Essence Narciso Rodriguez for women

I think this perfume was launched ahead of its time, when iris fragrances weren’t quite so hyped and sought after. If they re-release this now it would do so well as people have a better understanding of iris and the characteristics they like in such a fragrance. NR pleas bring this beauty back!

I received this blind buy today from a seller off of Mercari - I know others have said this already, but truly, truly this is exactly Nivea cream from Germany in the blue tin. Spot on dupe.

Update: incredibly long lasting!

By Narciso's standards, a "clean" and very soapy musk. Very nice. To me, this one smells more like violets and soap rather than iris or rose or benzoin. Very clean, very shower-fresh and lightly soapy. Easy to wear though not incredibly unique, retro, and clean.

The things I would do to get my hands on another bottle of this discontinued gem

The only perfume I ever emptied. My skin loves this

I am trying to get my nose on every NR fragrance, as I have such a love affair with most of them. This one for me is just ok. There's something sharp I am not enjoying. Like that sharp scent of detergent when you just open a finished load of dishes or laundry, reminds me of Sunlight. Solar with a tinge of sweet citrus in the musk.

The musk is closer to the scent found in the square cubes, rather than the rectangle bottles. I much prefer the rectangle For Her line.

I like it 8/10.
It's musc and fresh rose. It could have a little more of something, maybe stronger Iris or Violets...but it hasn't so makes me feel nostalgic, like something missing in perfume makes me feel the same about mood/life, like is also something missing in my life.
I still have some curiosity to try others from this line of powder/Iris/musc!
I totally hate the Narciso Roriguez for her, i just can't stand, it's a nightmare for me, it's the smell of the fear and anxiety for me, it's too heavy, too dark.

I blind bought this one and it was a great buy! It's a sweet, sexy and rosy fragrance with the musk, iris and benzoin making it a clean, bright and effective fragrance. There is some sharpness but also some kind of metallic feeling for some reason but it's still a great perfume. There is warmth, woodiness, sensuality and beautiful scent which is pretty feminine and gentle at its best.
Longevity is eternal and the silage is enormous in this subtle sexy scent that is super versatile. You can wear it easily to a gathering, to office, to date night and everywhere throughout the year. This can be someone’s signature scent I believe. I, myself like to wear it every now and then. There is crispiness, elegance and freshness too.

I blind bought this at a second hand site just due to curiosity. I do enjoy many of the other scents from Narciso (especially poudree and for her edt) and thought it could be fun to give it a try since it seems quite hard to come across.
Essence is a very clean "right out of the shower" scent. Quite sharp in the beginning but gets softer and more powdery in the dry down. I find it a bit boring and I don't really reach for it often (i.e. not at all). The bottle is however beautiful, heavy and it somehow "feels" expensive.
Thought I'd might sell it since it is quite sad to let a beautiful peice like this just go unused, but today I got the idea to layer it with something just to see how it would turn out, and reached for a pure vanilla scent. That turned out to be a great idea since now it feels full bodied and soft instead of just - clean.

Absolute LOVE from me. Clean, soapy, aldehydic goodness in a beautiful bottle! The musk in this does not remind me of the same musk in any of the For Her versions, but it could just be because most of those compositions have other base/middle notes besides just musk that can alter the dry down of the musk. This does not say it has aldehydes in it, but it's very sparkling and clean, soap-like, that I would venture to say there are aldehydes in this. This is just the most perfect clean smelling fragrance that is an easy grab and go. To me this is not like clean laundry (Pure Musc in the white bottle reminds me more of clean laundry), this is more like fresh out of the shower, and just applied some soapy smelling body lotion (many are saying Nivea cream in the blue tin, which I can see). This scent lasts very long on me, albeit not super intense projection, but I'm sure if you spray on your clothes and hair, it would increase both projection and longevity. This is the kind of scent that if you sprayed it over your unscented or lightly scented body lotion, it would last and last and last, and you would just be cocooned in this fresh out of the shower scent bubble all day. Super easy to wear, as I said, grab and go, not much thinking involved. Think freshly washed skin that's just been moisturized! Love this so much! Wish they didn't discontinue it...

Augusztusi melegben, hosszan elő-előbukkanó tisztaság illat. Nem tolakodik, nem harsog, de lengedez. Írisz, lágy, alig jérezhető pézsmával, picikét csavar rajta a benzoin, szép! 🤍

To me it smells straight up like Nivea creme. Super clean and crisp smelling but unfortunately I don’t get any rose but only creamy powderyness . Totally unisex but doesn’t last the longest but in the heat the fragrance shines and projects.

Clean, soapy rose. I love soapy scents, especially in summer. I agree there is a EL White Linen vibe but this is not a cold, less crisp without the aldehydes. I so hope they bring this back...it could happen. I put this on last night and this morning I can still smell the clean musk and light rose but when I wore it the other day it was lost. It has notes that I because nose blind to, depending on the day - but I still love it.

Beautifull scent, totally agree with the comment below. I have this scent for a while now and i hope it last for a long time. Otherwise i will be sad.

Its for me a linnen like scent, which gave a warm/clean feeling. I realy like the combination of musk with the iris. On my skin it smells very comforting, i keep smelling it. And gladly this is possible for the whole day.
For me this scent is more a intimate scent. You have to come close to catch the hint of it. Which i personally prefer.

So if above sounds good to you to, fingers crossed if it gets on stock again.

Why ohhh why did he make this discontinued. This is an amazing fragrance!!! Beautiful, modern, elegant . Bring this back!!!!!!

I liked this perfume. Simple, easy to wear but nothing that was so special that made me want to buy it again.

As soon as I tested it, I was like - "Isnt this an Estee Lauder perfume?" Reading the reviews all the way down, I see that the Estee Lauder perfume is White Linen and my senses were right on. It has all the SAME FOUR notes listed for Essence, plus many others as it's from 1978.

I loved White Linen . . . all the way back in the 80s. A great decade, BUT I wouldnt want to smell like it.

I dont really get all these comparisons to Nivea, which has a distinct iconic scent of its own.
White Linen, y'all.

I was given a generous sample of this, and I like the scent, unfortunately though, it doesn't last long. I used the entire decant (5 ml maybe?) in one day. Far too expensive for such weak longevity. Wouldn't buy a full bottle. My cheap little bottle of Moschino projects further and lasts longer. I love NR scents, but have to pass on this one!

So, this got discontinued. I’m not surprised after smelling this. Oh, don’t get me wrong, it smells nice as long as you don’t spray too heavily. It’s just that it smells like straight up Nivea (Blue tin). I guess Nivea called and said they wanted their scent back. Cool bottle though.

While the bottle was created by designer Ross Lovegrove, the fragrance was created by Alberto Morillas and once again brought musk as a key ingredient, respecting the olfactory identity that made the brand an absolute success in the market. The composition is simple, with few notes and focus on the result. On the way out, a touch of aldehydes, rose petals and iris; In the body, the musk continues to reign absolute; In the background, the benzoin with its amber nuances and special feature of extending the fragrance's durability.

On the skin, Essence Eau de Parfum confirms the brand's positioning - already known for its sophisticated fragrances, full of femininity and elegance - by offering a floral and musky bath with powdery nuances and moisturizing style. Essence Eau de Parfum looks like a creamy, harmless, fragrant lotion that lasts all day but only leaves a trace in the first hour of application. After that, the smell is yours alone (and whoever is very close).

We have, again, a fragrance created for the pleasure of the user, not of other people. That is, if you are the type who likes impactful perfumes that attract compliments as well as some criticism, then Narciso Rodriguez is not your perfume brand. On the other hand, if you are one of those who are really terrified of very strong fragrances and think that wearing them is an aggressive act in daily life, then you are the woman portrayed in Narciso Rodriguez's creative briefings.

For me, the coolest thing to note is that Essence Eau de Parfum behaves extremely pleasantly on male skin. The feeling is very similar to what men feel when they use their sister's, girlfriend's or wife's moisturizer and like the smell, but they don't feel manly enough to go into a store and buy a bottle for themselves. It is that duality between the reason for knowing that it is a fragrance created for women in contrast to the emotion that keeps insisting on the desire to wear it repeatedly.

To be clear, if you are a man who has understood throughout your experience with fragrances that some labels have been created for purely commercial reasons, then I suggest putting this perfume on your radar. And if you are a woman of refined taste, aware that Narciso Rodriguez is your comfort area, here is one more option to enlarge your collection.

Review - Essence by Narciso Rodriguez


What does it smell like? Feels like a cross between Anouage's Silver and that Nivea cream that comes in a blue tin can. A sparkling clean blend with a dirty/dark twist.

TOP - Like I said this starts very creamy. Right off the bat you get some powdery musk with considerably dark Plum that's touched up with a bit of rose.

There's a beautiful contrast of brightness and darkness in the top. At times this feels super bright and uplifting while at others it feels like it's sending you some dark subliminal messages at the same time.

MIDDLE - Now with the kind of blend that Essence is it's tough to get individual notes. But it's not very tough to appreciate it's transition from a complex multi-faceted opening towards a simpler and more straight forward phase where each aspect of the composition shines through individually.

Iris is the main note in this phase. This is the part of this scent where it smells corporate,clean and very very striking. This is for someone who knows what they're doing and this phase of this scent in particular feels very intriguing and bold.

DRYDOWN - As with all NR scents musk remains the centerpiece. Providing the meshwork that holds this caricature together. This phase of the composition gives way to a very subtle rose and a very noticeable and serious benzoin base that adds a tad bit of a smoky touch while being powdery at the same time.


And this is in essence (pun intended) is where this scent earns it's money. It's named correctly and you can see the meaning. It's not trying too hard. It's not punching above it's weight. It's a core or a crux of a beautiful experience that's just raw and imperfect.

Like any imperfect person,or an incomplete thought,this has both the bright sides and the dark one's. At parts it feels accomplished happy and joyful while at others it's a laid back mellow and serious/corporate composition.

PERFORMANCE - For a scent of this nature,it surely punches above it's weight. Gives me good 5-6 hours with a very noticeable scent bubble around you. The compliment factor on this shall be very good with how noticeable it can get.

Don't get surprised however if someone asks you about what moisturizer/cream do you use rather than just complimenting your fragrance out an out.

USAGE - This is the tricky bit. Marketed only for women. The bottle is tacky. Everything goes leaning towards the X-Chromosome. But the scent itself is unisex. Totally comfortable and okay to wear if you're above 25.

Imagine a bright sunny picnic with your family on the beach or a garden. This smells like quality things and simpler happy moments.


EMOTIONS - Very raw. Ver minimalistic. Very honest, transparent and straight forward. This feels happy without going over the top and dries down to a serious/corporate base.

Intriguing.

VERDICT - It's a solid release by the Spanish house that probably has the best bottles in all of the game. It's unique,very articulately blended, sparkling, a very high quality composition that will surely stand out in your collection.

I have read about this situation but it never happened to me, until now. I have sprayed this fragrance on me and I didn't smell (allmost) anything. I am very disappointed because of all good reviews and the notes seem to be awesome!

Out of all NR perfumes I have, this has the best chemistry with me. I cannot get over about how this became very beautiful after I sprayed it on my skin.

Tantalizing, clean, and sensual.

If you smell at first time it'd seems like other musky powder white fragrances. The projection is oddly massive, once I wear it to work and my co-worker from 2 desks apart noticed my smell. She complimented it, she said it smelt like simplicity. I don't know, but I like how it wears on me too. One of my best perfume I ever wear, and to add the bottle is art itself. Every penny worth, kudos to NR.

I LOVE the bottle on this one! It looks like something that Elsa Peretti would have designed for Tiffany.

The scent itself opens somewhat harsh, but then morphs into something like a cool rosewater-scented Nivea in the blue metal tin. Stays close to the skin.
More of a "sterile" feel to it than a "fresh and clean" one. It is simple, yet unusual.

Who would wear this? Someone quiet, conservative, competent, clinical. Maybe a pharmacist, a surgeon, a dermatologist, or a scientist.

It's very unique and well-done, but I am still trying to figure out if there is a place for it in my life.

Bottle: 10/10
Originality: 9/10
Performance: 8/10 -- 5 hours
Versatility: 7/10 -- Work and casual use
Scent: 7.5/10 -- Bonus that the rose does not turn sour.

As far as rose scents, I much prefer Elizabeth and James Nirvana White (better musk), Cartier Goutte de Rose (fresher), or Roses de Chloe (more natural smelling).

EDIT: I layered it with Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline EDP and it works INCREDIBLY!!

- As long as the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth exist, everything will be all right – ★★★★☆

Narciso Rodriguez is perhaps my favorite perfume brand. The quality is undeniable in all aspects. The bottles are among the best in the mainstream market, the fragrance lines are coherent and show dedication from the designer but most importantly – the scents are all stupendously good. From originals to flankers, quality is always delivered all around.

Essence is no exception. The bottle floors me every time – purity of form and elemental silver shine. What holds inside is a pleasure in its own category too. A glittering burst of sparkling aldehydes with a shy pastel hued fruity trail. Soon follows the famous signature musk note. This time stripped from all the necessities, an innocent untarnished purest of musks. Perhaps slightly reminiscent of the classic Nivea cream many others have mentioned. A few hours later the aldehydes have left without a trace but to the company of musk has joined a group of less innocent notes of balsam and light incense. An incredibly sensual finale seals the composition until it fades to nothing.

I have the deepest admiration for all the variations of musk NR has provided us. Essence stands out as the most optimistic and honest. It’s like you’re invisibly coated with compassion. For Her is much sexier and very open about it. For Him is serious and earthy whereas For Him Musk edition is a close cousin to Essence but lacks the warmth of the balsams and is harder to sympathize with. I’m not going to pick a favorite since they all lead different lives but Essence surely will see a lot of wearing in the upcoming summer months. This scent is a happy place for me, I hope you'll find the same light too.

Soundtrack: Aphex Twin - Xtal

I may have been anosmic in the musk variety in this, as on my skin it reads as a plain ol’ floral, and of a quite old fashioned/classic variety at that.
Iris and rose have a very vintage, powdery effect on me, similar to the vibe I get from JLo’s Glow (clean-floral-powdery). No benzoin to my disappointment.
I prefer the animalic musk of NR L’eau de Parfum Intense (iridescent rectangular bottle) and the Oil Perfume (sadly discontinued) over this, but to each their own I guess

In general, I'm not a musk lover, but this one is really nice and could easily be unisex. It's a clean, fresh musk with a bit of powder from the iris and a touch of floral from the rose. Ultimately, however, this smells like any number of fresh lotions or soaps and I think you could find something equivalent at a much cheaper price point.

Not certain why this is classified as a floral because to me it's a floral woody musk. It's starts out with a blast of freshness and then settles with woody rose sweetened with benzoin and the signature Narciso musk blanketed with soft iris. At times I get the Nivea comparison and at other times White Linen minus the harsh aldehydes. This is strong and because it's a musk, you may not smell it on yourself anymore, but others will. Easy on the trigger, especially if you live in a hot climate. Very clean smelling like you've just got out of the shower and you still have the scent of a fine triple milled soap on your skin. Only this will last longer and you can refresh. I find this lasts about 5-6 hours on me. Great office/work scent and not headache inducing. Very classy and understated. Best worn when and where "less is more".

Pleasant, soapy, clean, comforting fragrance with a soft presence of the rose note. I think that Nivea creme without lily of the valley would have smelled very close to Essence. I'm surprised they had stopped making it since it seems like one of the fragrances many people would have kept buying. Not offensive, sillage is weak on my skin but I still really like it. Definitely worth trying and different from other fragrances from Narciso Rodriguez I have tested.

This basic perfume is perfect after showers, as it resembles the smell of cleanliness offered by a handmade soap, of natural ingredients.

The opening is citrusy, but changes very quickly to a clean white musk, with a powdery background and a surge of rose water. It reminded me with (Abdul Samad Al Qurashi Body Musk). I don't consider this floral, as categorized, but I perceive it oriental.

Anyhow, the longevity and sillage are made at the lowest level possible.

A clean powdery musk
Can be worn by either sex
Great strength and is a little animalic

A cold and clinical yet oddly comforting scent. It's not exactly soapy but it's fresh and clean. It's sterile while still feminine. Great for hot summer days.

I have mixed feelings about this one but I know someday I'm gonna buy it(Not decided yet I like this one more or musk essence which is more than 90% similar just seems to be a tad warmer and sweeter)
Narciso Rodriguez essence smells like wet whippes scented with rose.it has a clean and crisp feeling but I can't say it's completely soapy or like nivea cream or baby powder.it seems to be all of them plus something more
When I sprayed it on a paper I could barely smell anything.just a watery rose and a faint hint of powdery white musk.it was quite similar when first sprayed on my skin too.it reminded me smell of my skin when I just had a shower with my favorite rose soap and then doused myself in my equally favorite body fantasies white musk.I simply ador this smell but I couldn't see why should I want to mimic it with a +60$ perfume while I can have it by using much cheaper products but as we all know musk needs time to warm up with body temperature.as time passes it melts into skin and becomes stronger.still gives me the same feeling of washed skin but then I feel I've doused myself in dior jador voile or something similar.a gentle,clean,beautiful,feminine and classy smell.so I find myself to like it a lot.it's cold and sharp as it's not enough benzoin to ground all these powdery notes but still I like it
Seems to be a skinscent on me,almost no sillage but hopefully it's very longlasting
I have to choose between this one or musk essence or my cheaper option,John Richmond Viva Rock and if this one was my choice I'll edit this
❤❤❤❤

Narciso Rodriguez and I do not get along very well. The only one I own that I LOVE is Poudre....and that is a HUGE love! This one has a oil like/medicinal-ish note to it that I do not want to eventually like. In it goes to the sell bin!

Narciso Rodriguez, nice bottles, modern house, simple stuff. I am doing this review as I bought this perfume as a gift for a very good friend of mine.

It has a few notes as we all can see. I will only keep the Essen from it's name and stick -tial end to it. So "essential" is the word. Why? Because it reminds me of babies essential creams, powders, soaps etc. In the beginning I thought it smells like neutral cleaning wet wipes, but no.

All in all, a powdery feeling like babies powder as I have already said, but there's also a hint of flowery undertone. I can smell a bit of rose in the beginning, can't detect iris, musky base for sure and a light cleanness from benzoin (that it's used for it's antimicrobial properties in case you don't know) and adds a touch of modern sweetness. Light, clean, summery, powdery, this is Essence by Narciso Rodriguez.

Just tried this in the skin. I was afraid to after I smelled it on a card tester.
Soapy! Really soapy.
Not yuck, a cool sort as apposed to warm.
It is very strong when you first put it on, one little spray on my little finger, so I would wash it off if I hated it, held at an arms length away could smell it.
It settles after about half an hour, and it's almost got a barely detectable citrus edge, something that cuts it, don't know what.
It's a bit powdery, I might call it a calm scent that plants itself in you. I'm really lost as to describe what I'm smelling now after a couple hours.
Not my first choice, I wouldn't say oh god I want to eat you, if I got a freebie I might use it up....

Chain store try: I tried only the hand cream, they no longer sell the frag.
Very unusual, made me think wow, very nice though. Warm, not fresh, not fruity. I scanned some positive reviews and would tend to agree with them.
Shame they didn't have the actual frag for sale.
Anyone got a fresh sample they wouldn't mind sending to NZ...?

This is my favorite warm-weather frag seeing how I shun the typical done and redone suntan lotion/marine/citrusy/yadda/yadda summer scents.

On me, this is sweet but fresh, powdery but not baby powdery (thanks to the masterly dosage of iris), musky but not overwhelingly so. Perfect.

It smells like creme which has watery synthetic rosy smell. I can't say anything about the musc, cause I don't know how it smells and can't detect anything but creme with iris also it has light benzoin scent to it.

Though it has few notes, this is a perfect example of the contents of a bottle being deceptive. This has a full-rounded scent, sensual, yet fresh. With only two flowers in, it still produces a rich bouquet, with a sweet, subtle powdery base. Very feminine, utterly gentle and romantic.

I have been a long-time lover of Narcisco's For Her. It was my signature about a decade ago when it came in a potent oil that was in a black roller-ball. Here we are many years later, and I have finally spent some time getting to know Essence. I don't quite love it the way I love For Her, but I do love it all the same!

It starts out smelling like Nivea lotion--powdery, creamy, floral (mostly rose). As it develops on the skin, it becomes downright balsamic, and the iris starts to emerge. For the majority of time on my skin, it no longer smells like Nivea, but instead smells more like incense and musk. A real personal fragrance because it smells clean, but clean in a different way. Not like laundry or soap. More like when you step out of the shower and you can still smell the perfume that you put on hours earlier. It becomes part of you and sort of melds into you.

I also noticed time and again that I smelled the ink from a ball-point pen. That is what gives it a metalic edge. It is kind of strange, yet somehow it works with all the other notes.

One of the best perfumes for work - elegant, crisp, fresh, longlasting scent. The Essence Musc version is a bit more sensual and warmer (perfect for eveningwear) but also wonderful!

I absolutely love this fragrance, it's very fresh and well.... just lovely! I work in a reception and almost everybody that comes through passes comment on the 'lovely perfume'

I must have sprayed a dozen fragrances and confused this one with what I actually loved and bought the wrong one. This is bad but not awful though. It smells like green original Palmolive or similar dish soap. I actually welcome perfumes that smell like fabric softner and shampoo but this is neither of those in my opinion. I like the shiny metallic bottle. That's all. I will spray it on my sheets, perhaps there the smell might be softer on fabric.

I had this one some 5 years ago, when I was completely into Narciso.. I bought it without really testing it, and my best friend also did.

It was never "me". There's something I really detest in this scent. I never finished the bottle but I threw it away.

To me describing this scent I would say it is clean, white, rose, musk, not attractive, old...

I think this smells exactly like the Edt version. And of course like Nivea cream.
It's musky and powdery floral with iris and rose notes. Very nice.
If I want to smell like that I don't see why should I buy this fragrance though, as the Nivea's cream is much cheaper.
Also, now that Nivea's perfume is out, I'm excited to see what the difference is.

Is it discontinued?

I really like this one,but I would LOVE to know where you buy the laundry products that "smell just like it"...I find it very feminine, musky & interesting, in that you can't quite put your finger on that elusive something...Really like could turn to love.

I bought this one blindly and kind of regret it because it does not deserve the hefty price tag! I bought it because all the reviews mention the traits that I like in perfume, but when I smelled it, it was a different story. It reminds me of perfume my mom used to use in the 80s and maybe that's why I was not so impressed. The scent smells better on me an hour or so after application, because that's when the warm musc comes out (and I love musc). Bottom line....an OK, very simple, light, powdery fragnance but with an over inflated price tag!

Update: after one week this perfume is finally growing on me. I was told "you smell so good!!" and my friend thought it was from my shampoo! So I guess it really is "clean" scent!

Essence by Narciso Rodriguez is, to put it simply, one of the most gorgeous sweet laundry scents, vaguely rosey, loaded with clean musk, powdery. This could be a lovely cold cream, and certainly resembles nivea (the blue tin). Clean, but not just fresh. Instead, it's full of character and charm.
UPDATE: I seem to detect something smoky in the heart, maybe some kind of light incense. There's also citrus peeking through at times. Just beautiful.

I am always looking for a subtle skin musk and had not been lucky yet. All musk fragrances smell either white musk (= laundry/soap/shower products) or are too openly sexy (NR for Her edt, Black bottle)for my taste.
I tested today this one and the Delicate edp version and this one is wining so far. I seem to like it a lot. I do dont smell any rose, any powder or any soap here, which all are a good things because i am not a fan of either mentioned. To my nose this is clean sweetish musk with a hint of cedar. It has a bit metallic smell in the begining but later it warms up and dissapears. It is not similar to For Her line, but i dont think it should be, it is a different fragrance. Maybe it is my nose playing tricks on me, I can not stop thinking how this one reminds me the drydown of Light Blue, but i guess that the cold/fresh musk and cedar (not in the notes, so maybe i am imagining it) combo that makes this impresion for me. I have to test several times to see whether i want a full bottle or a little decant to me, or whether i want a warmer skin musk and this one is too much cold/fresh/clean for me.
sillage close to skin, logevity very good. one little spray lasted for hours and i could still smell it after shower.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this perfume, and it happens to be my signature. It reminds me of an antique armour with lace doilies , ceramic figurines and beautiful sliver powder puff containers. It's delicate and soft like a feather dipped in powder and rose petals. I don't get the laundry description. I get a beautiful scent that takes me back in time to a place of romance and mystery.
Smells almost identical to Nivea cream.

Some trickster put this in the men's fragrances section of Nordstrom, and I see why. I got a sample.

It starts with a gentle iris note that reminds me a bit of Prada Infusion d'Homme. A dressy, squared away laundry scent. But after awhile it becomes sharp and bright, and here's where we part company as it strays and settles into the usual clean/fresh/sporty territory of many men's scents. If my bête noire dihydromyrcenol isn't in this, I'm smelling something very reminiscent of it. Or the same effect, anyway.

But I must say, if I were forced at gunpoint to wear a clean/fresh/sporty scent it would be this one.

Unusual bottle.

The most wonderful mirrored falcon, housing something that belongs in the Clean lineup of laundry musks. Its going to be nice linen closet perfume for me, but I don't wear it.

When i use it... i have headache and asthma :-) I tried to like it but it was impossible...

the most expensive clean laundry smell you'll ever get , emphasis on the expensive part this is an expensive smell trust me i like this one ,maybe a bit too clean but still great

I bought this by mistake, thinking that I was buying NR For Her EDP. I intended to send it back, but when I smelled it, I decided that I loved this fragrance! It almost reminds me of Estee Lauder White Linen. It smells fresh to me, light, somewhat rosy, powdery.. I will wear this in the spring and summer.

It was a blin buy and I immediately liked it...clean and softly sensuous, it gives a sensation of pureness.

I’m a big fan of NR fragrance and NR for her EDT is my signature and EDP is close 2nd
so i have high hopes when i try this on, but this is not a sensual musk which contains “for her" line.
this has clean musk with bit of fresh wibe on it, I love the laundry detergent smell of the opening
dry down is combination of musk and Iris on my skin.
Longevity is moderate and not as much as NR FOR HER, at least on my skin.
Definitely you should have a fan of not only musk but also a Iris to love this perfume
So I do love this.

I can't forget this scent..♡ very good bb

I am sorry to say that, but somehow it smells cheap. Like some drugstore brand. I do not like it at all. They are so many beautiful floral scent but this is not one of them.

With Essence, what you see is what you get. No more, no less.

A floral with the, by now, well known Narciso Rodrigues musk and an iris note of the same quality as Prada Infusion d'Iris and Ivoire de Balmain. A clean, soapy iris that's most prominent on first application.

When first applied, sillage is about arms length and by the 4-5 hour mark it has mellowed to a sensual skin scent.

It is a simple yet sophisticated fragrance - elegant and inoffensive - perfect for situations where you need to project a feeling of competence.

I spent so much time looking for a fragrance like this one... yes, it reminded me a little of Pure Linen, but only in the first few seconds. Then it's: feminine, tasteful, cozy, delicate, simple, like a white feather on which you sprayed an antique powdery potion. It caresses the senses, not a single note seems aggressive.
I wouldn't recommend it for a blind buy or a gift, it's too personal.
Great lasting power, yet a very soft sillage. Yet, you need to be bold to wear this. Nobody will feel it unless they get really close, but you might act like you're wearing the most irresistible perfume ever.

I actually like this one. It reminds me of Tea Rose Mesk, a nice, soft musk with a little bit of floral accents to give it some interest. It's soft and metallic at the same time. I use like a thousand sprays (trust me, it's so light I'm not bothering anyone and besides, it's not like I ever go ouside anyway...) and afterwards I feel enveloped in a little cocoon of hazy white musk and delicate flowers. Too bad it lasts about 10 minutes on my skin.

I have a love/hate relationship with Essence. When I first got it, I was addicted - the powdery rose so feminine and very clean smelling. Loved the musk. Now I don't know what happened!!!?? I almost can't bear it. Maybe to do with season change but I now find it cloying, linear and not so fresh. Strange. Will keep hold of it and maybe my opinion will swing back around again sometime.

This is a clean slightly rosy musk with a metallic zing. When I first tried it the metallic note turned me off, however after the second test and after wearing it for an hour I was hooked. I love this one, but to me it is such an atypical musk that I sometimes don't even think of it as a musk fragrance.

It smells particularly clean and bright, almost unisex. I think it's very classy in a sort of cerebral way. The metallic note is now the part of this that I love the most.

I love Essence so much that I own 3 versions - the original, the purple bottle and iridescent bottle flankers. To me they all smell the same, so I have a supply to last me quite a while.

I'm a fan of the Narciso fragrances, I have two of them already and sampled this the other day, and I wasn't disappointed. It's a fresh musk that is just gorgeous. It's not too overpowering either, which is great, however the lasting power is average, lasted about 3 hours on me and then it was gone. It would probably last longer if sprayed onto my clothes. However, it's still a really interesting fragrance that is not your typical "run of the mill" type, but it is quite expensive for a fragrance that doesn't last particularly long.

A couple of weeks ago while at the duty free store I had to choose between Prada Infusion d'Iris and Narciso Essence. I chose Infusion but am testing Essence today. My sample is a small vial from 2010. Essence started out so strong and gorgeous. I like this opening more than Inufsion. I had high hopes that that Essence would be stronger and longer lasting but it hasn't turned out to be the case. In fact, it's faded rather quickly which is too bad because it's really quite a beautiful scent and the bottle is gorgeous. It is very soapy and clean but I miss that certain something from Infusion. I would love to receive this as a gift or find it at TJ Maxx - I would most certainly buy it then, but I won't be purchasing it at regular price. I'll just stick to Infusion.

A true beauty muskparfum! Not skinclose and not a roomkiller, its there around you for many hours, when you move wonderful musk-wiffs dances around you. But I can't wear Essence - I sneeze alot, I do have problem with a lot of perfumes but I love them =)

En riktigt skönhet! inte hudnära och inte heller en rumsdödare, den finns där runt dig i många timmar och när du rör dig så kommer härliga musk-wiffar som dansar runt dig. Jag kan inte bära Essence för jag nyser - har problem med flera dofter där jag är känslig - men jag älskar dem =)

I like it but for days when I feel very unique and special and when I want to be more or less by myself.

After about 10 minutes of spraying this reminds me of a scent I loved as a young girl. I can't help but think it has to be L'Air du temps by Nina Ricci. Does anyone else get that ? I don't know what else it could be due to the fact my mom had few fragrances. I really enjoy it. Its smells rich and sophisticated. You really must sample this if you get the chance.

I am a big fan of Narciso's fragrances especially this one. I usually wear this during the day time, in both warm & cooler weather. The musk is amazing in this and the way it is blended with the other notes gives the impression of an incense note. Like all NR fragrances this is kind of pricey but I was able to get it at a good price online.

I'm not a fan of rose notes, but I am pleasantly surprised by this fragrance-this is a warm, deep, amber-y rose/iris on me- just how I imagine the last rose of late autumn would smell, just before the first frost- I'm not getting the clean laundry accord at all-

I don’t like aldehydes, I don’t like White Linen, I’m not fond of roses and iris. So my verdict must be negative. But, beeing a Narciso Rodriguez's work, this scent is really unique and needs time to take life on skin. At first it is similar to Not a perfume (Juliette Has a Gun), very synthetic in a certain way, cold like platinum. When it settles Essence becomes really feminine, classy, perfect for many occasions. This fragrance is only apparently shy and has a sophisticated aura. I wonder how could me on a man. After an hour it's pure heaven on my skin. Give time to Essence and it will be a wonderful surprise.

Fresh and really particular, worth tryin' ;)

had it nearly 5 years ago and definetly it has a character:)

This is the strangest perfume I've ever owned! It has a split personality! Although, at first, Essence is reminiscent of Estee Lauder's White Linen, which initially had me waving it away, screaming No! NO! NO!, this is actually much better. For one thing, it lacks the nuclear blast of aldehydes of ELWL, which always left me picking my eyebrows up off the floor. Essence is also much sweeter.

During the first 45 minutes or so, the iris, rose, musk, and benzoin play out to emanate a very clean, rather bright, effect. After my nose initially adjusted to this stage, I was pleasantly surprised and relieved to find I didn't have the urge to reach for my sunglasses anymore. Still slightly sharp, a little metallic, but lovely. I was sure any further development would just result in a softer effect, like clouds moving in to cover the sun on a bright day, but still remaining on the cool and metallic side.

Then comes the STRANGE and FUN PART! After Essence reaches the cloudy sunny stage, it goes bi-polar and does a complete 180!! I couldn't believe this was the same perfume!! I've got my nose buried in my wrist, now, because this thing has just MORPHED into the most beautiful, warm, and woody smell you could ever imagine! It's like I've just found myself suddenly in mysterious circumstances, transported to the middle of a strange forest somewhere, turning round and round, asking myself, "WHERE AM I? HOW DID I GET HERE?" I can see the full moon through the treetops overhead, but there's not a hint of coolness; I close my eyes and breathe in the warmth of the forest. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this part!!!! The iris and rose have melted together on my skin, along with the amber, to envelop me in such a yummy, ethereal, cloud of enchantment that I NEVER want to leave it!!!

Then, like a slap in the face to wake one from a reverie, Essence morphs BACK to the beginning stage of cool brightness, evoking me to protest aloud, "HEY! WHY'D YOU DO THAT?! TAKE ME BACK TO THE FOREST!" This was a little disappointing to me, at first, but I find I am liking this stage more and more. All I can say is WOW!!! What a RIDE!!! I can't wait to spray it once more and do it all over again!!

This perfume goes from sunlight to moonlight, then back to sunlight again. NONE of my other perfumes in my vast collection even remotely behave this way! This is a keeper! Highly addictive. Love, love, LOVE IT!!!! (Time for me to spray again! Did I say addictive?)

it lasts long and very comfortable , i dont have it , my French guest wear it and i HAD TO ask her what her perfume is .how to say , i think its elegant

This si like vanderbilt!

Essence is a very clean light scent. If your seeking a perfume bomb pass on this. If your someone who enjoys a light scent that still has some good power you would enjoy this one. It's one of those you walk past someone and think something smells realy good yet it's not slapping you in the face. Something that you will smell from a few feet away. I sprayed it on in the bedroom and can still smell it lingering in the air it's very pleasant and youthful. Great blind buy.

This one has become my latest addiction! I like to layer this on with just a little Narcisco Rodriguez perfume to add a bit more projection and intensity. The Essence is my favorite though, albeit a skin scent for certain. It is beautiful, even the initially off putting metallic bit(Iris?). NRE is a heavenly pheromone powerhouse!

I don't like rose or powdery scent and yes i hate this perfume at first but after an hour suddenly everything changed about it. I smelled sophisticated clean scent, there was rose but not kind of we knew. This is so class scent without any heavy notes. Perfect for every part of the day and all ages. Also i never smelled it on the bus or shopping center, it's my special and signature perfume. Cheers to purity!

Omnia Crystalline? are you kidding me?
Not even close. I can't imagine such totally different fragrances. Essence is very "cold" and "metallic" if you will. There is nothing powdery about it. Its metallic type musk all the way and it has pretty much zero silage or projection. Even on tester strip I could barely smell it-I can see wearing this maybe when you don't need heavy perfume because this is barely detectable.
This was very disappointing. Bottle is gorgeous but that's about the only good thing I can say about this scent

Because I love both NR for Her EDP & EDT, I had to try this one.

When I sprayed it on my wrist, I was a bit taken back; it was so harsh and, as someone mentioned, somewhat metallic. Then, while I was having coffee, it settled into a nice flowery musk and stayed that way for the rest of the day. I must admit that it did remind of me of a laundry detergent a bit… but I like it.

I don’t mind getting this for myself. It is clean and feminine, I thought this would be perfect for a daytime & spring to summer wear.

The mirrored glass bottle of Narciso Rodriguez Essence turns out to be an adquate physical representation of the fragrance itself on me. For the first two hours, alongside with the clean sweet musk, I get quite a lot of aldehyde, which lends a lot of brightness and vibration to the scent. However, I find the aldehyde overdosed for my taste, which makes the scent reminescent of laundry detergent on me. While the scent does give out a clear vibe, there is also a metallic edge, as if the sunshine reflected from the mirrored bottle, dazzling, almost blinding. Later, the fragrance calms down into the familiar sweet clean musk of this house, with a touch of iris, rose, benzoin, and aldehyde, which never really goes away. I also detect a soupcon of salty note in it.

The sillage is relatively close, the longevity is at least 11 hours. While the drydown is indeed comfy and sensual, the aldehyde blast of the opening is still too much for my taste. I don't doubt that it could suit better to someone else, but I don't think this is a safe fragrance for blind buy. I recommend sampling it first.

I haven't reviewed in a very long while but i'm here cos Narciso has me smitten once again. I have Narciso Rodriguez for Her & I knew how sophisticated it is. Narciso Essence was a must try eventually. So I did. A test pallet & some on my wrist, which is a MUST for me & that's because I want to be absolutly sure that every perfume I own & I wear will wear me & love me too. Gosh 30 minutes later & I was all hooked up by this sister perfume...I just went back to the shop and grabbed one for myself. Since then, we are inseparable. Everytime I wear it, I feel sexy, hot, sensual & sophisticated. I LOVE, LOVE, Looooooovvvve her. I love you NR-Essence!

Caledonianchic77 hit it right on when she said the bottle reminds her of the "liquid metal dude" in Terminator 2 because Wow!....this perfume can morph. The joke is on the bottle. It's your body chemistry (possibly how your chemistry reacts with benzoin that keeps the other notes from evaporating too quickly) that will determine exactly HOW this will morph...that being your "Essence" if you will.

Looking through the reviews, I see references of various perfumes and smells. Perfumes like Light Blue, Ma Dame, White Linen, Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline and smells like citrus-y, cedar-ish, Ariel washing powder, etc.

Well, this is how it morphs on me. When I first spray this on and the rose comes out, this is totally like Chanel no. 5 eau Premiere. My clothes end up smelling like that too. Once the rose starts to fade, it morphs into Estée Lauder's White Linen. In the dry-down, it morphs into Bvlgari Omnia Amethyste. (O_o) [scratches head]. Of course during the 6-7 hours wearing it, I get comments to like, "Oh, you're wearing Chanel no 5", or "White Linen", or "one of the Bvlgari's, I forget which one."

........Uh, nooooo!

Okaaaaayyyy....

So...what is your "Essence"?

This is such a fresh iris mood-booster for everyday wear.

Smells like original Dove body wash!
And yes, it's like Estee Lauder White Linen minus the aldehyde. Sweeter

@ bren400
The Estee Lauder White Linen fragrance doesn't come up if you try to type the word 'Estee' in, as the name has that little accent on the letter 'e' so the system doesn't recognise it. You just have to type in 'Lauder' etc.
(sorry, haven't tried this frag)

Por lo visto no soy la única, sentí el aroma a detergente para la ropa en polvo demasiado; el secado es idéntico al omnia crystalline.

Para mi gusto el omnia es más delicado, y este es tremendamente polvoso y muy llamativo.

To me this smells just like Estee Lauder's White Linen that I ALWAYS detested as a youngin'. I tried adding it to: "Reminds me of" but the fragrance name doesn't come up as a choice, even with writing it out-that's weird. Ol' school hotel soap-PUNGENT!!! Thought that Narciso wouldn't let me down, but he DID this time:-(

This is just so bad on me! I hardly get any floral notes, everything is blanketed by the most awfully strong laundry musks. It actually reached the point where I felt I had put my nose right into a box of soap powder. So disappointing after the gorgeous "for her".

i love to wear this when i'm wearing linen clothing, can't explain why

A straight forward lightly sweetened soapy musk, with no screaming flowers - just the 'essence' of freshly washed skin and nothing more.

And yes.. yes of course, a simpler and more economical option would be to just take a shower which I'll assume most folks here already do. But we all know how quickly that good old 'fresh out of the shower'-shower scent disappears once our hair dries and we're off to work, in whatever funky smog polluted metropolis we live in..

Enter Essence -- shower in a bottle goodness that lasts all day! Kinda makes me want to inhale deeply and sigh contentedly just thinking about it. I like.

Essence is an interesting fragrance... A little bit hard to describe, honestly. I found a bottle at TJ Maxx and had to buy it - too great of a deal for a fragrance that has had me curious for a long time.

First off - IMO Essence is not a casual fragrance. The first impression is a little sharp, not harsh, but strong and a bit metallic. There is something aloof but not condescending about it. As it blends with the skin Essence becomes more powdery and sweet. The rose is fresh and blends really well with the rest of the notes.

Elegant and classy, this is a fragrance to be taken seriously. This could be worn any time of year. I find it perfectly feminine and very pretty. A solid buy. Now I just need to find a place to wear it.. :)

NR Essence = clean sweet soapy iris scent, that's all :)

This EDP smells like pure metal.

As usual - I don`t get the hype.

I liked the citric opening, but dry down was tooooo musky for me, perfume is going to a new home, bye-bye and be nice to a new mom!

On my skin a lighter version of Bvlgari Omnia.

I got a tester of this over a year ago and forgot about it. A few months ago I found it again, and boy am I glad i did! I tried it on my wrist in the evening, and although it took a couple of hours to get used to, I now love the scent of it. It's light, airy, clean and uplifting, perfect for spring, when the promise of summer is in the air, summer, or autumn, when you wish you could have just a few more days of sunshine and another light warm breeze before the cold settles in, or dark winter nights, to remind you of what summer feels like.
I desperately want a bottle of this, and I hope they still have it in store...

It smells soapy and boring to me...Like one of those old soaps you don't like and would never buy...
Plus it feels very innocent and dull to me!...
But respect to all these lovely ladies here liking it. Good for you. :)

Beautiful, sophisticated, feminine, angelic, romantic and sexy in an understated way. This fragrance is versatile you can wear it any time of year for any occasion. It's not loud but it's got presence. It's like a second skin, for the confident woman 25+. My husband's reaction was you smell so good!

Essence, like other fragrances for women by Narciso Rodriguez, is a fragrance centered on musk with tasteful floral accents; however, if you are in love with Narciso Rodriguez for Her and enjoy the come hither, animalic musk, then Essence could be a shock or a disappointment. The musk in Essence is the laundry detergent kind, accented with rose and a light dusting of aldehydes. In fact, this fragrance reminds me of White Linen by Estee Lauder, except it is more accessible to the younger crowd. I’m not interested in smelling like laundry detergent on steroids but, if I wanted my personal fragrance to say “CLEAN” (i.e., my skin as well as my clothing needs to smell like fresh laundry), then I would probably choose this one over the other offerings.

This is my favorite of the house and very nearly my favorite of all time. The musk is lovely and clean -- clean laundry -- but still alluring because it has a very intimate clean skin scent quality to it. It is complimented by the iris and the rose -- these are perfectly blended, one doesn't override the other as often happens in floral blends. Iris is more noticeable at first but then the rose creeps up on you and its such a beautiful rose. A very dewy and fresh rose, not heavy or overwhelming. The balmy nature ensures that it projects well but not so much that your coworkers will complain. The musk is there even in the first whiff and stays all the way through. It's a masterpiece! What heaven must smell like... at least mine!

I need to get me some more of this. It is a lovely take on a rose. I can't stand most full blown rose perfumes and I am not much of a one for florals in general. I think it is modern, it is very clean. For some reason I detect a sort of snobbery among perfumistas for all these clean fragrances descended from L'Air du Temps and White Linen, but to me they are very pleasant to wear, to feel clean and fresh. The musc is yummy. Also, for some reason a lot of blokes have complimented me in this, although I would never have thought it sexy.

A powdery rose with a little musk is what I get from it. A delicious soft smell. I don't know about benzoin because I wouldn't recognise the smell of that ingredient.... It is a very classic yet modern scent. Reminds me of Bvlgari Crystalline but this one is less "perfumy". Like the "For Her" this is not a perfume but an odour that becomes yours.

Clean, fresh, calm scent. Ideal as inoffensive office perfume to add the touch to crispy white elegant shirt.
Love the aldehydes and amazing iris. Similiar in its nature to Prada infusion, however, much more complicated and very long lasting in comparison.

I tested it for10 minutes but i beleive that the rose is too strong here and keeps it away of being unisex. it is powdery and musky but...and this type or rose, like those in Chloe Perfumes, i do not like it at all...will test it again and will see...

Clean, fresh, amazing scent!!!! If you like light, clean, crisp scents, try it! My sister gave me one and I'm in love since!

I smell citrus, powder amd musk, light and refreshing, great for everyday use, was a surprice find, long lasting.

Smells like Dove soap! Love love love!

I love the musky floral scent of this one!! It is lovely and soft, not overwhelming on me at all.

I love the musky floral scent of this one!! It is lovely and soft, not overwhelming on me at all.

I love the musky floral scent of this one!! It is lovely and soft, not overwhelming on me at all.

I loved Essence at first sniff. I had never smelled anything similar to this. Some reviews state that the first notes are citrusy. Well, though I can smell citrus as well, it seems to me that the opening is above all very aldehydic though aldehydes are apparently not in the composition. Yes, a big blast of aldehydes at first!
Combined with roses, iris and musk, it gives the impression of a very clean powdery fragrance. It somehow conjures up delightful memories of my childhood washing powders: clean white sheets drying in a fresh spring breeze carrying multiple scents of the awakening nature...
Essence is not close to skin but with sillage and very long-lasting!
I wouldn't say it's a sexy fragrance but I've been complimented a few times by men. Probably those who like clean scents.
Despite the fact I really love it, I only wear it when I am in a clean and fresh mood. And sprayed on clothes, it's even more wonderful!
Don't over apply this fragrance, it's very tenacious and could bother you in the end!

One spray from a sample vial and Essence exploded all over me and not in a good way. At first it was very citrusy. Looking at the notes listed I don't know where the lime is coming from, but it is strong lime musk on me. I like lime, really like lime a lot actually, and I like musk, just apparently not lime-musk. But, this scent started to fade after 10 minutes and I thought, thank goodness, now on to the good stuff, the floral musk! But, good things were not to be for Essence and I. The next scent to explode all over me was rose rose rose, and not a subtle, complex, real flower, back ground rose like I like, but a loud, fake, cheap bathroom decorative soap kind of a rose. There is still a slight musk scent but it is getting fainter by the minute. I don't smell any violet at all. Nothing but strong cheap soap rose.

Disappointing since I love narciso rodriguez edt, my favorite right now. Essence has given me a monster of a headache. I can actually taste it although I only put one spray on the back of one out stretched hand (I always test new perfumes like this, spraying away from my face as I can be prone to headaches from strong perfumes). I feel as if I sprayed directly into my face the way Essence has invaded my nose and tongue.

Getting into the car for the drive to work was a huge mistake as I feel physically ill now. I can say that when I asked my coworker in the next cube what she thought she couldn't smell a thing from 6 feet away. Since I was actually tasting this one, I thought for sure it was expanding outwards in a noxious cloud. It seems I just have a strange heightened sensitivity and a strong negative reaction to Essence. I have the same strong negative reaction to some of the Kenzo perfumes like Kenzo Summer where I am surrounded by a headache inducing cloud so strong i can taste it. I wonder if they have anything in common . . .

Even the chemical smelling Dial soap in the bathroom is preferable to me than this. I washed three times and put on some Lavender Aloe lotion and i can STILL smell Essence! This stuff has tenacious staying power on me, like glue. Just like Narciso Rodriguez EDT does on me, but in a oh-how-I-love-you kind of way. A pity Essence and I are such a horrible pair.

This is not a perfume that makes a statement. It doesn't shout out loud, it whispers. It doesn't seduce, it just attracts like a magnet. It's like a body scent and the only relationship you can have with this perfume is either you feel the chemistry or you don't. There is no love/hate kind of thing.
On the first sniff it seems to be a light, natural and safe scent. But soon you understand it doesn't smell like something particular. I would name it - scent of a feeling. Not sure which feeling, maybe it even doesn't matter. Simply the nature of this perfume is very ethereal, meditative and sensual. It doesn't force you to be someone or to express certain parts of your personality - it's a tabula rasa, white sheet. I'm happy that this kind of perfumes is present on the market. No need to be a diva, a vamp, a man, a kid...

Longevity is very good.

Love at first sniff. I bought a gift set super-cheap at TJ Maxx. It's very clean, which is what I like in perfumes. Smells very classy but not over the top. I wish there was a tiny bit less rose. This will definitely be a daily scent for me.

Good, I like it. But on my skin it's totally the same as John Richmond's ViVa RocK. Exactly the same! Why pay for a Rodriguez when I can Have the same smell with a Richmond?

Can I really be smelling the same fragrance as everyone else?

Loud! In your face! And LOADED with cedar. I tried to pick out the notes through the cedar and it was difficult.

Rose? Check.
She is there and able to stand up a bit to Mr. C. But she backs down quickly to his overbearing nature.

Iris? Check.
Just enough to get a hint of powdery-ness. Nearly lost in cedars wake. But she is there, too shy to make a real attempt to be noticed.

Musk? Missing in action. I detect no musk.

Benzoin? Nothing.

On me, this frag is nearly nothing but cedar. Out of all the reviews listed here only one says anything about cedar. I bought this un-sniffed based on the great reviews for it here and as soon as I sprayed it on, I knew I was in trouble. Cedar, cedar, cedar, CEDAR!!

I'm bummed but this is a total scrubber on me.

It's just straight scent of washing powder, but it's nice if someone is in that kind of fragrances, like I am. Too bad it's so pricey. But I really like the bottle, little piece of art in my opinion.

Smells like a soap. Clean rose with some freshness.

I think RGR described this perfectly! It smells fresh, like you've just bathed and then you added a bit of musky lotion to your body, very uplifting scent! It kinda almost goes to a baby smell but not quite there, this is baby powder for grown ups! The rose and iris blend in so well. It's another one I call a "soft loud", soft notes but they are loud!

This is gorgeous! Essence reminds me of rain, fresh leaves and warm blankets. Its as if I walked out in the rain, came back home, used soft rose soap in the shower and dried into a softly musk-scented siren.
The florals here are so soft they create a beautiful sense of clean and fresh elegance. Essence is sexy, modern and so tasteful. It is not noisy or busy.
I think this is a minimalistic and chic approach to scents just like the designer himself. I like this a lot.

I first smell soapy musk with slight honeyed amber tones, then I register a flower accord: rose petals, ambiguous white flowers.

The Musk is very clean and pristine. Amber adds warmth and richness. It feels almost precious. Flowers lend romantic appeal.

Overall a classical feeling, soft, romantic, sweet perfume, very feminine. Delicate, Polite. Non intrusive.

clean, powdery, metallic and cool rose... moderate sillage and decent lasting power... nice perfume in a gorgeous bottle

This is only mildly floral on my skin, but rather a soft gentle soapy aquatic musk. This is my go-to calgon-night bedtime scent.

My husband and my son always buy presents for me together does not matter if is our anniversary or Christmas...and both agreed to buy this for me for my today's birhtday (they have a very good taste, that is why I allow that)...The result? I love it! I do not know how long it will last in my skin, (my first application was an hour ago) do not know which are the components because everything is well blended and very delicate, but what I know is that this Essence is wrapping me like a shawl of velvet, and it makes me feel very special, happier and even smarter! Today I also got Chloe and I can not wait to try it...

What I really love about Narciso Rodriguez perfumes is their ability to smell not so perfumie but at the same time smell like pure sex appeal, this is another masterpiece, and it also doesn't hurt that the bottle is pure work of art. Love it!

Edit: The first time I've tried this I thought it was very nice, but then it started to smell to soapy and old lady like, not sexy. The better version of this is musc collection ( the one in silver and black bottle ), that one is much nicer.

this a very nice perfume for me, with excellent longevity on my skin. people around keep aking about its name. it is very seductive and sophisticated. unfortunately it can't be bought here in bosnia.

(from a sample)

I don't really like this...I think it would smell better on a man, honestly. The first whiff of musk is nice and then takes a quick turn towards the rose. Not very subtle. I like notes to overlap, like origami art, not playing clumsy tug-of-war like in Essence.

Sun, and wind, and ground, and light citrus,and the fresh rested smell of human skin..I do not care about rewievs; wearing it, I fell myself sexy and enchanting;)

My favourite perfume ever. It's a lovely, powdery-musky-rose combination which clings to my skin like silk. I feel my own (but a bit better) self when I wear it. I've grown out of White Musk by Body Shop a little bit, so it's my signature scent now. Just perfect.

My husband got a tester of this and some other perfumes for me for a gift. It has decent sillage (two sprays will do ya). I wasn't sure what I smelled at first, but after a while, iris, powder, musk, and a little rose. It's a sophisticated perfume, but I think it works for evening or day time.

Smells heavenly! Extremely pleasant, light soft musk with clean citrussy and floral notes. Besides iris and musk, there have to be some white florals involved there as well. Wearable at any time:)
I find scents by NR pricey, but quite likable and worth a sniff test.

Soapy lemon. I totally get citrus in this, I don't know how some reviewers don't! It's fresh and summery but not special. To me, it's Tide if they made lemon edition, including that fresh warmth of synthetic musks.

Infact with this perfume , I was very effected at the perfumery, maybe its sample bottle was different. but at home I felt it so ordinary like lemon cologne.It smells very soapy and clean , I like, but lasting is so poor.

At the beginning this fragrance is really harsh, almost metallic, similar to Omnia Crsytalline. But later on it turns into a sweet-dry-powdery scent. I can smell the rose,iris and the musk and the benzoin gives it that powdery edge. I think this is a typical fragrance which can changed by the weather. In winter it is too metalic, too harsh, but in summer it is perfect.

Overall: 7/10

This is it! Fresh without citrus. I'm sure this is perfect for hot summer. Eventhough not musky for me, maybe little bit but I can't call it musky.
Lasting all day
sillage is good
Compliments :D
Oh. I don't need to spray a lot! Quickie fragrant that freshing if you wanna get 'just out of shower' feeling. I agree with Elenian, soapy. Peoples around you will think that you have just got a long shower!

Headache-inducing, synthetic-musks-from-hell hairspray like fragrance. Nothing to do with the original Narciso Rodriguez. I had to remove it with a bath after trying to work (or do anything for that matter) while wearing it, and feeling absolutely overwhelmed by these macro-musks, worthy of a harsh laundry detergent, not a perfume. Sorry, Narciso. Try again...

Intense, heavily scented fresh rose petals, and musk. A bit old school, which gets amplified on me. Fills the room with it's projection. Hard to wear for a few hours, then finally mellows into soapy drydown worth sniffing. On the whole, this one feels too concentrated.

Prefer the iridescent version of Essence which seems much, much better. Lighter, airier, and faster getting to the same beautiful, and enchanting drydown.

Smells like clean sheets or a crisp white mens dress shirt. I can imagine wearing this in the summer or spring. Nice and fresh.

It is a very clean smell that lasts and lasts especially if sprayed on clothes. Elegant musk in a very beautiful bottle. I f you are looking for an everyday use clean soapy perfume, this is a must have. For me the only Narciso i can wear.. I think i;ll always have it at my wardrobe.

An ultra-feminine floral powder musk which is remininscent of the Chantilly lotion sold in drugstores in the 70's and 80's.You can tell quality ingredients were used, but the final product is somewhat vulgar, or maybe just dated. Nothing groundbreaking here: a dated scent in a modernized old-style faucet bottle. I can understand the references to perfumed soap, but it's far from fresh. If it were any more concentrated it'd be choking.

nice fresh smell. citrusy and clean. like you just had a shower in Bali. the bottle is nice while you have 30 ml - the biggest version is like a weapon :)

my husband just gave me NR essence for my birthday and i really love it.Usually i go for stronger perfumes like thierry muglier's angel or kenzo jungle,but this is a great alternative.It's a soft,sexy and very ladylike scent,it's exactly the opposite of the above mentioned,but still i loved it at first sniff.ps very long lasting too.

Very soapy, very musky. Although it is has that (laundry like) freshness it is death for sinuses...

it just smells like soap. if you're wanting to smell like soap, this is it!

Smelled very nice, but lasted maybe one hour...

Tried this out of curiosity and loved it from first application.it's clean,soapy,refreshing and well a bit light.

my only concern is that the scent wears off quite quickly even though it does promise to last.I get maximum 5hours of good projection before it fades off into a close skin scent that you have press close to to smell.however, it does last into the next day when sprayed onto clothes.

can be worn anytime of the year imo and wont cause much offence unless u literally immerse urself in it

This actually smells good on guys as well

This is the MOST beautiful fragrance. It's sexy and subtle and the lasting power is wonderful. I also use Stella McCartney Stella rollerball with it for an added punch of musky rose. The combination is gorgeous and gets lots of compliments. I have over 50 perfumes and this one is at the top of my list. I wear it more than any other.

Love it....Very clean and fresh.. It smells like lily of the valley, just like Ralph Lauren Blue...(my favorite)...very musky too...

Smells like lily to me

I adore this perfume and my Bf loves it. every time he kisses me he always complements on the freshness and uniquness of this fragrance :)

Have not worn this one for a while but having sprayed it again today I realise just how much I love it. Rose, amber , iris and musk come together in very lovely way. This one is beautiful.

tried this one today and was HUGELY disappointed. Smelt like baby powder at first, then as it wore off began to smell like gross baby nappies. Has zero staying power and no depth of character. :(

It's clean, elegant, fresh and very femenim.
Just right for the summertime :D.

I bought it in Dubai last week and I have to say that I just love it so much!! It's clean, elegant, fresh and very sexig. My husband loved it and he told me that this is the most nice perfume I've ever got. This is gonna be one of my abolutely favorite one! :-)

I really don't know why, but the opening of this smells just like the fizzy drink 7Up. It is a slightly sweet and airy musk, though it seems to have ozone in there and the rose becomes apparent in the dry down. This was nice enough but not impressive.

lovely fragrance,but it project like for 10 mnts only!

i'm a bit disappointed with this to be honest. i was excited about trying a new morillas and one with iris at that. but all he's done is create another bvlgari omnia crystalline....lovely as that is, it didn't need repeating :( it really is a carbon copy.

Powdery and clean fragrance,suitable for all seasons.

Very clean and musky. Like woman after bathing.

i dont like this fragrance.it smells like a cheap soap.boring and uniteresting.

Essence

First impressions are that the bottle is beautiful. Essene is pretty cheap here in Australia. I dont think its done very well. I got the gift set (50ml bottle and 100ml body lotion) for $59.00. I love the powderiness of Essence. Rose and Iris take center stage and they bloom wonderfully on the skin with a slightly spicy burst but the spiciness is still overpowered by the floral notes. I can understand the clear references to Baby Powder and when it settles down (or even when i press the bottle under my nose) i can smell something similar to baby powder but Essence has the makings of a scent that smells Expensive and very much Unisex to me. Staying power is very good especially when you spray it on your clothes. I could smell it on my footy shirt and shorts the next day.

Very disappointing me! .. All I get is what a plain baby powder ..and smell like kind of cheap baby lotion in my country.. just little creammy spicy powdery not sweet not floral ..nothing change from the top to the base and not intersting scent .. only the stunning bottle to be collected.

I see that many of the reviewers are pretty disappointed with this product. I loved the sample I accidentally came across and I made myself a gift. When the perfume arrived ... I did not like it because of the "soapy" smell. Here is what I did: I mixed the freshness of this scent with Diesel for women unlimited and voila! Try to alternate these two for best effect!

Really don't like this scent. It's very heavy and unremittingly musky with no added interest. I don't detect any of the floral notes. Gorgeous bottle, though!

I just can't help it, I have to buy a bottle soon!
This scent is perfect for summer - clean, crisp, relaxed and fresh. It feels like a white linen shirt worn on a warm but breezy summer day.
I love the iris and musky notes that settle into a light, soft, feminine scent brightened by the wonderful, very natural citrus note (which is not listed in the notes but it's present from the begining till the end.
The sillage is rather light, this is definitely a skin scent but I find the longevity very good.

Nice fragrance but not for me. Clean, uncomplicated, soapy fragrance.

I wasn't fair to you Essence, the first time I tried you....I hated you. I found you soapy and as boring as a dryer sheet.

I tried you again today and realized that your not that bad. I had expected you to live up to 'For Her' and therefore you disappointed me.

However you do remind me of someone. You remind me of Prada Infusion D'Iris without the smokey incense accord. I realized that I don't have to hate you, I just don't need you. You see I have Prada Infusion D'Iris and your just to similar but without the depth.

The Essence is a clean fragrance. To me, it begins like a baby powder or fabric softener. It's shimmering, bright, and clean. It's also amberly sweet and a bit heavy on benzoin but not overbearing. The flowers are well-blended and they are, perhaps, contributed to the Essence's powdery factor. The scent, then, gets creamier and smoother (almost soapy) but still remain powdery from the start to finish. Musk just shows up toward the end, but it will take a long long time before it gets musky. Be prepare because the Essence is in for a long haul. This is my first Narciso Rodriquez experience, and it is interesting. I can see it for a romantic evening or office use, but it's quite expensive. Maybe there is a less expensive option.

Sampled Essence today, it's a loud, bright and sweet perfume comparing with For Her.

Love the sweet iris opening, it is beautiful. The dry down coming with strong white musky note. The lasting power suprise me a lot as the note still strong at the end of the day, should apply less and only on wrist...

Can't forget it for weeks, addictive! Just a bit overpriced...

It reminds very much of my other soapy, clean and very green powdery woody iris perfume:Iris Ukiyoe by Hermessence... the two are in many ways alike to my nose.. Essence being a little less green but the soapyness is quite the same.. a wonderful kind of soapy not the pinching, chemical sort. I was so surprised to smell the sample Of NR Essence..my first thought was:could it be the wrong fragrance in the sample? I am curious if others do detect some similarites in these two.

i tried it today and i liked it...not bad.

I'm sorry but this just smells like cheap dryer sheets or maybe a generic soap on me. I like "clean" scents but this doen'st even smell clean or pretty, or particularly fresh - it's just cheap generic dryer sheets :-(

This is my signature for now. I wear it almost everyday. It opens with a nice flowery smell and then dries down to soapy powdery scent. It stays quite long on me and the bottle is very exclusive. I really love it and will definitely buy it again in near future as a stock!

For the first 20 minutes, all I got was roses. It was nice, but it was just like a lot of other rose fragrances. A bit later, the roses faded and the scent became more musky, creamy and soapy. If you were rating on subtlety, this would be on the polar opposite end from For Her, which before 2014 reformulations was quite loud. If you love For Her as I do, I would not suggest you purchase Essence without testing first. While it's very nice and very pleasant and all of that, it's not magnetic to me in the way that For Her was. This will go on my "Want" list, but it's not going on my "Need" list the way his first fragrance did.

I don't know why, but this fragrance is very relaxing.

This smell like a ultra watery version of Paris by Yves saint Laurent without the green notes.

Essence is a delicate powdery breeze very feminine with beautiful Rose notes. I really think it takes some time to really appreciate this scent.

In my skin smells clean, very refresing ans sofisticated and with a little scent floral.
The oly one negative thing, is that doesnt smell long time, maybe 5-7 hours?
And price, i think thas is quite high.

Essence of what? This is one of those perfumes I can barely smell on my skin. I would have to spray it all over me to detect sómething. And that something reminds me of someone I know, so it's not worth buying for me at least.

Sharp, sticky powdery wood and just awful on me. Not good with my chemistry, apparently.

It has a unique smell, very refreshing, sensual, & sexy!! Can be worn on a male too ;)

Very odd. On me it smelled metallic and slightly powdery. The bottle is lovely and silver shine draws you in but I was left underwhelmed.

I'm not usually one for soapy, clean fragrances, however Essence by Narciso Rodriguez is more than just pleasant, it's lovely.

One reviewer termed this fragrance the 'laundry queen'. While the scent does remind me of crisp, white linen, this scent is not overly sharp, laundry detergent or anything like nose-burning soap.

The floral notes are what balances out this fragrance. The rose and iris notes take on an almost powdery quality which compliments the rich, soapy scent well. Essence is very pure in a way. Innocent, delicate and refreshing.

There is a tiny touch of sweetness towards the drydown which reminds me that Essence is more than just clean sheets swaying in the breeze. This fragrance although not overly complex, is enough to capture me with its musky charm.

The lasting power is very good and the sillage rather average, but certainly not soft, it has a presence. I find this fragrance far more superior than Narciso Rodriguez for Her, which I found disappointing to say the least.

I think it's Benzoin. It smells like some king of stinky medicine against mosquitos.

i smelled this in a boutique - i wouldn;t buy something that smells like this for that price ...there are a lot of others perfumes that are interesting ...not just a baby splash

a pure, sensual and luminous feminine
fragrance three notes enhance the modern
musc: floral, powdery, ambery.

This starts off as a soapy, floral mess but then settles into a nice, warm inviting fragrance. There is musk and I think some bergamot. The initial two hours are unbearable but everything after that is nice. If I could bypass the first two hours, I would buy this.

Narciso voyage took me from warmth and comfort of For Her, to the mirror shining bottle where the essence lays in bed made of steel, where roses wear coat layered with benzoin drops, and smoky distant irises wave their heads in lazy afternoon.

Oh, how beautiful I find its coldness, blurriness and absolute lack of sweet notes. The opening of Essence reminded me of Eau de Premiere, for the smoky roses, silence and benzoin trace. Later Essence grows into fully floral perfume, mild, gentle and casual.

Oh, how delightful I find its unpretentious grace. The essence of the Essence is elegance. I love it.

A non-offensive powdery musk scent, because this scent is mostly about musk. It's a soapy scent but not in a cheap way, though I must admit that it reminds me a bit of hairspray.
In my opinion this is the "light" version of Narciso Rodriguez signature scent.
Very elegant, very safe and very pleasant.

Lasting power: I can hardly smell it after 2 hours!

In 3 words: MUSKY - VOLATILE - ELEGANT

After a while this perfume has the same topnotescent as Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue on me.

For people who likes clean, fresh fragrances and might dislike CLEAN perfumes!

I just love this one!

I bought Marie Claire MAGAZINE yesterday and i found a tester of Essence...;)
This is a very nice, clean, soapy , white Musk perfume! Long lasting, very..."cool"...I like it a lot !
Very MODERN ...and CASUAL... i could weare this tipe of fragrance, dressed with some skiny blue -jeans, Flat black boots , black leather jacket , big dark sunglasses...and a big black purse...a bit rock'n roll style !

The bottle is gorgeous also...!
Essence...fresh and modern ! Now remindes me of BLV tipe !
...Of course it does...the nose behind it it's one of the BLV's Frgrances Alberto Morillas ! ;)

A must try !!!

I bought it in Dubai last week and I have to say that I just love it so much!! It's clean, elegant, fresh and very sexig. My husband loved it and he told me that this is the most nice perfume I've ever got. This is gonna be one of my abolutely favorite one! :-)

It smells like soap to me with a slightly spicy edge. Did not last long at all - vanished from my wrist after about an hour. It did not evoke any feelings in me so personally I just dont find it intriguing..

the absolutely quintessential perfume for me.. light, clean and lovely, the perfect companion on a summer day.. or any day you would like to turn into a summer day :)) definitely give it the thumbs up :))

LOVED IT!!! Remembers me Bizantine with it's powder musk flowery note. A classic reviseted...

I really had a high hope for the "Essence", because I like NR's previous release, and the name "Essence" gives me an impression of a more concentrated form than "for her". So I got a sample, then it turned out to be a huge disappointment!

"Essence" is soapy and clean at first. On me the "clean" aspect goes to its extreme and overwhelme, it reminds me a not so pleasant memory: hospital, those clean aisles with white walls and the air is pervaded with the smell of sodium hypochlorite water especially. The uber clean brings feelings of pale, cold, some metal-zingy... Then faint airy floral note appears and fades, And the whole story of "Essence" ends. Imagine the fragile rose flower undergoes various sterilizing process and loses all its freshness, and beauty, only left a lifeless rose shape. That's really a tragedy! And don't mistake me, I like clean scent (for example, Mugler's Cologne)but not in the way Essence presents. And "Essence" seems overdo it obviously, and turns to be "mysophobia" feeling.

Maybe it's my skin's fault or maybe I can't understand aesthetics of ultimate clean scent in modern perfumery. I just don't get it