Our take
What does 1881 Essentiel smell like?
In 2018 Cerruti went back to the roots of its 1990 masculine with 1881 Essentiel. Perfumer Sonia Constant composed this eau de toilette. The opening relies on bergamot and mandarin. It is clean and slightly bitter with no added sugar. Basil follows with pink pepper. Artemisia brings a green, faintly camphor edge that recalls a garden just after watering. The base is classic. Cedar provides the frame and vetiver adds some earth. A careful dose of oakmoss makes it drier than most modern aromatics. Compared with the original 1881 pour Homme and its heavier lavender, Essentiel feels greener and more minimal. It sits closer to a lighter Terre d'Hermès than to a 1990s fougère. Longevity is average, as is common at this price point. It settles close to the skin after the first hour and never shouts.
When to wear it
An office scent that bothers nobody from spring to autumn. Four sprays on your shirt help it last longer.
It belongs to the Woody, Spicy family. 1881 Essentiel is one of 8 creations by Cerruti in our encyclopedia.
