Botanical Essence No.1

Ooh, thanks to Fragrantica for adding this! It seems the reaction to Liz Earle's first fragrance has been 50/50 love/hate. I love it. It manages to be clean and fresh but also warm. The best way I can describe it is to compare it to some other perfumes. This is how it hit my nose when I first wore it: The topnotes are very similar to those of Clarins' Eau Dynamisante. The fragrance then moves through a sort of green phase which to me is reminiscent of Ma Griffe. Finally, the lingering smell of this frag is, to me, like 'O' de Lancome, but nicer - without that edge (?basil) that O has. All in all, Botanical Essence slightly reminds me of Lancome's beautiful Climat, they share a quality or essence for me. This is the perfume I am definitely getting next, especially as it has a high percentage of natural ingredients. Well done Liz Earle. Update, Oct '12 - well, just to add that I'm wearing this now and I still love it, it's BEAUTIFUL! With so few reviews on here, and quite a few of those bad ones, I'm scared Liz Earle will stop making it!! I had thought this was best for Summer, but I'm finding it has a Winter beauty too. It's just delicious (can you tell I love it?). Hope Fragrantica adds the new No.15 on here soon. Having smelled the new one, I can say I definitely DON'T like it. Interesting, I think those that don't like No.1 probably will but I think it's one hot stinky mess and I hope to be able to keep buying No.1.

This is superb! To say Essence No.1 is a fresh citrus/vetiver is just not the entire story. I can't place my finger on quite what it is about No.1 that makes it so special? There's a more herbal feel over all and the citrus fruits are natural & beautiful but not even the main player. Essence No.1 is not just another fleeting lemony blast or a zesty mandarin orange it's a delicate balance which really does contain the lavender and possibly even some rose? It dries down to a vetiver kind of skin scent but again unlike anything I've smelled before, basically Liz Earle does what Jo Malone and Diptyque do with many of their fresh offering but with something better and more wearable, at least to my nose. I'm really impressed and tempted to add this to my collection as a perfect summer fragrance, which didn't last all that long but was acceptably average and hey I'm willing to let it off.

This is my favourite scent for spring and summer herby and refreshing good for work as not to overpowering it is not heavy or clawing but light and sits close to the skin. It really uplifts my spirits. For me I wear it in winter as well because I need that boost of awakeness before I start the day because in the UK we are blanketed by darkness due to days being very short,need some positive punch and this is just the ticket. Though the downfall is I have to mention it does not last long on the skin and disappears after a couple of hours

I am very surprised at the negative reviews on here. I think this is a very beautiful fragrance. I have yet to buy a FB but sample it regularly. It is so reminiscent of some perfume I used to know which I think is now discontinued - some long forgotten Dior maybe - anyway I fully intend to purchase this even though it doesn't last long. I think the silage is quite weak too but all I know is I can't stop sniffing my arm when I'm wearing this and that there are not many fragrances that have that effect on me . . .

Hah, I've just read the review below and completely agree with the 'either No. 1 or No.15' comment. No. 1 (this one) has been my go-to summer favourite fragrance for years, but im just completely unable to get on with No. 15. On my skin, I don't know why I pick up coconut when there is none there, but the vibe for me is warm, fruity and tropical. It also lasts all day on one application. This is such a gorgeous, accessible fragrance, give it a try if you get the chance!

This is a beautiful, unisex, aromatic citrus fragrance that I have been wearing since it came out in 2009 (been through several bottles). I remember a lot of grumbling on the QVC comments, as many buyers were disappointed that it was so citric and herbal, and not at all like the brand's Instant Boost Skin Tonic which has a very delicate scent rather than a citrus-bomb. But for a longtime fan of O de Lancome, Liz Earle No 1 held no fears.

Absolutely love it! This is my kind of refreshing cologne like fragrance for boosting spirits! A sophisticated blend of citrusy-spicy-aromatic notes, sharp citrus spicy at the beginning and mild herbal after few minutes. There is a nice old-fashioned classy nuance in it. The box is gorgeous.

I had some samples of this which I was happy to spray over my head. very citrusy was the first initial impression. Someone else likened it to Eau Dynamisante from Clarins, yes I get that too, but with a slightly different twist. I decided to go the whole hog and purchase the full size bottle. Big mistake, the tiny sample atomisers spray out just enough of the perfume to be tolerable, but the big bottle blasts it out and it is overpowering and hard to get to grips with, although not sickly like some others. Later in the day it began to develop into quite an old fashioned scent, one that you would not want to be smelt wearing if you are the 30 to 50 ish age bracket (I consider myself to be a 'young 49' still in my 30's at heart). I was disappointed to say the least. I couldnt run the risk of wearing it at work for others to be repulsed by it. It is an acquired taste. I so desperately wanted to like it too, I have most of the stuff she has ever done. Overall, it was reasonably pleasant enough, but not what I would have liked from Liz Earle. It lacks the oooomph I have come to expect from her. I think some of her body creams and lotions have aromas that would be more suited for signature perfumes. Such a shame, I was expecting big things from Liz. :( (big pet lip)

I have tried it a couple of weeks ago for the first time. I think I will definitely have to come back to test it again. My first impressions so far were very earthy and herbal, somewhat wild. Wild not in the sense of lushly and exotic, as in Cacharel's Eden, but slightly neglected, run-down. For me Botanical Essense is above all lavender and patchouli. Two scents that cane make either a wonderful fragrance, or a completely horrible one. I am not quite decided which one is Botanical garden though. Bergamot here adds some citrus aromas, while rose... is. It is not the typical, boring rose, again, it is something mysterious and dark. All those could grow in an old, abandoned garden somewhere next to a house once full of life, now neglected and falling apart. Although I am not sure if that was the idea behind it and the image we are supposed to get. In a way there is a lot of beauty behind this fragrance, it feels fresh and natural (it is not natural perfumery, I know, but as natural as it can get as opposed to chemical mixtures reigning on the prfume shop's shelves). On the other, the whole combination is slightly too herbal for me. For me it misses something that would complete its beauty.

This fragrance is certainly zingy and pretty much what I was expecting. I wanted it to wear on warm days. What did shock me though was that it lasted less than an hour on my skin and the sillage was low. I know it is made with great materials but even so it is rather pricey and I would at least expect it to last a few hours. Oh well, you live and learn.

Really wanted to like this perfume as I love Liz Earle skin products. However, this was far too herbal for me. It seems to lack something and it has been far too mean with the flower notes, I cannot smell them at all. If you are into herbal natural smell, then this may work for you. It may be my skin chemistry but I just did not get on with this fragrance and it just does not appeal to me.

This fragrance taught me to dislike vetiver. Otherwise it's a sparkling fragrance with quality ingrediants. Can't wear it anymore though, the Vetiver is dank and dull,dragging the other notes down a murky well. Liz Earle has made some fragrances I adore, always with top quality materials at reasonable prices.

No woman in her right mind would want to smell like this... One of those naturals packed scents that totally misfires... Sharp, pungent, cloyingly old-fashioned. What a terrible concoction, something an old maiden would wear on her way to the Women's Club.

My sister wears this and I wish she wouldn't! It is sharp and screechy lemon with mega sillage. Give me Eau Dynamisante any day. In fact maybe I will buy her a bottle of Eau Dynamisante in the hope she will stop wearing Liz Earle!

I'm surprised at the scathing, negative reviews for this perfume, which I had the chance to smell the other day on a friend and which totally caught me by surprise because I thought it was so lovely! Unlike the reviewers who think it's "Sharp, pungent, cloyingly old-fashioned ..", cheap, boring, etc, I find this perfume far removed from any of those things. When it first wafted to my nose what struck me was how clean, fresh and natural it smelled and it very much reminded me of something French that I've smelled in the past, either a perfume or some skincare product (can't remember which at the moment but I keep racking my brain trying to remember what it reminds me of so much!). I do agree with the reviewers who've likened it to Eau Dynamisante in that it smells natural, fresh and very French to my nose, but I prefer this to Eau Dynamisante. This perfume isn't cheap, and I've been told it doesn't come in 100ml bottles, just 50ml bottles I think, but to me it certainly smells quite expensive, presumably because of the high quality ingredients. Apparently, a little goes a long way and the packaging is really lovely too so for me it would be well worth the price. I think it's an anytime, anywhere kind of perfume and I would find it hard to believe that anyone could possibly be offended by this perfume so it would be good in enclosed spaces, such as in the office, etc. I've also been able to smell Liz Earle's No. 15 perfume, which my friend also has and has told me she prefers slightly to this one, but to me that wasn't a patch on this one and was far less likeable ... not horrible just a bit cheaper and a bit abrasive smelling and definitely not my thing! So, all-in-all, this perfume really works for me as it's fresh, clean, uplifting, very aromatherapeutic smelling, classy and versatile and I hope I might get a bottle fairly soon!

Yes, Liz has definitely been far too mean with the florals here. And unfortunately they're exactly what's so drastically missing from this compostion. Even just the tiniest touch of some white florals would've lifted this fragrance no end ! ... They would have supplied that much needed "je ne se qua" and "rounding-of" that this composition is, I believe, missing. Just a touch of jasmin especially, or even neroli (or perhaps rather orange blossom, considering "costs" here. As I'm sure that's exactly why they're missing in the first place. i.e. The too high cost of natural jasmine absolute) would've supplied much magic and exactly what the nose is sensing is missing from the fragrance. Even if only in really frugal minimal amounts working just in the background, (hardly susceptible to the nose even), they would still have gone a really long way to help amalgamate all the notes, filling in all the spaces, and adding a certain "richness" and "lift" that's kinda sorely lacking at the moment. (Or at least, that is what my nose is telling me is missing from the composition IMHO ;o) ~ That is exactly why jasmin (along with rose) has always been considered one of the most indispensable notes/ingredients in the perfumers palette. ~ And in an all natural fragrance all the more so ! ... In my opinion, I believe it would have been well worth it, even it meant having to hack up the price another extra $10 or ..... )

Botanical Essence No 1 is quite classic perfume in its composition; classy, yet light in its performance and rather fresh. It leans towards unisex and could easily be marketed as such. It is very light modern-day citrus chypre with dominant vetiver note and noticeable, yet airy patchouli and nice soft spice blend, which definitely expands its wear from summer only to spring and autumn, as well. Also very wearable because sillage is moderate in its reach, but light in its character. Staying power is up to five hours and some four more as a skin scent. The middle notes mostly are noticeable only close to the skin, the rose soon after opening is extremely beautiful and lightweight, lavender and geranium is detectable, so is cedar in the base. However as already mentioned Botanical Essence No 1 is all about soft and sweet citrus notes, mostly lemon, but not only; and light and dry, woody vetiver with slight touch of earthiness, almost leathery and very classy. It gives impression of high quality natural ingredient citrus hard candy and expensive spa products. Clean and effortless, yet elegant.

My colleague has this sitting at her desk, and she uses spritzes of it for when she is a need of a spruce or pick me up. It works!!! It is a herbal, zesty fragrance that is almost identical in many ways to Clarins Eau Dynamisante - which is incidentally used for the same purpose, to soothe, calm and invigorate the senses, much in the same manner that essential oil blends are used for certain remedial benefits. I can smell so much nature in this. It is so vibrant and uplifting that it is one scent that you would never get sick of it. I love it.

Oh Hi! I'm Lemona! I live on Citrus Street, Bergamot town. This is super citrusy in the opening. It's the kind of thing you would love in summer, cold from the fridge. It has a Spanish feel, it makes me think of clean linen shirts, hot skin, sunny days. Someone else mentioned Eau Dynamisante, and yes it is similar but this is fresher. I think longevity wise Dynamisante wins.

Similar to Clarins Dynamite. No.1 has a burst of lemons and settles to a lemon peel scent on me. Afterwhich its not that great with woody lime notes on me. I prefer Dynamite. Liz Earle is launching a Rose Based perfume in October which will be mainly damask rose. Cant wait for that and its supposed to present in a fuchsia coloured bottle.

I find this fragrance boring and old fashioned. I expected big things from Liz but it smelt cheap despite it's cost and use of all the essential oils. Very disappointed. Far too citrus for my liking, I wanted it to smell like her fabulous facial toner. I haven't tried her other fragrances and don't think I will bother.

I blind-bought this because I love no15 so much. It’s a nice fresh scent but on my skin it’s just lemons. Nice lemons, but nothing else! I gave the bottle to my sister who loves it and gets the more complex notes. Perhaps reviewers are correct that you either like this or the no15!

Have a trial in this and its amazing! Full of essential oils, very grounding and comforting. It has uplifting AND calming notes all in one hit. I would have to say its a 'hug in a bottle'. Fresh, clean and sophisticated. Need a full size bottle now ;0)