Drakkar Essence by Guy Laroche

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Keeping up with my recent burst of fragrance reviews, it is time to turn my attention to an offering from Guy Laroche. I saw a bottle of this while shopping in Target and noticed Cam Newton on the cardboard display (update: this original review was back when Target still sold fragrances). I’m not that big a fan of Drakkar Noir (just a personal taste…many people love it), although I appreciate its impact in the fragrance world and how big it was in the 1980s.

It just never excited me all that much. However, I figured that I’d give Drakkar Essence a try and see if I liked it. How does Essence stack up? Is it worth a purchase?


What does Drakkar Essence Smell Like?

Notes include: mint, musk, lavender, grapefruit, tonka bean, woods

Click here to try: Guy Laroche Drakkar Essence Eau de Toilette Splash, 3.4 Ounce 


My Full Review

It’s kind of funny that I tried out Drakkar Essence at about the same time that I tested out The Essence by David Beckham. Not only did these two scents share the same name but also lavender and grapefruit are ingredients in both.

So, even before I knew the contents of Drakkar, I was struck by how much both of these colognes resemble one another. The difference comes in where the Beckham scent is more citrus/aquatic, Drakkar Essence is kept warm and mildly spicy by the musk and mint, though still retaining an aquatic feel.

I actually don’t detect that much of a mint influence, it’s definitely there, but I get mostly the grapefruit and musk notes. I do like this cologne, even if it isn’t terribly unique or anything.

The opening does seem to stray more toward the grapefruit end of things, with that mint and sage freshness, sitting underneath that.

Another fragrance, I’ll have to talk about in regards to Essence, is Drakkar Noir. This new release has very little do to with the 1980s classic from Guy Laroche. Lavender, mint, and wood is about it. They don’t smell alike in the slightest, though.

Essence is completely enjoyable after a few minutes when it has had some time to settle on the skin.  It becomes a smooth and fresh scent highlighted by the emergence of the lavender note to go along the other aforementioned notes.

In the end, the mint begins to peak out a bit more, lavender and musk flank it, and there is the remnants of the citrus. Not very complex. Smooth and spicier in the dry down.


Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it starts off rather strong before settling into a moderate fragrance. I got pretty good longevity out of Drakkar Essence also. I took a shower and scrubbed with body wash and could still pick some up on my skin. So yeah, no problems there.

Coming back to this scent for a second time, I found that it lasted on my skin for about 7 hours. That’s good enough, for most wears. Not a total workhorse, but very serviceable.

Seasonally, this will absolutely work anytime. I will give it lots of points for its versatility. It holds up well in the warmer weather and doesn’t feel out of place in the wintertime.

Drakkar Essence can be used as a daily wear or even a subtle nighttime fragrance. It’s simplicity and low key vibe, make it an ideal choice for an all-around type of cologne. It’s by no means amazing, but its usefulness and performance are indeed, its strengths.


Overall Impression of Drakkar Essence

Overall, is Essence worth a purchase? I like it. It’s pleasant. However, it doesn’t really stand out to me. I guess it’s a buy because it is a nice fragrance and not very expensive. Drakkar Essence isn’t a scent which will blow you away but it is quite serviceable and sometimes that’s all you need.

The grapefruit, musk, and minty opening is solid. I actually like the latter stages with the lavender, mint, and musk coming through more.

This isn’t a bad buy if you want something simple and straightforward. I’ve seen bottles for super cheap, as of late, so it may well be worth trying out for some guys.

Update: Everything about it is decent. Coming back to this one years later, I did get a bit more sage in the opening, this time around. Not around very long, but nice. Really, grapefruit and mint really kick early. It’s a bit better than I remember, just not anything that draws me in entirely.

Fresh, musky, lavender in the dry down. Bright and energetic in that opening, more of a clean and almost soapy finish to it. If under $30, it’s a fair option. Assuming, you have a strict budget and cannot go higher.

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