Essential by Lacoste Fragrances
Men 2005
Main accords
Description
Essential by Lacoste Fragrances is an aromatic woody fragrance for men. Launched in 2005, this composition was created by Laurent Bruyere. Its olfactive structure unfolds with top notes of bergamot, cassia, tomato leaf, and tangerine orange; a spicy floral heart featuring rose and pepper; and a woody, earthy base of sandalwood and patchouli.
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When to wear it (votes)
- Winter 3.6%
- Spring 41%
- Summer 47%
- Autumn 8.7%
- Day 89%
- Night 11%
Key notes
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Top
bergamot
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Heart
rose
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Base
sandalwood
Community
3,104 votes
- Positive 81%
- Negative 12%
- Neutral 7.5%
The olfactory pyramid
A guide to the opening, heart and lasting trail of the fragrance.
The community speaks
Compare the results and tap an answer to add your vote.
In the collection
Leading answer I own it
7,136 votes
What do you think?
Leading answer Like it
3,104 votes
Season
Choose severalLeading answer Summer
3,291 votes
Time of day
Choose severalLeading answer Day
1,775 votes
Each question has its own vote count. You can choose several seasons.
Fragrance profile
About Essential
Essential by Lacoste Fragrances is an aromatic woody fragrance for men. Launched in 2005, this composition was created by Laurent Bruyere. Its olfactive structure unfolds with top notes of bergamot, cassia, tomato leaf, and tangerine orange; a spicy floral heart featuring rose and pepper; and a woody, earthy base of sandalwood and patchouli.
Fruits, vegetables and nuts Green, herbal and fougère Flowers Spices Woods and mosses
It may remind you of
Ranked by what the community voted.
More from Lacoste Fragrances
Related editions
More from Laurent Bruyere
How it wears
Compare the results and tap an answer to add your vote.
Longevity
Leading answer Moderate
1,481 votes
Sillage
Leading answer Moderate
1,545 votes
Character
Leading answer Traditionally masculine
915 votes
Value perception
Leading answer Fair price
850 votes
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Community reviews
40 reviews
Share what you noticed: opening, drydown, sillage and the moments when it works for you.
One of my first fragrances; I remember it as super fresh, with notes of alcohol and rich beer. Ideal for hot days, though it barely lasts 20 minutes at night.
It was my first perfume, and I remember it with great joy. It’s a clean, masculine scent full of fresh energy. While it’s no longer innovative today, it remains a beauty. Unfortunately, its performance isn’t the best: it lasts four hours on my skin with one hour of projection. Nevertheless, I highly recommend it; it smells delicious.
I preferred it when I was a teenager. I don’t know if the fragrance has changed, but it doesn’t smell the same as it did 15 years ago. Very citrusy and heavy, the kind that can give you a headache.
Probably the worst longevity I’ve experienced in a perfume. It smells lovely—fresh and citrusy with plenty of lemon and a green touch. Excellent for summer and warm weather, but strictly for daytime. I’d recommend buying it because the scent is indeed rich, but the longevity is dreadful and ruins the choice. Don’t expect more than 30 minutes of those acidic notes; that’s all it lasts. Projection and sillage are non-existent. Versatility: 6/10, Scent: 8/10, Complexity: 6/10, Rating: 3/10. If not for the non-existent longevity, it could easily be a very good summer option.
It will always be my favourite perfume by far!!!
Without a doubt, the best of the Lacoste range. Fresh, for daytime use from spring to summer. Very aromatic upon application and good longevity. I’m 60 now, and I still wear it when I go out in jeans.
As the brand advertises: a basic perfume. It’s good taste, suitable for climates between 15 and 35 degrees. While there are many similar perfumes out there, this leaves a different dry down. I recommend it, though it’s always best to test it on your skin first, as pH levels alter the final result.
Another run-of-the-mill perfume. There are better options currently for hot days; it’s quite synthetic with a typical smell, lacking any character. I would never buy it again.
Personally, I detected too much alcohol, to the point where it gave me a headache. I read reviews claiming good projection, but I can only conclude it wasn’t right for my pH.
A good scent for spring and summer, but with very poor longevity.
A discreet masterpiece that lives on your skin. Although it needs reapplication to keep its magic going, the result is exquisite: a perfect balance of sweet citrus, freshly cut grass, and hints of rose and tomato. It is pure freshness, icy even in the height of summer, without being greasy. A little-known gem on social media that sells out in Chile due to its quality and low price. Ideal for intimacy, it blends with your natural scent and leaves your partner with a sweet, unforgettable impression.
I gifted this fragrance to my father, and it is the most delicious men’s perfume I have ever tried. The price is very reasonable, and the scent is spectacular, with a strong presence of tomato and citrus. I will be buying him a second bottle soon.
Perfect for sunny days: fresh, clean, and everyone loves it. It has an incredibly rich rose note, but the cinnamon and citrus prevent it from sounding feminine. It is unique, with excellent longevity and projection. People tell me I smell great as soon as I arrive. Elegant, ideal with a white shirt.
One of the simplest and most delicious fragrances from Lacoste. Fresh yet classy; those citrus notes and that almost fruity greenness of the tomato leaf give it personality. The sandalwood adds creaminess, making it versatile for any weather or occasion. A smart buy given its affordable price. It doesn’t break the mould or surprise with rare ingredients, but its balance makes it enchanting. The first perfume my son gave me, and he didn’t get it wrong.
A friend recommended it to me, and I loved it so much I forgot about it until I saw it again in a shop, drawn by the memory. Unfortunately, this time it didn’t convince me as much: it is fresh and delicious, but it doesn’t last long on the skin (around 3-4 hours), although it persists longer on clothes. My girlfriend adored it and said it smelled great, but I was left unsatisfied. I would use it for casual occasions, running errands, or a barbecue. A good perfume to smell great when you don’t know what to choose, but I think there are better options; I feel the Lacoste Red smells richer. I give it 7.5/10.
No, it is a bad perfume. In fact, it smells very nice and is a pleasant, easy-to-please scent, but I don’t know if it is me or something else, because I find it very similar to the Calvin Klein CK One.
I had it when I was 14 and bought it again now that I am 24; what a treat, it brings back many school memories. My girlfriend, who has also worn it since then, loves it. We are very happy with this scent. It is fresh, citrusy, clean, and perfect for holidays; it has a purely holiday-like smell.
Over the years I have finished several bottles of this Lacoste, and it is undoubtedly one of the most powerful and rich olfactively. On my skin it has lasted almost 9 hours and around 6 in general. It is incredibly long-lasting; its trail is short but always constant. One of my all-time favourites.
Fresh, ideal for summer and daily wear. On my skin it lasts 6 hours with a moderate trail. Not for homophobes, very French. It makes you feel like walking naked down the Champs-Élysées. It is part of my collection.
It was a gift for my sister’s boyfriend, but our brother kept it. Since we discovered its scent, we have loved it so much that we would go to his room to spray it; his girlfriend used it too, and it made the place very enjoyable. Although he is far away, when sprayed it smells throughout the house. I think if you are a teenager or between 20 and 28 years old, it will suit you super well, and women love it, it is delicious. It lasts quite a while on clothes, soaked in.
Smells amazing, looks great too! It has that semi-grassy, fresh vibe with a floral touch that eventually turns musky. On my skin, it lasts about six hours, leaving a soft base of wood, musk, and a citrus note of orange and lemon at the start. I’m still unsure about the tomato note, but the patchouli is noticeable. I picked it up for around $30 back in 2019 and it’s worth it: perfect for daily wear, fresh and masculine, though it doesn’t project beyond a metre. Ideal for temperate or cold climates; I’d recommend it. Quality: 9, Versatility: 8, Value: 9, Scent: 8, Originality: 8, Longevity: 7, Projection: 7. Total: 8/10.
At first, it didn’t quite convince me, but in the end, I see its point. It gives a sense of cleanliness and quality; it smells like a good perfume. It’s fresh, spiced, with a touch of sweetness. I really recommend it.
The Lacoste essence: it’s a simple yet effective formula launched between 2004 and 2005, alongside Lacoste Red, and they’ve become the brand’s references. It smells fresh, citrusy, and sweet from the first spray; it’s not cloying, so it stays fresh. Then the citrus blends with a spiced and herbal touch, patchouli, and a very discreet sandalwood. The citrus and sweet notes dominate: it’s modern, cheerful, and invigorating for the day, perfect for the office without annoying anyone (unless you over-spray). Ideal for spring and summer, especially with an informal or casual style, though it’s not bad in formal settings either. It’s not very evolving, but consistent; the skin fixative isn’t its strong suit, so better on clothes if you don’t sweat. Despite that, it has a reasonable price for 125ml, so you won’t feel weighed down by reapplying. It exudes cleanliness and a positive attitude, great for young and adult men (between 18 and 35). If you want something safe and uncomplicated, Lacoste Essential and Red will hardly disappoint you. Recommended sprays: 7 to 10. Fixative: 7. Sillage: light. Intensity: medium-low.
Ideal for the office. It’s a clean, elegant, and neat scent, like a boss ready to lead mixing in with the team. Sweet citrus opening; I swear it has vanilla even though it’s not listed; bergamot, tangerine, and sandalwood stand out. I think the pepper blends brilliantly with the tomato leaf. It will never be invasive, perfect for air-conditioned environments; five or six sprays are enough.
I’ve been testing it for a few days… it smells sweet, citrusy, and fresh, in that order. The sillage is moderate and on my skin it lasts a maximum of two hours; by three hours there’s no trace left. What is it good for? I think it’s good for being at home or after a shower following sport, especially in spring or summer.
I bought it a few days ago: you need about 10 sprays for it to have a good sillage. The opening is identical to Lacoste Blanc. I’d dare to say Blanc is the new version of Essential in a white bottle. Its opening is critical but it starts to feel a bit sweet; however, it maintains that sharp lemon aroma but it’s not invasive. Unlike Blanc, Essential doesn’t take that creamy floral turn, it stays citrus-floral (linear), a bit sweet but light. It’s a rich aroma for mornings and hot days. If you find it, buy it. Buy blind if you like citrus. Easily unisex. I haven’t noticed if it lingers on clothes.
It starts with an explosion of citrus like bergamot and oranges, mixed with green notes which are probably patchouli and tomato leaves. A few minutes later comes the magic: blackcurrants, also known as casis. It has many stages; in the dry-down I sense the rose and woods with the citrus fruits and that green touch that’s always there. For me, it’s the best Lacoste perfume; by price and quality, it’s one of the best for summer. Simply wonderful.
When it came out, I was looking for a perfume to replace the Op Blend (green) which was no longer sold, and searching by colours, I found this. For me, it’s different from the usual in fresh perfumes: it’s green, slightly citrusy, and spiced. Perhaps its weak point is longevity, but if you apply it well, it lasts about four hours. By its price and note quality, it’s worth it. Citrus opening of tangerine and bergamot; in the dry-down you feel the rose and a bit of mint, along with the patchouli, which I think is what distinguishes Essential from other summer freshers.
There’s not much to say: it’s a green scent without a joke and one I would never use again. It’s not worth it because it doesn’t last long enough on the skin and adds nothing. It’s a cologne, it doesn’t even reach eau de toilette. A disappointment and yet it costs more than 70 euros.
Summer, fresh, and elegant, very 2000s. I remember when I was a teenager and went to Liverpool alone; I came across a scent I liked a lot but didn’t know how to identify (perhaps if I’d known more about notes I would have asked a sales assistant). I recently moved city and lived with an older roomie; one good morning before leaving for work, that smell arrived and I almost had to drag him out of his room to ask him what on earth he smelled like. To my surprise, it was this fragrance! When I moved out, I bought it. Although it’s nothing new, it’s an excellent acquisition: it smells fresh, projects decently, and lasts about seven hours on the skin. 8/10.