Essence No. 2 Gardenia

+ 😘 I love this! I'm obsessed! 😘 Like all in the collection, it's well made, elegant, low sillage, and has decent longevity as a skin scent. This is a divine fragrance IF AND ONLY IF you LOVE Gardenia. The first time I sprayed it, I smiled. I smell green (stems & leaves), florals (iris & orris butter, which smells like paper in the best way possible), and sandalwood. I'm failing to smell any jasmine but that's okay with me bc this Gardenia is gorgeous on my skin. This one is fresher than the No. 9 Tuberose, which I'm also obsessed with. These essences are made for layering although they can certainly be worn alone. This Gardenia fits my style because I'm looking for beautiful skin scents that are inoffensive and easy to wear. So I recommend if you're looking for something like that...but experiences and skins vary. Trust your nose and your own skin. EDIT - I smell MUSHROOM of all things in this fragrance and I love it! But how? So interesting! I love it even more now. It's seriously the best gardenia I've ever smelled. Others come close and are beautiful (Olivine, DAME, Van Cleef), but this one just sings to me. EDIT Aug 2020 - All that said...DO NOT BLIND BUY this! It's not for everyone. You really have to love the buttery, papery, mushroomy facets of Gardenia. It's not an easy flower for everyone to love. Don't fall in love with a perfume you haven't smelled. That's a crazy thing to do... Jan2021 - reminds me Tubereuse Vertigineuse by Molinard

I love gardenias in nature, but I don't like gardenia perfumes, often finding them oppressively heavy and buttery. I can only tolerate the scent when it is blended with something else, and it isn't the focal point. Yet true to its name, here gardenia is the main feature, and it is just beautiful. This smells just like the flowers on the gardenia shrubs they sell as annuals at my local nursery. So realistic! The jasmine is not registering with me at all, yet I think is helping to contribute to the composition, giving it a sensuous aspect, yet the overall profile is slightly aquatic, light, airy, and fresh. The wood notes aren't heavy only serving to anchor and accentuate the florals and no doubt contributing to the excellent silage and longevity. I used 3 sprays this morning and late in the afternoon it is still going strong. While I only have a sample now that was included with a recent purchase, I will definitely be getting a full bottle soon. Just love this!

I debated buying this for over three months, and it's finally mine. First, the box and attention to detail is well done. Upon opening you get a small card with the information and a bottle wrapped in tissue paper with a sticker that sealed it. If this isn't there--you know it's been tampered with. It's a simple and elegant bottle with a magnetic cap. Heavy and it feels luxurious. Now on to the scent... My family has an enormous gardenia bush in their yard, so I'm very familiar with their scent when they bloom from June to August. It's intoxicating and ultra feminine. I'd say Francis Kurkdjian did a good job mimicking these flowers. I smell it deeply and then sigh, so you know it's good! He captured their green essence when they're still on the bush and a fresh bloom. It's not too sharp or harsh. It definitely doesn't smell cheap. Well done. This is going to be my go to this summer. Gardenia is my favorite of the white flowers.

My search for the perfect gardenia has ended with Elie Saab Gardenia No. 2 A super natural, soft projecting gardenia that permeates my skin and the clothes that come into contact: I can smell it well into the following day. Drydown is only slightly different with the addition of a little wood that helps ground the scent. I’ve tried at least a dozen houses that claim to be gardenia. Of course, gardenia is a flower that is next to impossible in creating natural, so most use synthetic compounds that usually smell more like a jasmine than any gardenia I’ve ever grown. And there lies the disappointment, the claim that it’s gardenia is usually so far off that it’s not believable. Not only is this the most realistic “made-in-the-lab” gardenia I’ve ever smelled, it can be had for a steal: $52 from Fragrencenet.com

I do love the gardenia scent but wearing it in a fragrance is a very different matter. I cant handle screechy white florals. This is very good. I get the orange blossom with gardenia on the opening. It's rich with a little orange blossom sweetness. I definitely get a bit of indolic jasmine. A bit of skank! It settles to leafy greenery with a touch of gardenia. There is almost a rubberiness. This a unisex scent that is pretty easy to wear and you are not in danger of overwhelming anyone nearby. If you are expecting Madonnas Truth or Dare screechy white floral then you will feel let down. This is an infinitely more wearable white floral softened with wood notes that won't give you a migraine. I get moderate sillage and longevity. I look foward to wearing on warm days.

It is a very literal Gardenia perfume, smells just like the flower. Feels like you are burying your face into the flower except the smell is magnified and enhanced by 1000x (extra zeros for exaggeration). I normally can't smell perfumes after a couple hours, but this one lasts beyond 7 hours. This perfume reminds me closest to Chanel Les Exclusifs Gardenia perfume, both perfumes captured the waxy/milky nature of the flower but Elie Saab is so much louder at a fraction of the cost. Chanel on the other hand is more reserved, slightly sullen, and chic - true to its French brand image. I don't completely agree with the votes for Van Cleef Arpel (I have a full bottle), which in my opinion smells much greener with linden blossoms.

Elie Saab’s Essence No.2 Gardenia is a fan favourite in this genre. Indeed, it is a great designer perfume that is super enjoyable to wear of different occasions. I find it strong and confident, with sharper jasmine and tea notes than the other perfumes, such as VC&A Gardenia Petale or Estee Lauder TG. To my nose it was a strange scent at first that grew more intriguing after several wears. Unique enough to have in your collection if you’re a fan of woody florals.

A beautiful controlled Gardenia. Its almost a soliflore but supported gently with jasmine, sandalwood and a faint sweet wood note in the background. I can say the Gardenia isnt too sharp and the blue cheese nuance is controlled and balanced close to perfection. It never gets uncomfortable. Its solidly a floral so those that want a richer experience, layer with the Ambre from the line. I bought 2 bottles. Its a beautiful delicate Gardenia

@Rosemary14 The drydown of both are on the same powder level (not excessively powdery). I also have and love Gucci Bloom. I just sprayed them side by side. Bloom is sweeter in the opening and more soapy in the drydown than Saab Gardenia, which is more woody, iris/orris, and green. Sometimes Saab Gardenia even smells mushroomy to me depending on the weather. I hope this helps! Definitely try before you buy if you can. Cheers!

Another gorgeous perfume that works great in transitional seasons. I get all the woods and creamy notes when I wear Elie Saab Gardenia in the fall. I was not impressed with this perfume in the summer because it had no performance. But now, at 72F, it's blooming amazingly. Thank goodness I was patient. It's rewarding me handsomely. Also, this perfume has lasted greater than 24 hrs on my clothing and still smells lovely.

very soft and linear, I have to spray 5 spritz to achieve an impact (layering it with almond oil) which makes it much more expensive even though I got the bottle for $66. Still!! But the smell is unique, calming, and very long lasting. A perfectly realistic gardenia. We had a tree in our garden and I remember the imposing smell of its white flowers from my child-hood. I do not regret buying it.

A beautiful creamy creation. I also have J'adore Absolu and yes they could be sisters, but this one is a bit more creamy and a bit less sweet. I don't find this one unisex at all, this is a female fragrance. Totally. Great warm Gardenia, jasmin & Woody mix. Not to its best hot days, but I will wear this almost year around.

Gorgeous gardenia that smells as if it has been spritzed with saltwater and dusted by cedar. Extremely realistic yet it brings out the salty woody aspects in addition to the mushroomy intoxicating power of that little white flower.

Perfect dry woody realistic gardenia for spring. Everyone will love this unless they are nose challenged. 👃🏼❤️

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous, and a must have for any lover of gardenia and white florals. I agree that it is similar to Gardenia Petale, which is breathtaking but just doesn't last at all on my skin. So far, this one has much better staying power. GP is creamier, and this one seems fresher and lighter. I love them both, and will try layering them to see what qualities they can lend one another. I really enjoy the woody notes here, and how they support the gardenia and jasmine. While I can detect the jasmine, it is definitely subordinate to the gardenia. I was curious to see how this compared to the tuberose essence, which I also own, and this one is definitely lighter. I would say that I love both equally, but think this one will wear nice in the heat of the summer. I get nothing indolic here. I don't mind a touch of indole, especially in my jasmine fragrances, but I am glad they are not present here, as the overall impression is one of cleanliness. I think I will really enjoy this after a shower at bedtime. I am considering purchasing others in this series, as my impression is that they are done very well and are of niche quality, but very affordable through Ebay and the discounters. PS - the presentation and bottles from this collection are amazing and a true luxury experience! EDIT 7/4/2020 - Now that the summer is here, I decided to take this baby out to see how she performs in the heat. The results are amazing. This may be the best "true" gardenia perfume I have ever tried, and the warmth really coaxes out the narcotic aspects of the flower. Yes, I know it's not real gardenia, but it is an incredible accord, complete with the subtle earthy mushroom undertone in a real gardenia. It projects much better as well - just a spray on the top of one hand and I can clearly smell it all around me. I put this up as a top 10 fragrance for me, and a top 3 white floral.

This opens with a very true and creamy gardenia. The sweetest part is at the top, and about a half hour in, it transitions to a more indolic, cheesy version of gardenia. It is really nice, as I like experiencing this aspect of the flower. About 1-2 hours in, it has developed its mushroomy facets, bringing a mellow earthiness to this phase. Sillage is low key, which I prefer as I'm a recovering survivor of an over-spraying mother. I have to go easy, and appreciate the naturalism of this scent. I am not getting woodsy so much as earthy with this. It is more true gardenia than Van Cleef & Arpels Gardenia Petale, though that's very pretty as well. I think they could pair well. I find it comforting, creamy, mellow, and fairly unisex. I think the cheese and mushroom aspect might translate to naughty-dirty; depends on your nose. Very well done fragrance and harmonious in that it feels true to nature and the flower; it is not concerned with dolling up a human as it's primary goal. So you get to experience this one for what it is, not use it to project an image. I recommend!

Skin chemistry is such a flukey thing. When I first purchased this (purchased Tuberose at the same time) I was quite pleased though I preferred the tuberose. It was a nice gardenia soliflore and the many facets of the bloom melded together beautifully. I hadn't worn it for quite some time, and when I wore it again, something changed! The perfume had not gone off, but for some reason, my skin was really amplifying a burnt rubber aspect of gardenia! It really turned me off. I am wearing it today and was hoping that the burnt rubber smell would diminish as the perfume developed. Well, I grew impatient! Thinking for a moment, I grabbed my bottle of Aerin Lauder Gardenia Rattan. I always liked it even though I found it strangely lacking in Gardenia given the name. The result was great! The GR tamed the rubber, while the Essence made the Gardenia more front and center. I'm quite pleased and will likely wear them this way going forward. I had to downgrade the Essence to a "like" from a "love" because of the issue, but I definitely love the two combined!

So, so disappointed in this one. It opens sharp and sour, smells like a broken twig which carries the gardenia that has fallen to the ground. I had such high hopes after reading the good reviews that I confidently bought a purse sized spray, hoping against hope that it would be the fresh, clean gardenia that has eluded me thus far in perfumery. It is not that. At all. I am jealous of those who smell the gardenia in this; all I'm getting is that sharp green jab of the broken twig. Why must most gardenia fragrances have that note? Why is it so hard to find one that doesn't? My cheap Elizabeth Taylor Gardenia and Avon Rare Gold come much closer than this. I'm throwing in the towel; I give up. I'm putting this up for swap or even giveaway. More's the pity for me. Sigh.

I have the big bottle of this perfume. It surprises me that a floral perfume is so durable but it is true, measured in time I put it on at 10 in the morning and it was 11 at night and it could still be felt on my skin, already soft, but still you could smell it. Its aroma is as is, without complications, without frills, it smells like gardenia, purely gardenia and as they very well comment, it is the purest and most natural gardenia smell that you can find. I do not feel those woody notes, for me those woods are what help this perfume last a long time. Simply pure scent of gardenia.

As Haddadi below has mentioned, this is a superlative Gardenia in the dry down, the opening can be a little confronting if you’re not sure what to expect. There’s a slight acetone note at the start, but the lush gardenia shines through. I blind bought it, partly due to the high rating in the 2018 Perfume Guide, and tried it this morning for the first time...it’s the middle of winter here, I think this one will bloom beautifully in warmer weather.