Balenciaga will launch Balenciaga Paris L’Essence, a new fragrance for women, in September. L’Essence is a stronger variation on last year’s Balenciaga Paris, “a sequel and a new beginning”.
L’Essence wants to say it all and yet it is a liquid enigma. L’Essence is green.
Deliberately so. The designer chose to play with the rules of perfumery and shake up notions of male and female: “Green fragrances are traditionally male, like eau de cologne. However the key to Balenciaga Paris is violet leaves. I wanted to draw on these almost conflicting inspirations, for women”. L’Essence is green because it is honest and vibrant, like the rustle of crumpled leaves. But L’Essence is green as if it were trying to hide the secret of its nocturnal herb scent…
L’Esssence is impulsive. L’Essence is unambiguous. On the skin, L’Essence is as pure as the searing honesty of short-lived flowers. Violet leaves are like a blast of woodland and their youthful energy stimulates the skin. Violet leaves are unfailingly honest and offer up their exquisite coarseness. Vetiver also takes the upper hand, wild, unruly and incisive… L’Essence engages and dazzles with its modulations. And the secret of the forest asserts itself… L’Essence, is also reminiscent of the mossy scent given off by forests at certain times of day, which emphasises the accent of conifers. It is like the fragrance of leather, but it expresses the intrinsic nobility of the organic world.
L’Essence has a keen, intense scent. L’Essence yields and offers resistance. L’Essence, is also about living…
Balenciaga Paris L’Essence will be available in 30, 50 and 75 ml Eau de Parfum.
(via press release)
Update: see a review of Balenciaga Paris L’Essence.
23 Comments
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Violets & moss? Between that & the fact that I’m already in love with the bottle, I think I’ll be buying this. I enjoy the original on those days when I don’t want something too intense or am indecisive. I’m hoping this lives up to the first’s name.
I really liked the original quite a bit. Looking forward to trying this one…
Smelled it at Neiman’s today. It’s exclusive to Neiman’s and it smells like a lighter version of the original. The bottle is beautiful
“Green fragrances are traditionally male.” Wow. Anyway, looking forward to this one.
I am assuming he meant “green colored juice” — in which case, he’s mostly, although far from entirely, right.
I guess they forgot about Chanel No. 19.
this could be it, I like BP but could love it if they really amplify the vetiver. This is something I’m looking forward to, but, why september, shouldn’t something that green have a summer launch?
If it’s really much stronger, perhaps they thought it more of a fall scent? No idea, launch seasons actually rarely seem to match the juice to me.
The last I was aware, leather IS organic…
This sounds striking. It also sounds like the updated Chloe and this one are neck in neck for dominance before No 19 Poudre hits the US market… I hope they are all good.
Yes, me too. It’s nice to have some major releases to look forward to. The first BP was a bit nothing for me, a but a greener version could be just right. Still, No 19 Poudre is top of my list.
The designer chose to play with the rules of perfumery and shake up notions of Serge Lutens and Not Serge Lutens. Bell jar-shaped fragrances are traditionally Serge Lutens.
(via press release)
…I do love the bottle’s aesthetic. But that press release sucks.
I liked the first one and this sounds like a must-try.
One of the meanings of “essence” is “gasoline”.
Ha! Maybe they’re playing up the “BP” connection?
I have the first BP body cream. I enjoy it soooo much and I’m LOVING this one’s bottle. I can’t WAIT to test this!
I love the original! Another to add to my must try list!
“Mossy scent given off by forests” and “the accent of conifers”, mostly refers to Male fragrances, as quoted, however if presented as a women perfume, hope to see some revolution (OR NOT).
The original didn’t work for me at all, but it sounds like this could. I think greens are my favorite category, at least during the warmer months. (Not that we’re having warmer months atm…) Love the bottle.
I just about broke my brain trying to read that press release (I think it suffers from declarative statement overload) but I’m more than a little excited about the fragrance. I own the original and reach for it very often, and a vetiver enhanced, mossy (and leathery!) version sounds right up my alley. I’m a little confused about the green colour being such a daring statement – the juice in my bottle of BG paris IS a pale green, though I know in pictures of it I’ve seen online, it’s typically light gold. I also love the metallic tweak on the bottle design.
The copy made my eyes cross, but I will try it. Violet leaves are me.
this fragrance is too die for. I love it. yes it reminds u of the summer fragrance but it has a stronger kick to it. I just had to get it on the spot.