Reviews of Esencia Loewe by Loewe
Get a bottle of Creed Aventus and a bottle of Terre D'Hermes and mix them together. There you go.
Esencia is mostly piney (more sap than needles), but also a bit earthy with some citrusy-soapy flourishes (especially in the opening). I get just a touch mint, as well (likely the geranium).
Esencia lacks some of the refinement of Polo Green; it’s more of a literal coniferous smell than Polo Green’s more abstract interpretation. I prefer the later, but Esencia is nice nonetheless. They’re less brothers than cousins, but I can see why some would make the comparison.
The drydown drifts into “musty” territory for me, like brown needles or an old pine box full of yellowed papers. I presume my (official) sample is the newer formulation (it’s the Eau de Toilette); I don’t really detect patchouli, much less the animatics or oakmoss mentioned in previous reviews.
Performance is good - just a few sprays under my shirt lasts the work day - but I wouldn’t call it powerful. It’s a comfortable wear.
Overall Esencia is a good-but-not-great release for me. The squat, cylindrical 5.1oz bottle can can be found for under $100; if sold for the same price as Polo Green (4oz testers can be found for under $50 at the time of this review), I could see myself buying a bottle. As it stands, the price-to-value ratio puts this at solidly neutral for me.
Esencia lacks some of the refinement of Polo Green; it’s more of a literal coniferous smell than Polo Green’s more abstract interpretation. I prefer the later, but Esencia is nice nonetheless. They’re less brothers than cousins, but I can see why some would make the comparison.
The drydown drifts into “musty” territory for me, like brown needles or an old pine box full of yellowed papers. I presume my (official) sample is the newer formulation (it’s the Eau de Toilette); I don’t really detect patchouli, much less the animatics or oakmoss mentioned in previous reviews.
Performance is good - just a few sprays under my shirt lasts the work day - but I wouldn’t call it powerful. It’s a comfortable wear.
Overall Esencia is a good-but-not-great release for me. The squat, cylindrical 5.1oz bottle can can be found for under $100; if sold for the same price as Polo Green (4oz testers can be found for under $50 at the time of this review), I could see myself buying a bottle. As it stands, the price-to-value ratio puts this at solidly neutral for me.
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All of my favorite reviewers (Varanis, Shabaz, Cologne Cabinet, Speed Racer, and others) have already weighed in on this positively, so I just wanted to speak to the reformulation. I have never tried the OG, but the animalics have been severely curtailed (which I appreciate) in the modern version. While there is plenty of pine, this does not smell at all like Polo to me, though there is a ... tone ... of it. All of the powerful, somewhat bitter, fougeric elements, however, remain, and this transitions several times before it hits its foresty drydown. Great stuff!
This review is based on the latest reformulation. I get very similar vibes to Polo Green, but this fragrance feels slightly heavier. The opening is strong with a violent clash between the green notes and spices. I don't think it was meant to be smelled up close. The drydown is more enjoyable as everything has calmed down, and the notes have had time to blend with each other. However, the soapiness might turn some people off.
While enjoyable, I find it a bit too masculine for my personality. There's more pine than I expected, and that's all I get. Maybe it had more complexity and nuances before it was reformulated. Sometimes I feel like this is totally wearable, and other times, I think it's a bit dated.
I'm going to go against the grain and give it a neutral rating. Maybe this fragrance will grow on me as my tastes change.
While enjoyable, I find it a bit too masculine for my personality. There's more pine than I expected, and that's all I get. Maybe it had more complexity and nuances before it was reformulated. Sometimes I feel like this is totally wearable, and other times, I think it's a bit dated.
I'm going to go against the grain and give it a neutral rating. Maybe this fragrance will grow on me as my tastes change.
I discovered this fantastic fougere a few months ago thanks to Scents of South Jersey on YouTube.
For fans of old-school green fragrances like myself, Esencia is a dumb reach, especially in Spring. The pine tree needles note in this one is just outstanding throughout. It is often compared to Polo Green, Paco Rabanne Pour Homme, and Jaguar For Men, but its dry-down is much more subtle with just the right amount of oakmoss, no soapiness, and dare I say, it's just classier overall.
Masculinity Level: Tom Berenger in Sniper, spending weeks in the forest getting his job done without ever actually getting dirty.
For fans of old-school green fragrances like myself, Esencia is a dumb reach, especially in Spring. The pine tree needles note in this one is just outstanding throughout. It is often compared to Polo Green, Paco Rabanne Pour Homme, and Jaguar For Men, but its dry-down is much more subtle with just the right amount of oakmoss, no soapiness, and dare I say, it's just classier overall.
Masculinity Level: Tom Berenger in Sniper, spending weeks in the forest getting his job done without ever actually getting dirty.
There isn't a ton of information about Esencia Loewe (1988) besides the fact that it hails from an extremely-venerable Spanish leather maker that traces its origins back to 1846. Esencia Loewe is the follow-up to the first Loewe masculine perfume, Loewe para Hombre/Loewe pour Homme (1978), and comes across like your kitchen-sink aromatic/animalic heavy hitter typical of the 1980's. Esencia Loewe tries to step on the toes of several popular fragrances of the day at once, namely Giorgio Beverly Hills for Men (1984), Chanel Antaeus (1981), and Ralph Lauren Polo (1977), which although a holdover from the previous decade, was still a major player. There is a lot going on in Esencia Loewe, and I do mean a lot, plus the scent tries to factor in a bit of the rose/geranium-tinted masculine dandy revival spirit that scents like Salvador Dali pour Homme (1987) and Lord Molyneux by Parfums Molyneux (1988) had. All told, key base notes eventually win the day as it dries down, but on the way there Esencia Loewe can be one Hell of a ride. Staunch fans of 80's powerhouses probably already know what's up with Esencia Loewe, so I'm not saying anything new here for those guys, but for everyone else not worshipping at the Church of Oakmoss, here's your warning shot to steer clear.
For starters, Esencia Loewe comes out of the gate with lots of sour green elements like galbanum and tarragon over bergamot and lemon, with some juniper berry adding a twang of sweetness to it all. The heart is a trainwreck of geranium, rose, and clary sage bombarded by spices and herbs like nutmeg, basil and thyme. The sourness of the opening powers through this middle phase and lends itself well to the transition from dandy floral melange to resinous base materials, a transition that happens fairly quickly as a stiff balsam fir pine note reveals itself. This sticky and sappy pine note becomes the calling card of Esencia Loewe, flanked by a huge plonk of civet and patchouli that recalls Givenchy Gentleman (1974), mulled over by catoreum leather notes, a virile amber, and enough oakmoss to fumagate a roach motel. The vetiver, tonka, and sandalwood are minor players that help rope in all the musky aromas of pine and secretions, allowing trails of the rose and geranium to reappear here and there. Wear time is easily over 10 hours and this will pump out good projection and sillage all day, so go easy on the trigger. Something this dense feels best in fall through early spring, and is not very work-friendly unless your coworkers are open-minded about fragrance. For me, something like this could best be used to enhance a hiking trip in the mountains.
Once the aromatic rollercoaster comes to an end, what Escencia Loewe most resembles is an animalic patchouli fragrance peppered with florals and smacked with a dose of pine, to make you feel like you rolled around on the forest floor. Older perfume guys who've spent time around Esencia Loewe like to compare it to Polo but I think it is less similar to that than it is the aforementioned Givenchy, since the patchouli becomes so prominent late in the wear. This is another one that vintage purists say has been uttery ruined by reformulation, but since my review comes from vintage stock, I can't confirm that but I can say that you should likely suspect the bergamot, oakmoss and animal musks to be dialed back in newer bottles because those are the things that have either been targeted by IFRA for regulation or just are taboo to the modern nose. If you have a collection rife with strong manly 80's smells, this may be a good addition, but if that collection is full of patchouli-heavy perfumes, Esencia Loewe may seem redundant. Likewise, if you tend to sway more towards cleaner smells, wearing Esencia Loewe may feel a tad like summoning Beetlejuice, although for me that would be a point of merit. Esencia Loewe is a very solid, dense, well-executed aromatic powerhouse from a brand that doesn't get much talk for its perfumes. Thumbs up
For starters, Esencia Loewe comes out of the gate with lots of sour green elements like galbanum and tarragon over bergamot and lemon, with some juniper berry adding a twang of sweetness to it all. The heart is a trainwreck of geranium, rose, and clary sage bombarded by spices and herbs like nutmeg, basil and thyme. The sourness of the opening powers through this middle phase and lends itself well to the transition from dandy floral melange to resinous base materials, a transition that happens fairly quickly as a stiff balsam fir pine note reveals itself. This sticky and sappy pine note becomes the calling card of Esencia Loewe, flanked by a huge plonk of civet and patchouli that recalls Givenchy Gentleman (1974), mulled over by catoreum leather notes, a virile amber, and enough oakmoss to fumagate a roach motel. The vetiver, tonka, and sandalwood are minor players that help rope in all the musky aromas of pine and secretions, allowing trails of the rose and geranium to reappear here and there. Wear time is easily over 10 hours and this will pump out good projection and sillage all day, so go easy on the trigger. Something this dense feels best in fall through early spring, and is not very work-friendly unless your coworkers are open-minded about fragrance. For me, something like this could best be used to enhance a hiking trip in the mountains.
Once the aromatic rollercoaster comes to an end, what Escencia Loewe most resembles is an animalic patchouli fragrance peppered with florals and smacked with a dose of pine, to make you feel like you rolled around on the forest floor. Older perfume guys who've spent time around Esencia Loewe like to compare it to Polo but I think it is less similar to that than it is the aforementioned Givenchy, since the patchouli becomes so prominent late in the wear. This is another one that vintage purists say has been uttery ruined by reformulation, but since my review comes from vintage stock, I can't confirm that but I can say that you should likely suspect the bergamot, oakmoss and animal musks to be dialed back in newer bottles because those are the things that have either been targeted by IFRA for regulation or just are taboo to the modern nose. If you have a collection rife with strong manly 80's smells, this may be a good addition, but if that collection is full of patchouli-heavy perfumes, Esencia Loewe may seem redundant. Likewise, if you tend to sway more towards cleaner smells, wearing Esencia Loewe may feel a tad like summoning Beetlejuice, although for me that would be a point of merit. Esencia Loewe is a very solid, dense, well-executed aromatic powerhouse from a brand that doesn't get much talk for its perfumes. Thumbs up
This was a good fragrance and I didn't necessarily mind blind-buying Esencia Pour Homme.It's obviously a green and brown fragrance but I'm going to make this claim.I think Aspen was inspired by this,It's the similar tone,and this preceded Aspen by 1 year.Though wer'e talking two completely different levels of craftsmanship...Aspen is a cheap and more basic version of this.
I get a green body of vetiver,bitter herbs,and a bit of pine.A very light touch of lemon oil and soap though not cutting and more of a mild tone.Minty and cool but through an herbal tweak and not a Cool Water synthetic blast...this minty touch is more natural.This green and minty side softens down as this gains some leather and a berry note.Hard to define the berry exactly other than lightly sweet and warm...gives a rustic appeal to the brown side of Esencia.Even though I like this I'd still call this a casual wear easily.Formal wear? it's possible but you've probably got something more stylish and clean toned to pull off a suit more effectively.
I get a green body of vetiver,bitter herbs,and a bit of pine.A very light touch of lemon oil and soap though not cutting and more of a mild tone.Minty and cool but through an herbal tweak and not a Cool Water synthetic blast...this minty touch is more natural.This green and minty side softens down as this gains some leather and a berry note.Hard to define the berry exactly other than lightly sweet and warm...gives a rustic appeal to the brown side of Esencia.Even though I like this I'd still call this a casual wear easily.Formal wear? it's possible but you've probably got something more stylish and clean toned to pull off a suit more effectively.
Just about a thumbs up.
I remember trying the original years ago when I used to go on holiday to Spain. It was a strong manly green fragrance in the same genre as the original Polo.
Received my sample and I must admit that it's not quite the same. It is similar but it's weaker and a bit watery.Still a good fragrance but not the great ones it used to be.
I remember trying the original years ago when I used to go on holiday to Spain. It was a strong manly green fragrance in the same genre as the original Polo.
Received my sample and I must admit that it's not quite the same. It is similar but it's weaker and a bit watery.Still a good fragrance but not the great ones it used to be.
Thumbs up for Esencia by Loewe. A definite retro feel along the lines of the original Polo Green. I've worn Polo Green since 1983. The reformulation while enjoyable is not nearly as nice as the original was. Esencia brings elements that were in the original Polo Green to the forefront more than the Polo reformulation does. I don't have the expertise to say, but I'm feeling the oakmoss vibe of the old Polo more than I am the pine. But, the pine took time to materialize with Polo and was more in the middle notes. Escensia almost smells like it has some of the "fresh" notes that some of the fragrances that attempt to smell like rain, or clean skin use. I almost wonder if aldehydes have been used to highten the feel of freshness in this fragrance. It feels like it to me. Anyway...this is a nice one and I'm enjoying the nostalgia of it's vibe.
My first spray was overpowering of incense I thought maybe this is no good.
After a few more wearings I'm liking this one 2016 purchase.
Guess it's a green smell and enjoying the incense now.
After a few more wearings I'm liking this one 2016 purchase.
Guess it's a green smell and enjoying the incense now.
Clean and green with a nice drydown, this one has that classic men's fragrance smell but without anything harsh or offensive. I prefer Polo Crest to this but if you're looking for a greener alternative, this should do the trick. Definitely preferred over the current reformulation of Polo Green.
I really want to carry out a longer review of this terrific scent, but that will mean buying a bottle. Until then, I can only back up what some of the previous reviewers have said: a high quality and superbly conceived green fragrance, that is smooth enough in the dry down to make the stronger components, used in many traditional powerhouses, seem tamed to just the right extent.
Late summer 2019: Having bought a bottle - still excellent, but falling short of greatness. The reason, really, is only the strength and projection. This could have been great if it had followed the aromatics-moss-leather progression with more potency. Unfortunately the notes tend to trip over each other and there isn't enough there in the latter stages to truly enjoy. But the path to greatness has been set out. I will easily use the 100ml and then consider a re-purchase. BTW - lovely green glass bottle and leather trim on the cap.
Late summer 2019: Having bought a bottle - still excellent, but falling short of greatness. The reason, really, is only the strength and projection. This could have been great if it had followed the aromatics-moss-leather progression with more potency. Unfortunately the notes tend to trip over each other and there isn't enough there in the latter stages to truly enjoy. But the path to greatness has been set out. I will easily use the 100ml and then consider a re-purchase. BTW - lovely green glass bottle and leather trim on the cap.
Pure class in a bottle. It smells green, rich, sophisticated, and natural. Perhaps the best 'green' fragrance I have ever smelled. Perfect for office and bussiness meetings. More suited for men over 30.
This reminds me of the smell of adult men from my childhood, in their Sunday best, but more shaving cream than aftershave. It doesn't quite match my style. Chanel made Platinum Egoiste to fill this slot in my rotation.
Alas, I don't presently have the knowledge/capability to provide detailed descriptions like other, more experienced members helpfully offer us, but I wanted to offer that a number of people here suggested this one to me because I'm a big fan of Polo "Green", and I'm grateful for the suggestion and that I followed through. By comparison, it's more subtle, yet not only does it still certainly have presence, it... at least on me, it seems to have a nice long drydown that at some point starts to present itself as if it's simply an extension of your own natural scent, not necessarily inconspicuously, but... it has a certain blend of a strong presence and poise/grace. If I may humbly suggest, appreciate it for itself in its own identity, but for those who approach it as I did - a lover of Polo "Green" seeking similar fragrances to enjoy - this is something that's great for when you want to wear Polo "Green" but feel that the settings you'll be in perhaps call for a bit more tact. Don't get me wrong, I certainly reach for it because I just happen to feel like wearing this one on a given day, not simply because of reaching for a substitute. Like I said, enjoy it for its own identity. I just wanted to draw those comparisons. It was suggested to me as "a better version of Polo 'Green'". No. They're... kinda like brothers, maybe even twins - very similar yet each has its own nature.
Pine, basil, oakmoss, leather, lots of green.
It is just like stepping back 40 years to the stonking masculines prevalent then. Shirt collars so wide, you could quite possibly take off with a strong gust of wind.
Gorgeous smooth drydown sets it apart.
It is just like stepping back 40 years to the stonking masculines prevalent then. Shirt collars so wide, you could quite possibly take off with a strong gust of wind.
Gorgeous smooth drydown sets it apart.
Born in the 80's, but its soul lives in the 70's! Huge powerful frag that is awesome if you dig Polo Green, Quorum or other chypre/leather/foguere cousins from the era.
A massive, in your face, rainbow of green wet forest, smoke, and leather. Extremely masculine and present with a projection sillage that may redefine "vapor trail". Put on your flannel, find an axe and splash away!
4 stars.
A massive, in your face, rainbow of green wet forest, smoke, and leather. Extremely masculine and present with a projection sillage that may redefine "vapor trail". Put on your flannel, find an axe and splash away!
4 stars.
Genre: Leather
Notes: Lavender, artemisia, juniper berry, galbanum, geranium, clary sage, pine, basil, oakmoss, fir, leather, tonka bean.
Esencia Loewe is an herbaceous/aromatic leather chypre that shares some DNA with scents like Polo and Aramis 900. An appealingly warm, nutty spiced bergamot top note introduces a heart accord of artemisia, sage, lavender, pine, and leather. The opening spices persist as well, contributing their warmth to the overall olfactory experience. It's potent by contemporary standards, but not overwhelming if applied with moderation. There is considerable sillage that persists for hours before the drydown sets in, at which point Esencia Loewe settles down into a warm, mossy-leathery skin scent.
Esencia Loewe has been compared to the big, brash powerhouse scents of the 1980s, but its heavily aromatic style actually hearkens back a decade to the grand masculine compositions of the 1970s, including not only Polo and Bernard Chant's leather chypres for Aramis, but also spicy fougères like Azzaro pour Homme. Another monumental 70s scent that comes to mind as I wear Esencia de Loewe is Caron's Yatagan. Pine, sage, and artemisia in a leather, pine, and oakmoss context account for the resemblance, but Esencia Loewe does not share Yatagan's boldly animalic castoreum, and so comes off as more restrained and civilized. In fact, if Yatagan is too wild for your comfort, and Polo seems a bit too crude for your taste, Esencia Loewe might be just right.
Notes: Lavender, artemisia, juniper berry, galbanum, geranium, clary sage, pine, basil, oakmoss, fir, leather, tonka bean.
Esencia Loewe is an herbaceous/aromatic leather chypre that shares some DNA with scents like Polo and Aramis 900. An appealingly warm, nutty spiced bergamot top note introduces a heart accord of artemisia, sage, lavender, pine, and leather. The opening spices persist as well, contributing their warmth to the overall olfactory experience. It's potent by contemporary standards, but not overwhelming if applied with moderation. There is considerable sillage that persists for hours before the drydown sets in, at which point Esencia Loewe settles down into a warm, mossy-leathery skin scent.
Esencia Loewe has been compared to the big, brash powerhouse scents of the 1980s, but its heavily aromatic style actually hearkens back a decade to the grand masculine compositions of the 1970s, including not only Polo and Bernard Chant's leather chypres for Aramis, but also spicy fougères like Azzaro pour Homme. Another monumental 70s scent that comes to mind as I wear Esencia de Loewe is Caron's Yatagan. Pine, sage, and artemisia in a leather, pine, and oakmoss context account for the resemblance, but Esencia Loewe does not share Yatagan's boldly animalic castoreum, and so comes off as more restrained and civilized. In fact, if Yatagan is too wild for your comfort, and Polo seems a bit too crude for your taste, Esencia Loewe might be just right.
Candied Lemon Moss
Esencia is excellent in the real sense of the word, as it is pleasing to me on a level which outstripes about 90% of other designer scents I've tried. It comes on a bit too sweet but very quickly pulls back the sugary veil and smooths out into a lemon drops and lavender affair over a bed of musky, deep green moss and a whole lot of tonka. It is nearly impossible to sniff this and mentally tie it to any color outside of the green/yellow spectrum.
If you ever thought you might like Bowling Green if it was less 'friendly grandfather' or Jaguar's flagship scent if that one was less 'pissy humidor,' Esencia might well be your match.
Esencia is excellent in the real sense of the word, as it is pleasing to me on a level which outstripes about 90% of other designer scents I've tried. It comes on a bit too sweet but very quickly pulls back the sugary veil and smooths out into a lemon drops and lavender affair over a bed of musky, deep green moss and a whole lot of tonka. It is nearly impossible to sniff this and mentally tie it to any color outside of the green/yellow spectrum.
If you ever thought you might like Bowling Green if it was less 'friendly grandfather' or Jaguar's flagship scent if that one was less 'pissy humidor,' Esencia might well be your match.
Esencia de Loewe is an aromatic fougere with a plethora of official notes listed. Instead of break that down, I'd rather talk about my perception. When I first smelled this, it was an instant Holy Grail! It begins with a sunny greenness that is fresh and masculine. It retains this masculine greenness until the musky dry down. This is very aromatic as it projects like nothing I've witnessed. It does have that 80's powerhouse sillage, but that is a good thing. Some compare it to Polo Green, but this is much better. Very classic with a modern edge. Its hard to believe this was released in 1988, in that regard. I have smelled this in other compositions and I can see where they must have gotten their inspiration. Overall, a green, fresh, musky, masculine powerhouse. Two big thumbs up as it doesn't get much better for this genre.
extremely pleasent in its long drydown, solid sillage and longevity in the vintage version, the new one was "deoakmossided" so it lacks depth and longevity
Great drydownThe opening it's not very good, but after that, with the drydown, get better, a lot better. It's a old school smell but i think that is acceptable. PROS:- Last a lot and projects well- Not popular- A old school with nice drydown.- A quality fragrance- Elegant CONS:- Someone can think that is grandpa smell- Can be offensive if over apply It's a nice acquisition for a collector or for someone what looking for a good alternative to the formal - old school scents out there. If it's your case, try it. Regards.Pros: Nice formal scentCons: Can be too old school for someone"
It's like walking with a time machine into the past. It's that awful smell that studies used to have, back in the days when people still smoked indoors and rarely opened the windows.
I can imagine that a few people like this kind of a fragrance, but it's definitely not mine.
I can imagine that a few people like this kind of a fragrance, but it's definitely not mine.
This is the shining star for the house of Loewe. Doesn't have the plastic accord that turned me off to many of their fragrances. There's already some great reviews of this and I agree that it's superb. Thumbs up and bottle worthy for anyone that enjoys aromatic classic type fragrances.