Our take
What does Le Parfum Essentiel smell like?
Elie Saab released Le Parfum Essentiel in 2020 with Maïa Lernout at the helm. The reference point is still the 2011 Le Parfum by Francis Kurkdjian, whose honeyed orange blossom built the house's name. This time the structure is a floral chypre. The opening pairs mandarin with orange blossom, cleaner and less sweet than in the older sibling. Gardenia then holds the heart by itself. It brings a creamy, almost waxy texture, like a petal crushed between your fingers. The base changes everything. Cedar and patchouli dry the flower out and give it a straight, slightly strict posture. Where Le Parfum wraps you up, Essentiel goes the distance. The pyramid is short and you can tell. After two hours it is mostly clean patchouli wood. That restraint will suit people who got tired of the original's honey.
When to wear it
A serious floral for the office and for dinners where you don't want to bother the next table. Two sprays on the upper chest.
It belongs to the Floral, Chypre family. Le Parfum Essentiel is one of 11 creations by Elie Saab in our encyclopedia.
