Essence Rare (2018)
Perfumer: Jean-Claude Ellena
93 ratings
From your scent profile
Houbigant Essence Rare (2018) is a fresh, powdery feminine scent that sets the brightness of mandarin orange against a floral heart of rose, jasmine and lily of the valley.
Skunky's take: A card-carrying member of the fresh club.
How does it perform?
From 80 community ratings, all out of 10.
Holds up through the day and fades gently toward evening.
People close to you notice, nobody gets overwhelmed.
Sits nicely on a shelf.
The price makes you think, so a small size is a smart start.
Blind buy risk
81% of votes are positive and opinions barely differ.
Notes
They open one after another, from the first spray into the evening.
Top notesfirst 15 minutes
Heart notesfirst few hours
Base noteswhat stays into the evening
Accords
From most dominant to most subtle.
- Fresh
- Floral
- Green
- Sweet
- Spicy
- Woody
- Powdery
- Creamy
What does Essence Rare (2018) smell like?
Its longevity and sillage are rated good. Most voters pick spring and fall, with summer and winter further behind. Leisure, evening, daily and business wear are chosen about equally, so it isn't tied to one setting. It reads feminine and classic more than modern.
The mandarin opening gives way to rose, jasmine and lily of the valley, which give the scent a green, floral body. In the base, vanilla and amber sweetness is balanced by sandalwood and oakmoss; the dry-down is creamy, woody and lightly spicy. Elizabeth Arden 5th Avenue (Eau de Parfum) and Cacharel Noa (Eau de Toilette) have a close profile.
How it changes through the day
First minutes
- Mandarin orange
First hours
- Rose
- Lily of the valley
- Jasmine
Towards evening
- Vanilla
- Amber
- Sandalwood
When to wear it?
Seasons and occasions, by user votes.
- 35%Spring
- 28%Autumn
- 19%Summer
- 18%Winter
- Casual21%
- Evening21%
- Daytime20%
- Nighttime19%
- Office19%
Smells like this
The closest scents by notes and accords.
58% matchYuki / ゆき
Miya Shinma · 2012
58% matchSoleil
Fragonard · 1997
58% matchBoeli
Acqua di Sardegna · 2017
58% matchFerouzia (Extrait de Parfum)
Henry Jacques
58% matchCamaheu
Gabriella Chieffo · 2014
57% match5th Avenue (Eau de Parfum)
Elizabeth Arden · 1996
55% matchDiamonds and Sapphires (Eau de Toilette)
Elizabeth Taylor · 1993
54% matchNoa (Eau de Toilette)
Cacharel · 1998
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Last updated: October 26, 2026






















