Classique Essence de Parfum

An absolutely beautiful perfume from Jean Paul Gaultier (JPG). This is such a gorgeous scent. It's orange blossom-dominant which is one of my absolute favourite fragrances, and just a few sprays on different pulse points goes a long way indeed. The sillage is excellent, radiating out at least 4-5 feet from the body if not more, so a little goes a long way. The divine fragrance also lasts for between 5-6 hours, if not longer, with the scent lingering on the clothes one has worn. This is a perfume which will turn heads, and it's a divine fragrance that, just by spritzing it on your skin, will uplift your mood, and envelop you in a feeling that you're floating on cloud Nine! I'd been eagerly awaiting its arrival by post this morning, and have definitely been rewarded with a heavenly fragrance. As soon as it was opened and I sprayed upon pulse points, the scent was a sweet, spicy, syrupy honey-like ginger ale. It was very heavy and dense and yet the sweetness was in no way cloying or too much. There's a honey-like texture, almost caramel. Intriguingly, it's somehow both thick and sparkling and bright all at the same time! The ginger is well balanced by the orange blossom and the aldehydes which alone carry a vanilla-like scent. The vanilla lets one know it's a Classique but the Essence is more vanilla-based and spicy with the most gorgeous orange blossom, along with actual whipped cream, honey, almonds and some beginning notes of jasmine as the heart notes slowly begin to appear. The heart notes became evident as creamy white florals appearing on my skin and there's the beautiful floral notes of jasmine and orange blossom. The orange blossom is definitely more noticeable which is one of my favourite scents amidst this gorgeous swirl of aromas. I thought there was a hint of tuberose but that's not part of the official list of notes so maybe it's the mix of benzoin with tangerine? The florals are full and rich but never cloying, and they're sweet and slightly powdery. Also in the mid range, there's a wonderful and very creamy texture. In the notes, whipped cream is listed and this gives us whipped cream with very sweet vanilla, orange blossom, and other beautiful floral notes. There's also benzoin which gives a honey-like, syrupy, caramel-like texture. And one can still smell the yummy ginger spice! This beautiful perfume is an orange-blossom heavy floral, with spicy oriental gourmand - quite literally with vanilla and whipped cream on top! The dry-down of the perfume is extremely smooth. It smells quite similar to the mid notes on my skin. As mentioned earlier, it's quite long-lasting, easy to wear and an incredibly sexy and sophisticated perfume. It's reminiscent of Alien Essence Absolute by Thierry Mugler in the sense that just as the former feels so rich, deep, dark, thick and heavy, so does one get that feeling here. So, if you like Mugler's Alien Essence Absolute, you'll very likely love this perfume as well. In the dry down, it's still very sweet and creamy. There's notes of musk and a type of juniper called cade wood which provides even more sensuality. The scent of spicy white florals sits atop a woody base that comes very deep in the dry down. This is definitely my favourite perfume not just in the Classique line, but from Jean-Paul Gaultier. I just discovered that there's a Classique shower gel and a moisturising body lotion, so those wishing to layer the scent can definitely do so. I definitely intend to purchase the gel and the lotion in the future. However, the perfume alone is quite powerful, and a little truly does go a long way. If you're looking for a sweet, syrupy-like floriental gourmand perfume that's extremely easy to wear and which will delight the senses of others around you, then this fragrance is for you. It's an absolutely divine perfume, and I've had so many compliments from strangers who've wished to know the name of the perfume. It's suitable for any time of the day and any season although I do believe it's likely at its best during the cooler months and in the evenings. JPG's Classique Essence EDP is a sophisticated, sensual, sexy, absolutely feminine perfume that will leave you feeling like a goddess as soon as you spray it on. If you're in need of a 'pick me up', this fragrance will boost your mood and your confidence. It will attract attention, in a good way, so be prepared for people to stop and ask you if you'd let them know what perfume you're wearing!

Classique Essence de Parfum was a limited release. I am grateful I was able to find an authentic bottle after it had been discontinued. I made my purchase in 2019. Like the review below, I was unsure about it at first, but I quickly came to realize this is a top tier perfume. It deserves to be a permanent fixture in Jean Paul Gaultier's line. Every JPG fragrance is a hit but this one is my favorite. It has the perfect sillage and it is long lasting. Everyone in my life has complimented my scent when I wear it. I often spray it on before going to bed and it's still there when I wake up. The choice of notes creates a balanced scent that can be worn day or night. The prominence of each note can change depending on the season and climate. When worn in springtime, ginger and tangerine pop, with whipped cream and benzoin taking over after a couple hours. Orange blossom and jasmine, as well as amber, are more noticeable during cold weather. Sweeter notes are more detectable when this is paired with the right lotion or shower gel. Given that I live in California, I avoid wearing this during the extreme heat of summer, when this fragrance becomes entirely too cloying. I much prefer wearing it during the fall/winter period. I typically avoid perfumes with any spicy notes, but the ginger in this one is not overwhelming to me. I also love that the vanilla is subtle, unlike some of the nausea inducing gourmands of today. I have compared this to the new Valentino Voce Viva, which is not bad, but I much prefer Classique Essence de Parfum. Voce Viva allows bergamot to take over, and although I do enjoy oakmoss when formulated correctly, it does not blend well. When compared to any version of Alien, well, Alien abducts and violates you, while all JPG fragrances embrace you in varying degrees. Classique Essence de Parfum is different from most other JPG perfumes in the way she presents a playful yet experienced sensuality. This is in contrast to the original Classique, which projects a darker yet entrancing vibe, like a mistress awaiting her lover in her opium den. I love both but the former feels more like me. I think it's safe to say this has knocked YSL Mon Paris out of its long held status as my signature fragrance.

The Essence de Parfum is probably my favourite of the Classique line. To me, this fragrance is orange blossom surrounded by a cloud of ginger spiced, vanilla cream. It opens with juicy orange and spicy ginger. The aldehydes give the opening an airy sparkliness to this otherwise rich, warm fragrance. The dominant note throughout the fragrance is orange blossom as it is throughout most of the Classique line. As the fragrance dries down, the aldehydes and orange fade away. I have never tried wearing this in really warm weather, it is such a warm, cozy fragrance I am never really inspired to wear it in the summer. Come fall though, this fragrance is one of the first I reach for. I find this very feminine and I think women of any age would enjoy it. I don't find it particularly youthful or mature. I wear this day and night, but it is a bit sexy, so it would make a great date night fragrance. The performance is supurb. It has strong, but not overpowering projection. It reaches well beyond arms length and leaves a beautiful trail. It easily last 10-12 hours and projects most of that time. It lasts on clothes until they are washed. This is one of the fragrances I love to get on my scarves. This fragrance does have a bit of similarity to the also loved and discontinued Alien Essence Absolu. If you swap the Alien DNA out for the Classique DNA you pretty much have the Classique Essence de Parfum. The bottle is quite beautiful. I like the sharp angles even better than the smooth curves of most of the Classique line. The atomizer sprayes a generous even mist. I just wish these bottles cap with a simple little cap for the atomized. I always feel like the Classique bottles look unfinished with the exposed atomizer.

I was randomly thinking about this perfume right... I go on fragrancenet, and they just so happen to have one bottle left of it. $45. I've been wanting this for a while so I feel like I lucked up so hard! Anyway, about the actual fragrance. So, I have the EDP version of Classique, it is one of my favorite scents. So feminine, powdery, boozy... It really is a gorgeous fragrance. This? This kicks it up a notch. And when I say a notch, I mean a NOTCH! Honestly when I first sprayed it on, it made me a little nauseated... It's so sweet. However, the tangerine and aldehydes cut through the top a little bit, and kind of have this fizzy effect... Almost like a root beer float. The dry down of this makes it worth it. Very warm, gingery whipped cream. Also, this fragrance is a beast. I sprayed one spray on my arm. Its VERY strong. Also, I would not recommend this for warm weather, as I could see it would get extremely cloying very fast. Definitely a nighttime fragrance as well. This is very classy... It smells slightly old-fashioned (the aldehydes on top are probably the culprit but they are VERY well done), but it doesn't smell vintage or dated. I feel like my grandmother would really like this, I might decant a little bit of it for her and send it to her. This is a very deep, and rich fragrance...smells like what someone with money would wear. Definitely a welcome expansion onto my classique collection... Hoping for the EDT next. Edit: the more I wear it the more I love it. Honestly, this is probably one of the nicest scents I own. And I get so many compliments on it, especially from men. Definitely a winner.

Divine!!! Deep orange blossom on a bed of rich, resinous, woody, and vanillic notes. I can't believe I am the first person to vote on the presence of benzoin, because for me benzoin is very prominent, along with vanilla, and of course orange blossom. It makes me think of a cross between YSL Cinema and Roberto Cavalli edp 2012. Longevity is very impressive on my skin. With one spritz shared between both wrists, it has been 5.5 hours and it is still going strong. Sillage was also very impressive off one spritz, it left a strong trail, especially for the first couple hours. So, it could be cloying for those who are not seeking this type of syrupy resinous floral-oriental! I wouldn't call it office friendly, because it invades space and stays in the air. For me, this is the kind of scent that evokes images of luxury, wealth, and a relaxed attitude toward indulgences. I love it because it takes part of my mind into a fantasy space. Not the kind of scent you can forget you are wearing while going about your business!! It will continuously remind you it is there. Update: I reapplied this after my shower tonight, so I could do a full-body wearing of it. (I like to mix my perfume into my unscented lotion, and in addition spritz my wrists and torso, so I can really feel surrounded by my perfume.). I will say that, worn this way, more diffuse, but also more of it in general, it feels like a honeyed tropical floral and the whipped cream note is more noticeable. I can feel the resemblance to Roberto Cavalli Essenza now!

I had purchased a 12 pack of sample cards last year on EBay and deeply regretted because of my initial impression of essence. I thought it was way to spicy and strong. This was not my taste. So I tossed it in the back of my closet and forgot about it for almost a year and just found the 12 pack. Well I have been testing this scent out for a couple of days and I have to say, my opinions have changed. I am actually liking it. It’s not a love but I appreciate its uniqueness. It’s very pretty! I am a perfume collector so I like to have different options in my rotation. This opens up like orange soda, very sweet orangey effervescence! Never cloying. Then the orange blossom comes through and stays throughout with vanilla. But guys, what a chameleon of a fragrance! I sprayed this in the air and walked through it and lasted me the whole day! But even after 8 hours, when I get whiffs of it, I’m getting different notes here and there, sometimes i get jasmine, or ginger and then sometimes it’s the whipped cream or the orange blossom. It’s always changing. I don’t pick up any woodsy notes. I’m so glad I didn’t give these sample cards away. I will use these up then hopefully buy a bottle of this. Update: yep this is a complete love now. I adore this fragrance. I went ahead and bought a 1.7 oz bottle and I regret not getting the biggest one. I feel like I’m going to go through this bottle so fast. It’s so sexy, feminine and unique to my nose but I also feel classy at the same time. This ones a keeper !

This is a lovely perfume, and it really makes me feel relaxed. I get mostly white flowers, but with woods and cashmere floating in the distance. I really don't get a strong smell of ginger, but there is a "zing" to it, if that makes sense. Every so often creamy, orange-y, vanilla will waft up to my nose and I just stop and savour it. I think this is my peaceful "I am OK just the way I am" kind of scent. After a long day at work, it's nice to come home, spray myself with this, and just unwind. And, as an added bonus, every time I have worn it, my husband has commented "mmmmmmm, you smell good!!". So, that makes me feel really good too! The rating I would give it (based on scent, longevity, originality, quality/price, versatility, and likelihood of me repurchasing it) would be 88.7/100. UPDATE: When I spray this on the back of my hand, it can honestly last for 24 hours, even through Covid-level handwashing. It's such quality juice! [Very easy to over-apply though, so try to stick to one or two sprays!] I recently blind-bought "Olympéa Aqua Eau de Parfum Légère", and I am amazed how very similar they smell. However, the longevity is only about six hours with the Paco Rabanne, and it's not as 'luxe' as a smell, if you know what I mean--it just doesn't have the same 'je ne sais pas'. However, if you can find the 50mL for $20 like I did, it's definitely a decent stand-in for the Jean Paul Gaultier.

Completely agree with @duckiescents! This is very much an 80s white floral, with tweaks to suit today's palette! To me - this is a beachy white floral akin to the likes of Guerlain Terracotta, with a prominent Orange Blossom note, in lieu of jasmine. Although Jasmine is included int his composition, it is the orange blossom note that takes the center stage. Smells almost like an orange vanilla icecream, with coconut! It's so potent and oily! It is unbelievable! It is wearable in summer, if you have self control and spray just two measley sprays behind each ear. If you go overboard, you will be laying dead in the hot sun, knocked out by the power of this stuff. In the winter time - feel free to go heavy handed! But man oh man, what a phenomenal fragrance this is. If they amped up the coconutty vibe, and made it more detectable, amped up the aldehydes giving that AMAZING fresh feeling and then re-packaged this in a niche bottle - people will be queueing up to pay $200+ easily! If you have not tried this, the closest thing to it is Classique Intense, but I could not get along with the strong Tiare note in the Intense. The next best alternative is Guerlain Terracotta (also bloody hard to find nowadays) but that doesn't even have a hair of the performance of this beast. Gorgeous gorgeous gorrrrgeous !

Beautiful and alluring. I'd say it's a good blind buy for someone who likes white florals, or gourmands with just a little spicy/woody. The projection is good at first, someone will definitely pick up the scent in a room you've just exited. seems like it will leave a trail. Not sure how the sillage holds up hours later, though. But it's still on my neck 8 hours later and people who are pretty close to my body (e.g. hugging), can smell it. Edit: was still on my neck after sleeping overnight! This smells delicious, very warm and sweet but not in an overly gourmand way like La Vie Est Belle. It's soft but there is a little bit of an edge. My mother used to wear the original JPG and I hated it, it was weird and kinda soapy and mature? This is way better. I'm getting a lot of Paco Rabanne Olympea Intense vibes from this - very similar but this I like better. it smells a little fancier than Olympea. I can detect the orange blossom, and ginger. This isn't 'young' or 'mature' to me, it's somewhere in between, and I would wear this in formal/evening settings as well as every day. To the people who say it's like Alien - yes but it's not as powdery, this just smells fancy and delicious. I think Alien sucks. But JPG Classique Essence is amazing.

I personally do not like designer perfumes due to their mass appealing. However, there is always an exceptional. Boy! How do I fall into this seductive and it makes me always on the cloud nine? It opens with a sharp sweet scent with a subtle of honey to warm up. However, it keeps lingering to my skin for the anonymous flower scent. Sometimes it smells as if a covered sugar rose with a synthetic jasmine scent. But the ginger & aldehyde play such a strong instrumental to keep this perfume alive and sparkling. It is a really well-blended fragrance. I am personally an addicted person to Aldehyde perfumes, this perfume does not make me disappointed. This is not too young or too mature to wear. It is just right! (please do not categorize this perfume as gourmand perfume!!!). This fragrance is not too sweet to avoid, it is indeed not a weak of heart perfume. It is in the between of a classy character with a clear expression how confidence you can be. The performance is also a beast. It stays on my clothes for more than 12 hours. It is humble on my skin for 7 - 8 hours but the silage/projection is out of this world. People keeps telling me how great I smell to them. Uniqueness: 4/5 Silage: 4/5 Longevity: 5/5

If you love sweet orange blossom, this is really nice. If you want at least moderate longevity and projection, Classique Essence de Parfum is your girl. I adore sweet orange blossom scents. I’ve had just about all of them. I have/had Kilian Sweet Redemption, Kilian Love don’t be shy, Memo Sintra, Elie Saab, YSL Atlas Garden, SL Fleur d’Oranger, L’Artisan Seville l’Aube, Parle Moi Guimauve de Noel, Nobile 1942 Perdizione and probably 12 more I’m not thinking of (!!). JPG Classique Essence de Parfum is worthy of your time if you are still looking for a sweet orange blossom floriental with a little aromatic touch. I don’t get anything specifically like vanilla or whipped cream, just a general sweetness. This is definitely designer and not niche level (by that I mean it seems synthetic not natural), but it’s a lovely perfume with presence that will be noticed. This leans more floral on me and not particularly gourmand but it is sweet and has a bit of a zesty zing from what seems like ginger. I really like this and especially for its excellent longevity and sillage. 10/10 PS struggling not to buy several back-ups

Hello 👋🏻 lovelies - if you want to see more on this fragrance - men’s reactions - compliments etc I’ve added it to my Instagram- MariaMyro However summary: Opening is strong the aldehydes & Tangerine 🍊-wow SUPER punch 1 hour later I get the Mid Dry down: starts to get an acidic floral blended intelligently bc they have used orange blossom and jasmine to tame the acidity yet yield it to the next direction which is the dry down 1 hour later once the alcohol evaporates and the oils start reacting with your skins natural oil ( Tip :on clothes it will last longer and it won’t change as much as in your skin ie wear in bra or sleeve or collar 🙂🥰) Dry down: becomes this deep sweet boozy, aromatic creamy Masterpiece that will be addictive and is Pure Female. Scores: Unique: 7.5/10 Compliments 7.9/10 Season: winter ❄️ Silage:8/10 Opening 6/10 Dry down:7.9/10 Value for $$/must Have in collection 9/10 If sweet boozy creamy fragrances like Cinema YSL or Olympea by PR are up your alley go for the blind buy.. if not test it out first. I’m really glad I bought it!! Hope this helps Happy fragrances hunting Lovelies xox

This parfume is very rich and unique! Someone in comments below wrote "its for mature woman which is older then 40 years old"..NO, no way! It is for woman 25+, for type of woman that opened her feminity and sexuality well. This perfume is very sexy and seductive for the woman that feels she is a woman..a hot woman and a little bit spicy woman, not just sleepy kitty on the couch, here its a panther.:) This perfume has not much to do with Roberto Cavalli (as other comments say). There is only very slight similarity between those perfumes..its in base vanilla, benzoin and in the middle notes- orange blossom...BUT..Jean Paul Gaultier made vanilla more dominant. It starts smoothly and flowery a way sweeter and lighter then Roberto Cavalli (which starts quite roughly and beats up the nose). Classique Essence of JPG - lasts up to 15-20 hours on my skin, on clothes 2 days or more. Vanilla notes are very natural here- feeling of real extract of vanilla, reminded me one of my favourite perfumes of Dolce and Gabbana "Pour femme"-also a good quality vanilla there.

I have a love-hate relationship with the original Classique's (EDP and EDT). In fact, I think the summer of 2016 was the only time I was able to use the EDT (with great success). After that it never smelled good on me again. However, in my search for perfumes that smelled like beach and summer, I read a recommendation about Classique Intense, which led me to a review about Classique Essence, and I was tempted. Honestly, I think it's the most exquisite perfume I've smelled in recent times. It is indeed a scent that generates immediate happiness. It feels like floating in a cloud of cream gently scented with vanilla and orange. It is extremely delicate and feminine. It is nothing like the original ones. The sillage is perfect, and the longevity is great. It's in fact very similar to Classique Intense, but the latter has a much rougher note because of the patchouli (it smells a little more "dirty" in the best sense). On the contrary, Essence smells clean, perfectly immaculate, ethereal. I fell in love.

Magic in a bottle. Warm, smooth, creamy... The tangerine is delicious mixed with the chantilly cream. Opening spray is a warm soapy mix of orange blossom and ginger, making it a spicy interesting scent, but this fades on me pretty quickly. Jasmine pops up for a fleeting moment, adding some floral dynamics, before settling down on my skin into a stunning close vanilla and woodsy scent. The presentation is divine. I love the angular bottle and the rich deep orange coloured juice. I will probably use sparingly until Autumn. I can imagine wearing this with a beige mac, heeled booties and my beloved Burberry scarf, sophisticated, classy, warm and cosy.... I know I won't reach for this often, but I don't think I need to. This one is special and too beautiful to be used for every day chores. I love it and can't wait for the cooler weather now to really test Classique Essence out when the leaves start to change...

I think I found one of the last remaining reasonably priced bottles of Classique Essence de Parfum in Italy. This is a dreamy, sweetened, elegant orange blossom scent with a twist of ginger. I'm not a fan of sweet fragrances in general and especially sweet floral fragrances with patchouli, so I really appreciate that the perfumer opted for ginger instead. (Though I do actually like patchouli.) I love everything about this fragrance from start to finish–the zingy opening to the soft, sweet, creamy, and romantic dry down with a delicate drizzle of syrup. It lasts forever too. Classique Essence de Parfum is a sweet floral done right. It's simply sublime. I'm so happy to have added this beautiful fragrance to my collection. Shame it's been discontinued. Update: This perfume literally gives me chills when I smell it. BIG love. Tracked down a 30ml backup because I don't want to live without this. EVER.

Classique Essence evokes a confident, sophisticated woman moving through a lush garden at dusk - graceful, radiant, and effortlessly sensual. The opening is soft and luminous, with sweet orange blossom and ripe pear creating a warm, airy glow, gently wrapped in hints of vanilla and jasmine. It feels like the last golden light of evening fading into something deeper and more intimate. As it settles, the fragrance becomes smoother and more comforting. Creamy sandalwood and soft musk emerge, adding a subtle warmth, like a velvet shawl or cashmere against the skin - grounding the sweetness without overpowering it. Compared to the original Classique, this feels more refined and less sugary, with a smoother, more mature edge. Elegant, feminine, and quietly sensual, Classique Essence is ideal for evenings or cooler weather offering warmth and sophistication without ever feeling heavy.

This has got to be the most decadent, velvety orange-blossom fragrance I've ever tried! I can't believe this is discontinued, this is the best out of the JPG Classique line. The whipped cream note gives it a airy, fluffy character and that vanilla, tangerine, white floral combination is just sublime & so smooth. I do get the 'bubblegummy' facets on my skin (probably enhanced by the benzoin too)! however I don't detect any incense but soft ginger. I also smell the Classique DNA in here, but it's completely modernised and so alluring. Actually I would class this in the same fragrance family as my beloved Armani 'Code Satin'. Besides Alien EDP, this is definitely my favourite winter white-floral gourmand. It has powerhouse performance, so you don't need to spray much! Just so feminine, beautiful, sophisticated...

This is perfection. Smooth, creamy, warm and delicious. This is a holy grail for me. I can't imagine anyone smelling this and disliking it. It is perfectly blended and has such a warm and inviting scent, super comforting and such a creamy gourmand sweetness. If they ever discontinued this I would buy as many backup bottles as possible so I'd never have to live without it! The chantilly cream note is a standout, you can almost feel the velvety smoothness when you smell it. The benzoin and orange blossom give it such a warm, yummy floral/vanilla vibe. It's almost caramel in a way. The longevity is amazing, lasts 12+ hours on my skin, and can be detected by others for around 8 hours. Leaves a beautiful scent trail, I have had many compliments! This fragrance is one of the best, and I couldn't recommend it more!

Essence is the vivacious, stunning younger sister of the more mature femme fatale Classique edt and edp. Her vivid tangerine and ginger opening fizzes beautifully, like a high kick, but it’s her sensuous dry down that really takes my breath away. There’s a marshmallow quality to the whipped cream like in Love Don’t Be Shy, but this is stronger, more sophisticated and self assured. As the scent progresses the orange cream caramelises and softens deliciously against the vanillic woody base. If you’re looking for a long lasting, citrus oriental fragrance then this is it!! This is a perfume to make your eyes roll back in your head, a perfume to make you fall in love, a perfume to make you feel like your most confident, charismatic self. UK readers - there are bottles of this discontinued beauty on EBay.