreams as I drift off to sleep in a forest.

It's so funny to me that everyone mentions how masculine this fragrance is, while it is one of the most feminine fragrances in my collection! It is outside of my norm, but I was looking for something earthy, clean, light, and beautiful to wear in the summer to replace all of my typical heavy, foresty scents. The crushed violet leaves, the dampness, the cedar...what a beautiful fragrance!

I received a large bottle of this fragrance when I purchased Balanciaga Paris. I can honestly say that I would never have tried this on my own based on the notes and because I almost NEVER go for watery clean scents; I prefer florals. Man, oh man, am I ever glad to have met this fragrance! I am so in love!

This scent reminds me of the first time I backpacked through Europe. I would say that the women in Paris were pretty much "sex-bomb" sexy, meaning, that they had such a feminine sexiness that they really played up, like Bridget Bardot. But in Rome, I noticed that the women were "elegantly" sexy, meaning that they also oozed sexiness, but in a much more subdued elegant way, like Yvonne De Carlo in her modeling days. This is how I would describe Belanciaga L'Essence; it's elegantly sexy, not sex-bomb sexy. It's subdued and mysterious, not va-va-voom vampy.

The first few minutes was a blast of vetiver that almost smelled too masculine to me, but I stayed with it to see where it would go. The woods came out next, along with the ozone, then it settled into a soft violet and watery scent, THEN, much to my surprise, it smelled exactly like a light feminine version of Dior Fahrenheit, probably THE sexiest scent ever on a man! I even looked up the notes on Fahrenheit, and found that many of them were the same. I love love love this fragrance and I am looking forward to spending lots of time together.

I don't know about that one, I kind of like it, but it isn't for me, something harsh, dry in the scent, I suspect the vetiver, so I wouldn't buy it I can see that in summer, it would be invigorating, but it isn't what I am looking for. It lacks prettiness and softness

Blagh, something in this perfume smells awful to me, not sure what... maybe the vetiver... or sandalwood? Im not really an expert in perfume notes so all i can say is that every time i smell "that" in a perfume i automatically wrinkle my nose. I wish i could smell it on someone else to see if it smells differently on them.

Cucumbers anyone? I smells like cucumbers to me. I don't mind it though. It reminds me of cucumber eye makeup remover at times...

Cucumbers anyone? I smells like cucumbers to me. I don't mind it though. It reminds me of cucumber eye makeup remover at times...

I Love Balenciaga.
This essence has a unique style, very feminine, sensual and sophisticated.
This scent is fresh but has a very strong character.
This luxurious fragrance is extremely harmunious.
I recommend.

This is a lovely perfume. The opening for me was quite a surprise, it was more sweet and feminine than I expected. Smooth and unique as others have said. After a couple of hours it smelled really woody and had a subtle warmth to it, but remained feminine. The masculine side only came out on me right at the end, after a good few hours of wear, the woods have settled down, and whatever remains does smell unisex. It's been a pleasant surprise for me, I was expecting something harsher and more masculine. It's really lovely, a quality fragrance.

L’Essence de Cristobal Balenciaga is a light airy perfume resembling the half remembered memories of an evening perilously misspent.

Opening with an unexpected and unmentioned citrus jam note, the fragrance is soon subsumed into a vast array of flowers, all violets.

One could be deceived for thinking this the scent of a simple and straightforward young woman. That would be a mistake.

An internal accord of complexity and steely determination manifests itself in a vetiver, lawn grass and cedar tree background that gives the whole package genuine staying power and silage whilst remaining defiantly unsweet and uncute.

This silk ball gown contains a young woman with a past that stretches back long before last night.

And as for men? They will come and go and some of them will smell, for a time at least, of violets too.

This is a concise version of the review, made brief for ease of reference.

A full text can be found at theperfumeddandy.com

It's definitely feminine, but somehow it's one of the few women's fragrances I, as a man, feel comfortable wearing. I think it's incredibly beautiful, though it's not something I'd wear all the time.

This is the classy, youthful sister of She Wood, Trussardi Skin and McQueen's My Queen Light Mist...

I sprayed She Wood on my right hand, Trussardi Skin on my left, and L'Essence on both crooks of my elbows [the inside of the elbow]...I had my college-aged son test-sniff, and he surmized the same as I -- they are related, but L'Essence has that youthful wow factor that the other two do not...

Don't get me wrong -- I love the other two [or three for that matter - McQueen was swapped out because on my skin, it was way too clonish of Skin & She Wood]...I've even compared notes in the aformentioned lovely frags and the notes in common include the violet leaf, patchouli, citrus and/or vetiver, cedar and sandalwood...Either combo of these notes are outstandingly sexy in a very close-to-the-skin but certainly not boring manner...

L'Essence is the little sister that comes off subdued, but really isn't...She is the one who beckons daringly with that flirty, 'come closer' look in a classy, new money way...

I agree with everyone who thinks this fragrance could be worn by either a male or a female. Well, most fragrances are this way, but this lends itself to more traditional gender fragrances roles. That said, I am a woman, but I come by it as someone who grew up in the country, playing in the woods with boys, experiencing nature from 4 seasons. I am probably more tomboy today than the girliest of girls. I rarely if ever reach for an overt floral fragrance, so this fits that bill wonderfully.

My first fragrance was Dior's Eau Sauvage, so clearly I love vetiver, citrus, and basil.

More recently, I discovered Ellen Tracy's Bronze. The violet notes in this are exactly the same as this fragrance, so perhaps I am a violet lover as well. Although after that these two fragrances go in separate directions.

L'Essence concentrates on more woody, damp mossy black earth. It is a walk in the woods after a rain. I keep thinking it takes a turn downward, down in mood, down rolling around on the ground squishing damp violet leaves.

Bronze is much brighter. It uplifts the spirit with oranges and sparkling lemonade before it settles into violets, cedar and vanilla with a hint of coconut. It is a summery day fragrance.

So you might ask yourself, which one do I prefer? Bottles alone, no question, L'Essence. Juice is more difficult because I think that it just depends on your mood. Today, I am coming out of a cold, rainy, dreary day that was yesterday. (I wore Mitsouko yesterday). The weather today is sunny, a bit warmer but still cool with the remaining dampness. L'Essence fits that day in my mind. Watery, cool, clear but not yet bright. It is the mountain lake after a rainstorm. Everything is calm, the water like glass albeit a green inky glass. Still.

NOT TOO FEMININE nor masculine.(For me, Paris was just common powdery-floral parfume like Channel no.5) After something keen and leafy, powdery and a bit musky(not soapy) scent leaves on my skin very long time. Bought it a few days ago, and satisfied with the purchase.

makes me zen! best perfume/therapy ever

essence and paris: big mistakes in my skin... so disappointed, because these two were my birthday presents. too masculine, for me :~(

Balenciaga PARIS L'ESSENCE is a slightly tweaked flanker of the popular Balenciaga PARIS, the primary difference being that the flanker contains more wood than the original. This extra woodiness brings L'ESSENCE a bit closer to Dsquared SHE WOOD and Ellen Tracy BRONZE. It's the sort of combination--woody, watery, violet--which people are either going to take to or not. So anyone who likes one of these perfumes is likely to appreciate all the others. They all have a somewhat synthetic sheen to them, but it's not an off-putting one to me. I also happen to love violet and violet leaf, which are key to all of these perfumes.

People who do not like violet will find little of interest here. L'ESSENCE, like its namesake, is light and refreshing, slightly woody, somewhat sweet but somehow simultaneously aquatic. The least expensive of the rash of recently launched perfumes in this style is by far Ellen Tracy BRONZE, which I recommend as a high-value, low price alternative to the Balenciaga compositions, though I expect that their price, too, will drop soon. The bottle of the Balenciaga perfumes is much nicer, to my eyes, but the composition is not very different from the less expensive perfumes of this type.

For some reason, this smells artificial and rather plastic, that it induced headache for me!

I guess this doesnt work for my nose.

This is quite similar to Paris, but the strong vetiver note makes it 5% too masculine for me. I swapped it in here last week for an original Addict, but I think I may buy it again in the future... I really like the smell. I would swap anything for an original Addict; my lovelovelove :)

L'Essence is very similar to Paris with prominent violet and violet leaf. The green, crisp metallic tinge is still present. However, it is an earthy, smoky, more soil-infused violet whereas Paris is an above-ground dewy floral.

L'Essence and Paris share the same character, but L'Essence reminds me of the spring garden under a sky filled with grey storm clouds, a crisp wind is blowing, the air is thick with earthy smells and imminent rain. Paris is the same garden after the rain, fresh, floral, and moist, with the sun gleaming through the clouds.

It's a little more introspective than Paris, but both are beautiful renditions of violet, dependent on your mood, and I find for myself, the weather too.

This is a wonderfully clean, green-spicy, assertive scent that can be worn by men or women, having no sugary sweetness whatsoever. It reminds me of evergreen trees and green pepper...such a unique scent. I have a small sample of it and am still contemplating getting a full bottle (it's pretty darn expensive) but since I keep coming back to it and not hating it at all in the least, it wouldn't be a surprise if a bottle of it showed up in my possession sometime.

Go for this if you want a unique, fresh, woodsy green scent. It's beautifully, complexly wonderful.

excelent greean creamy frag OMG its what i imagine about a greean parfum ,long long lastin powder superb!!!!!!!

does this smell anything like Borsari Violetta de Parma does any other perfume smell like it ?

Wow ! Tried this some months ago at Amsterdam airport, I liked it, the bottle is gorgeous but my husband said...nothing special. Now WEARING it due to a lovely swap with Jaspersen (thanks)- I have to disagree with my husband, cause this is ~ special ! The sweet and tender violet, cedar and soft creamy patchoulie is wonderful on me ! The first snif reminded me of Blvgari Mon jasmin noir that I have had and loved, it reminded me of the soft nougat in that one, though this one lacks. The cedar and patchoule is notes that are similar to both !
It also has a tiny character of Spears Believe, but dont tell that to this house...they may get discouraged !
This is lovely, to me very much like Mon Jasmin noir, even the bottle is as pretty I'm in love again !
could´t resist getting me a 30 ml....
Mmmm
This is even wearable a day with nasty headace...kind of soothing to wear !

Wow this is so beautiful, such a pretty scent yet could easily be worn by a man. it's fresh and spicy, feels heavy yet isn't.
I did test this on paper and thought it smelt quite generic and boring, however i recieved a sample with a purchase and quickly went on to buy a 50ml perfume and lotion set.

Edit:
I've since had to let this bad boy go, my sister said it smelt like mens cologne!
Luckily for me the original Paris smells almost the same, yet has no masculine edge.

This one has a masculine edge,I guess it is part of its charm. Also I find a very intriguing metallic note and sandalwood. The drydown gets powdery soft and elegant.
If I had to imagine a woman wearing it, I would say she is a modern independent working lady,conventional in manners but not in her thoughts or believes, who does not pay attention to what people say about her,minds her own business because they are interesting enough. She could easily be a writer or an editor.She is the one all men want because she is a difficult one to reach.

I agree with the person who noted a similarity, initially, to Prada Infusion d'Iris. And I agree with all who say they get a lot of powder. And I agree there's strong cinnamon in this scent. AND I agree with Baldric in that there's a very ripe fruity smell as well - only to my nose, it isn't banana but cranberry and apple.

When you take the cranberry and apple together with the cinnamon, you get mulling spices.

So, if you like mulling spices and powder, this might be for you. It is unisex, but it also reminds me a lot of Edge shaving gel. Just sayin'.

All that said, I'm not quite ready to throw out the sample - it could work well at the office, probably best in cool weather.

Balenciaga L’essence is a very good quality long lasting unisex scent. It is deeper, darker and younger then Paris. I can detect dewy violets leafs, cedar and orris root. Patchouli is very mild; nothing in your face, nothing cheap. First half an hour it smells like a forest after rain - the soil, cold groundwater, wet leafs. The drydown is more sensual, even sweet, but in a very subtle way. Perfect for summer.

I should really know better than to judge a fragrance by its top notes. I thought since this was new, and mainstream that it would be safe to assume that my opinion of the top notes would carry over throughout the development of the fragrance and i was most certainly wrong.

The start of this reminded me so much of over ripe bananas that I immediately added the sample to a pile I have that go to my friend to try. 10 minutes later I caught a whiff of a green, cinnamony (I know its not listed, but that's what I smell) patchouli smell, oh! This is quite nice! Back to the pile of unwanted samples, pulled it out and put it back on my shelf for further testing. I can make out patchouli pretty strongly here, but it strikes me a spring/summer patchouli. A bit lighter and fresher than many perfumes with a dominant patch note. I also get a bit of green at the top which blends into vetiver and powder/violet.

This strikes me as pretty good quality, good longevity and projection. Now I just need to find a way to make it past that banana opening.

Falling hard for is, its only slightly green on me, I get quite a lot of powder but not baby powder, like powdery trees if that makes since. I am really loving this.

Just got a free mini of this and it is real, real good. This is perfect for me and I am a male. It's unisex in my opinion. If you like a scent that is not "fresh" like thousands of scents out there, go for this. It stays on my skin and it is not overpowering at all. Not the greatest sillage, and that's why I like it. But you can reach for it in your arms for a good 5-8 hours. I like colognes that I feel good about it and I do not care to receive compliments on it like a lot of people expect when they wear a scent. Great Balenciaga.
Update: actually it is boring and not worth the price. I do not like the smell as I initially posted. I am just keeping it because it was free.

I love the cleaness and freshness of that perfume, I was surprised to see that it does not contain ginger; it has the symphony of the woody, lemony, and spiciness that fresh ginger has; however ending with a warm note of softness to balance the crispness that would make it too evergreenish or medicinal.

I really wanted to like this because I love "green", and I love violet, but this just smelled like salad with balsamic dressing on my skin. Then it dried down to aftershave. Dissapointing IMO.

Very cool and green. It's like walking through a fragrant forest after a morning rain. I smell lots of green leaves and dewy freshness. There is a floral violet note in here that makes it feminine instead of just green. A very calming scent to me.

Mmm, finally a GREEN perfume that I can really get behind! :) It's cedar, violet leaf, vetiver (I think?) + enough violet to soften and sweeten the experience. Definitely feminine, but also fanciful... makes me think of a woodland fairytale... like something the fairy princess from Lord of the Rings would wear! LoL I absolutely love green scents, and this is definitely a GREEN scent! The strong presence of violet is certainly important to note, however... this is not one of those masculine woodsy perfumes. But it is woodsy. If you don't want to smell woodsy, or be reminded of nature: steer clear of this one!

OK, this is quick edit after wearing L'Essence for couple of days already. There was something that tickles me all the time. Something familiar but I couldn't put my finger on it. Until three hours ago - L'Essence to my nose is extremely close to Skin Trussardi. From the very beginning till the end. Sure, after certain moment I can see the similarities with Paris Balenciaga (I bought it, received it, compared it).

I bought online Balenciaga Paris (which I like a lot) considering comming Spring but what I've got was Balenciaga L'Essence (never got a chance to test it before). That confusion irritates me for a while. Still, I've decided to give L'Essence a chance.
Oh, my sweet, sweet Faith! Thank you! This one is melty, creamy, kind a greenish liquid Heaven. On my skin it's not hardly discernible, nor a whisper of fragrance (for that, I'm grateful). This scent melts on skin softly embracing it. It's feminene and innocent. Not girlish. Not exactly fresh. Soft. And again, creamy.
L'Essence gives me the same feeling as Prada Infusion D'Iris but in a curvy way. While PID'I is kind a sharp and has a soapy edge, BL'E brings the "clean" sensation without being rough and "right in front of you" .This scent just floats on my skin.
PS: If the main note I'm detecting is violet leafs (according to Your Votes) so I finaly found the perfect non-watery-green violet leafs in a fragrance.
Bravo,M. Polge! Bravo!

I wish I had more time with this one (made a quick whiff at the department store) but my initial feeling will probably remain regardless. To put it simply this fragrance lives up to its name of being "l'essence" of the original "Paris". Its its much lighter twin.. Its as though they turned down the knob on woody notes.. leaving crushed whole violets. It makes a great alternative if you want to tone it down for the warmer months. Not sure if I will purchase this anytime soon although if someone gave me an empty bottle I'd take it! So pretty!!

The more I test it the more I love it. Slowly discover its subtle beauty, that whispers in my ear softly and tenderly. I imagine going for a walk in the forrest, smelling divine green, fresh and clean air. The violets are creamy and in comparison to Paris this scent has much more weight and depth. A true beauty.

How wierd that only one note is listed? This is a very sophisticated and beautiful scent, its a high class, smooth and rich perfume. To me its powdery and a slightley smokey violets. If you are a violet-lover, like me, this is a great perfume! I like the leather in this scent, it goes well with the heavy violet and gives it more deep. All though this perfume never gets too heavy, its rather rich and creamy, kind of smooth and strong in the same time. As I am obsessed by violets, I can tell that this is a great one, but I have to say that Insolence is still nr one for me. I think the original of this one will make a great everyday, but L'essence is not "everyday" and its not "party" either. For me this is not a very wearable scent, but still beautiful.

It is so pairs..... Also smells like an expensive perfume. It is fresh and charming at the same time. They offcourse have experimented but the same time you will get balenciaga royal and special feel from it. Beautiful!

The perfect Spring perfume. I love green perfumes, and this is one of the best I've smelled in quite some time. L'Essence has an aquatic vibe, yet it's not aquatic. I smell 100% pure, fragrant, freshly cut violet flowers and leaves. The soft powderiness of violet is perfectly balanced with the vibrant green leaves. What I love about l'Essence is that it gives the illusion of a citrus top-note, but I highly doubt there is any citrus in the perfume at all. It's a truly unique and remarkable fragrance. I would describe it as violet, woody, slightly powdery, aquatic, fresh, clean, bright, and green. Just gorgeous. The color and clarity of the bottle matches the scent of the juice perfectly.

I don't agree with this being masculine at all. I would consider it if I needed to replace my Mimosa perfume by Christiane Celle, another green floral for women. This totally lacks the spicy and intensely woody base notes of traditional masculine aquatics and/or colognes. I'm not saying men can't wear this (of course they can), but I think most men would find the powdery violet to be too feminine.

I haven't spent much time with this yet but i really want to say that it smells as like a Dior Aqua Fahrenheit counterpart. Very heavy on violet leaf big time! It's cool watery green and earthy. It's also clean and dirty at the same time. Not at all "floral" scent in my vocabulary. Definitely leaning toward unisex scale. Guys should give this a try. I love my bottle, but I haven't been using it much because I don't wanna run out and it is very expensive.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this on my skin heavenly

Love the opening, it's just incredible, but it turns too mossy and too warm for me.

Nice, androgynous, earthy...but it is a whisper of a fragrance. wouldn't buy it, too weak(((

Loved the opening so much, that I almost bought it. However, after couple of minutes the great opening accord was gone and not much desirable left. After 20 min it started to turn little sour.
I consider it unisex, but not overly masculine. I think it could be great on somebody who has the right chemistry for it. Good for daytime.
Both, the bottle and the inside are superior to Paris.

I finally got to try this today! It's very nice but it doesn't touch the original. Lovely bottle though. Why isn't the original in this green bottle? Ha! : )

Balenciaga deserves a pat on the back for this one. Here is a mall counter scent with a marketing image of a young woman, at an affordable price. This is clearly a throw back to old school green chypres, and Bravo for that.

No fruit cakes and bubblegum, no celebrity air brushed faces, and no little girl pony tails. One can only hope it gets noticed.

The scent itself is middle of the road; neither outstanding nor flushable. It opens a bit screechy and takes its time finding its stride, but the resinous green vibe pulses throughout. What I like most is the earthy, almost gritty, resinous base notes. This indeed has a strong vetiver/cedar current, and I agree with the gents that this leans towards the masculine.

antonpan, you have been reading my mind :)))
I recently named (entirely for my own purposes) this note "masculine jasmine" and I do indeed find it very very similar to the jasmine in Mon Jasmin Noir..

in comparison to Paris, L'Essence is less sparkly in the beginning (minus the carnation perheps??), but has more depth in the development.. still, not even a hint of "heavy" or "cloying" character..

believe it or not, this fragrance works well on mens skin.

Not bad at the beginning but somewhere in the middle and till the drydown it reminded of old Champagne by YSL.I'd say they are identical and as cloying.My friends thought the same,nice opening,dissappointing drydown.However,those who enjoyed Champagne,will love this,too.

This scent is lovely. It does remind me a lot of Un jardin sur le Nil of Hermes.

Strangely I do not hear much vetiver here. L'Essence is still last year's Paris (violets, violets), but, to my mind, it is enriched by a big dose of masculine... jasmine? I clearly feel the jasmine note here, similar to that in, for example, Bvlgari Mon Jasmine Noir. Anyway L'Essence is not as fresh as Paris and really has something animal or masculine inside.

Description of notes in advert from Sept. 2011 ELLE Magazine:

"A green violet-leaf fragrance deepened with a chypre accord of cedar, vetiver, black pepper and pimento berries."

masculine and feminine equally. i wish they listed the rest of the notes because violet leaf alone is not this fragrance at all. its comforting and suave along the same lives as bvlgari's soir and a much classier simplified burberry touch. that type feel to it. It is very good and luxurious. But you know unisex scents hardly ever have that hook that gets you addicted and its true here. on the dry down it has something that reminds me of Balmian's Ambergris too which does become a bit of an addictive quality.

I simply cannot wait to try L'Essence...Balenciaga Paris has become one of my favorite perfumes of all, so i have great expectations :) Will update with a review when - and if - my friend who is travelling to France gets it for me! P.S. The nose/creator of this fragrance is Olivier Polge.

"A green fragrance laced with violet leaves and vetiver." States Balenciaga's creative director Nicolas Ghesquiere in Septembers Vouge. He Goes on to describe how his muse the complex Chorlotte Gainsbourg toys with "notions of masculinity and femininity". his use of Vetiver "a hallmark of mens cologne" helps to bring this trait forward. "Poisonous and Magnetic" is how he sums up L'Essence.
The bottle was made to fit in with the Hematite and pyrite jewelry in balenciaga's resort collection.
I can't wait to do a full review of this fragrance I have been wanting to find a fresh vetiver fragrance and violet leaf is one of my favorite notes.
(edit)
Well after trying this one, it is very sweet with a strong watery green note on my skin. Not at all the masculine edge I was hoping for. Like some one screams Waterlily's!!! then cannonballs into the pond splashing a Monet like canvas in everyone's face. Too much Violet leaf and sweet florals equals too much a of a good thing. Unbalanced compared to Paris.

Balenciaga Paris disappointed me. Essence is what I dreamed Paris would be. I think I have finally found my signature scent.

I adore this one even more than Balenciaga Paris. L'Essence is also a shared scent. So a full mens fragrance is definately on its way I can feeel it. can't wait for this to hit the stores..and I love the bottle..even more beautiful than Balenciaga Paris.

Balenciaga Paris is a gem so I can only imagine how wonderful L'Essence is going to be. This is going to be such a great year for fragrance. I am loving the green! I can't wait to read a full list of notes and the official launch date. Thanks again fragrantica! : )