Essenza di Zegna

This was my first Zegna fragrance of several I subsequently have acquired. Purchased back in 2010 (at $24 for 50ml!) and went through a whole bottle as my go-to office scent. Hadn’t worn it in a while, recently bought it at a reasonable price online, and it’s just as nice as I remembered. This is quite different from the uplifting, neroli/bergamot-focused offerings I usually gravitate toward. Think more Milanese businessman than laid back Amalfi coast vibe. It starts out as an aromatic sour citrus with a leafy, moist, green feel. Where it goes its own way is the infusion of myrtle and cardamom that wrap it in an herbal and slightly spicy envelope. Reminds me of my beloved Gucci Nobile, but toned down about 70%. Apparently myrtle is found throughout the Mediterranean and has been used in traditional European herbalism so it makes for an interesting but not completely discordant pairing. The overall feeling is somewhat minimalist, a bit austere, but incredibly refined, masculine and intriguing, a true Mediterranean exotic affair. It’s a linear scent, doesn’t evolve much, is not a projection monster nor especially long-lasting, but wow, this is enjoyable.

If 'woody-spicy' is a category or genre, then Essenza di Zegna is firmly anchored in the 'woody-lightly spiced' category. Released in 2003 and an old favourite of mine, Essenza was a fresh, zingy, yet soapy woody accord that was delicately kissed with cardamom. The gentle spices were never overpowering or cloying and the scent never went too far down the citrus route. There is a bergamot note in the opening but it is quite subdued. The dry down is a luscious soapy and powdery vetiver, with some amber and musk. The blend is nicely woven together and therefore not one note stands out above the rest. The overall accord comes across as soapy, but it is easy to wear and smooth (this coming from one that hates powdery notes is a major positive point). The scent lasts a full working day and doesn't tend to go unnoticed. Top marks all round. Just a shame it was discontinued and the asking prices for those few bottles out there is astronomical.

I absolutely love this stuff! I don’t get any kind of aquatic vibe from this at all. It’s really very green and fresh with a hint of fruity sweet & sour thrown into the mix. It’s perfect for daily office use and is extremely unlikely to offend even the most sensitive nose. In my opinion it’s also a versatile scent that can be used for almost any occasion and at any time of the year. As far as the sillage and longevity go, it does stay fairly close to the skin but I use the EDT with the shower gel and after shave balm; so it pretty much lasts the whole day on me. FYI; before I purchased this, I first tried it on paper. It was quite a pungent sharp green with almost no hint of the fruity sweet/sour notes. Then when I tried it on my skin, I got a totally different vibe from it. I guess this one has a lot to do with body chemistry, so a friendly word of warning: try before you buy.

I am a big fan of Essenza di Zegna. Been having it since 2005. Aqua di Parma Colonia intesa IS NOT a dupe. Maybe 70%the same, in the same ballpark, but clearly different!! I DON'T like Colonia intense, it's that different. I still have Essenza di Zegna. A fragrance should be judged after it's purpose. If somebody's after atomic bombs, heavy hitters, oud until your lungs fall down, or after all spices in the world in 1 perfume, it's a shame they judge this. Don't judge a fish for not being able to climb a tree. Essenza di Zegna suits an elegant young, fine dressed man, it's a young gentleman's fragrance. Clean, sexy, rich. After hundreds of fragrances, i can say Essenza is in my top 3! They don't do it like this anymore. I wish they make this masterpiece again!

Mix L'Eau d'Issey and Déclaration 50/50 and you end up somewhere around here. A nice and fresh scent for everyday and office use. Not very long lasting though. Edit: This one has really won me over. Its green and slightly "dirty" note is very original and it's actually quite long lasting if you apply generously. Wore it to work one day and was away from my 10 m2 office for ten minutes. When I returned I was greeted by a gorgeous cloud of EdZ, but I was no longer able to smell it on myself. A sneaky beast for sure. If you want an allround fragrance that is both light, inoffensive and refined you won't go wrong with this.

It is soft. Casually professional. Essenza di Zegna is truly beautiful in my opinion. It is floral and zesty and gives the impression of the CEO or head-honcho that everyone respects and likes. It smells very business-professional, but is not snobby or harsh in nature. Think an unbuttoned blazer at an office without walls or doors: confident, in charge, but comfortable and welcoming. The Myrtle note in this is among my favorite notes I've smelled (among notes like cardamom from LNdL and vetiver from Encre Noire). Too bad it is discontinued. Longevity is an issue so a bottle may not last long with everyday wear.

This is one of the unique and masterpices of Zegna that is unfortonatly discontined for unknown reason, it was and still the best of using myrtle note. I have used this fragrance as signature scent for 7 years, I havent come across something like it, it has a unique magnit for women, I don't know why, the scent is aromatic floral musky with touch of citrus, the domonated notes are Myrtle, Cardamom, and Musk I 2nd afterdark when he said, don't try to compare it to any other fragrance, true, it doesn't comapre to it yet, I might think of reproduce it my self, becuse I really miss it.

This beauty is miles above anything I've ever tried from Miyake. This is bright, green and floral with a musky undertone with the slightest bit of sweetness. It takes a couple of minutes to sort itself out but once it does, its quite heavenly. Works wonders during the spring and summer but can practically be worn anywhere at anytime. I was lucky enough to find a bottle, but now it looks like I'll need to get myself a back up as well.

Essenza di Zegna is simple and irresistible :) It has a very clear note of myrtle, which is just amazing. Herbaceous, green, slightly earthy. A strong note of cardammon adds a lot of character to this masculine composition. The citruses are rather weak, and detectable only in the very beginning. A tiny hint of musk in the very deep background. I love simple scents. This one won me over!

In my humble opinion this one close to Bvlgari Man Extreme in the dray down only,(i Owen both).... my advise for the people who want to buy Bvlgari Man Extreme stop and look to this one specially the price wise. the nose behind both perfume the master mr Alberto Morillas Rank all in all: 3.5

One of my all time favorites. I always expected to get compliments from it. Never did. I guess it’s more of a personal favorite. Loved the way it smelled on myself. It was so unique and different from the mainstream fragrances. I wish I had 5 more bottles. Year round, casual scent.

First smelled it on a guy which I didn't know well and dared to ask the perfume's name. Classic and really unique it became my brother's signature smell for years. No matter what they say it's irreplaceable and absolutely irresistible. Scent of a well-groomed and intelligent man.

Colonia Intensa smells nothing like this. There's no myrrh here, no leather, no benzoin. This one is all myrtle, ambery woods, and musk. The closest thing that resembles this fragrance is AdG Essenza and Trussardi Fresh. Which are unfortunately discontinued as well. Go figure.

This is a nice masculine aromatic citrus/chypre. Top notes are fresh and citrusy, but these quickly give way to something more ponderous and serious. Not a summer perfume, but rather what you'd wear to the office in the fall and winter. Low silage, and not long lasting.

A sublime fragrance that is sadly discontinued. A mixture of citrus,green,spicy and woody notes. This all makes for a fresh,sour aromatic that is superb. Extremely versatile,and easy to wear. Definitely worth a spin if you can find it. Splendid.

How could you discontinue this beautiful masterpiece??? Bring it back...

To my nose, this is a sauna with citrus peels being steamed on the rocks in a room made from the wood of cedar and cypress - very fragrant and delightfully soothing! There is an intriguing steam note found in this fume (and in Mugler's Cologne) that persists from beginning to end and is likely a combination of the myrtle and musk used. There is also just a hint of some woody spiciness that might be radiating from the cardamom - it is truly relaxing and inviting! This fume performs fantastically in the heat or cold (heat brings out the sauna effect much more powerfully) and lasts for at least half the day and works well with sweat (important if you want to hike or go to the gym with it on). Such a shame that they discontinued this as well as there aren't any close alternatives...Well, I hope you all have a zen scent for when life bogs you down! Day 22 - One day Listening to: The Gathering - Sleepy Buildings

This is a very simple absolute men's fragrance! Citrus start at the beginning, which is a short period, but may fresh, woody character ..... as far as the part of the aromatic myrtle plays a very dominant role !! If someone myrtle fan, then by all means purchase the creations found this one! .... this kind of divisive stuff. It fits well with elegant suits and sophisticated style, but there is a "Zegna" product that you would expect! The mirtuszos, woody parts in sync with him. However, the opening of citrus and musk base still said to be typical of a classic commercial phenomenon in the world of perfumes! That is why I began to be very "simple" composition of this perfume! 'Collectors' must-have! Who in turn special gourmand, sensual and unique perfume or the Zegna fragrance can be one that will be more modern and more special composition!

Very nice scent. Its not a light fresh watery scent its more a sour citrus smell . Its similar to Chanel Allure Homme Sport and DKNY Men 2009 when I compare. Moderate sillage and it last 8 hours on my skin. 8.5/10

Simple but classy. Doesn't have a "wow factor" but doesn't really need it. If it only had a bit more projection...

where is the one entitled simply Zegna eau de toilette? I do have this one...

This was a blind buy and a mistake for me. It has some similarity with Acqua Di Gio, that's for sure, but while the last one is light flowery, Essenza is not. Maybe more fruit, and recalls me watermelon a little (as many others aqua scents). I prefer Essenza just because it doesn't have that light flowery smell, but I'm not a fan of both of them. If you like this or that one, maybe you will like both; if you want to try or prefer other kind of "aqua scent", I'm not sure if you will enjoy this. I'm in the last group.

If a lime could urinate it would smell like this

Of the many fragrances I've tried, this is the one that most closely resembles wet, freshly mown grass. It smells natural, moist, and green, with a little bit of a sour citrus note as well. It's not really my style, but it's good for what it is, and if you're looking for a grassy scent, this one does the trick. Projection and longevity are decent, but nothing exceptional. Somebody mentioned Issey Miyake and I agree, they share a similar smell, except that Essenza is quite natural while Issey is markedly synthetic. I'm neutral on this, but it's not bad, and I can see why some people really like it.

This will always be my no 1 "me" scent. Wow. So many people that has complimented me for this one, remember buying this at NK in Stockholm 2004 or something, same evening I passed a bunch of girls which stopped an went like "mm, wow! what a perfume!" haha and been sold ever since. So sad it got discontinued BUT got SO happy that I found Colonia Intensa by Aqua di Parma, it's like 95% Essenza di Zegna but with a little softer twist, but it's Zegna all day all night. Guys, order AdP Colonia Intensa and you will be forever happy Essenza lives through it! <3

"Out Of The Contemporary Box" *** My favorite Italian brand for clothes is Ermenegildo Zegna; so I purchased years ago a bottle of Z, which I like so much that it was the perfume I chose for a mediterranean cruise. Now I finally tested the discontinued Essenza: and yes, it was another excellent masculine, elegant, simultaneously simple and different, and, above all, a take out of the box of the common stuff men like to wear nowadays. I can understand why it is out of production. Too often, men with money does not mean men with good taste.

This perfume is all about myrtle! Myrtle was used in Greek rituals to please the godess of love Aphrodite.It was associated with the idea of love and prosperity. Also with Adam, when cast out from paradise. It is said that he took a bunch of myrtle, his remaining connection to the divine. Myrtle has a deep green floral note that composes its seriousness and divinity. A lightful citrus with a hint of motherly protectve floral scent that invokes protection, the smell from paradise.

This is cooling, simple and light scented fragrance for a man that feel like wearing a thin and fresh fragrance for a sunny day. It's appeared to be a type of mature & fresh scent with the opening of citrusy with hints of floral. Dry down that is musky woody, last 4 hours on me and silliage is normal as it is light scented and stay close to your skin. Great for outdoor or summer. I will give 6/10 for this.

Essenza di Zegna is nothing really special. It doesent smell bad, but it is nothing more than ok. It was a blind buy, and its nice to have it in my collection, but I will not purchase it again. To be honest, I dont think I'll ever finish my 50ml bottle. There is just so many better frags in my arsenal. Longevity and sillage is below average, on my skin at least... Rating: 6.5/10

True masterpiece.Was my fav...so complexe smell...so good quality...so sad when it was discontinued...can't find something similar enough....Bvlgari Man Extreme is a bit close but so far as longevity...the closest i found is L'eau d'Issey and L'eau d'Issey Blue

Classy unique sophistication in a bottle.. Sexy, fresh, gentle and blended to perfection.. How could they discontinue this masterpiece!!

This fragrance is so... sunny! I live in Poland and now we have rather bad weather here. For me EdZ is just a sun in a bottle.

Super masculine and aromatic. My man's scent, and its absolutely phantastic. I am surprised it's not really that well known.

Very musculine, fresh woody fragrance, I really like this smell, and it's long lasting.

I have a bottle of essenza di Zegna eau de toilette intense if anyone is interested !

Smells like it's step brother, Zegna Extreme. A bit more sweet, aromatic maybe.

I wish it was still available... any suggestions as to an alternative... 10/10

Very similar to Issey Myake pour Homme, very good longevity.

phantastic very mediterranean fresh and expressive scent

The myrtle note in this frag is just WOW!!!