Clones and dupes inspired by:
So Essential (Angel Schlesser, 2011) is a bright fruity-sweet floral daytime fragrance that sparkles with vivacity before settling into a soft powdery musky-woody warmth.
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Find the Original
Angel Schlesser So Essential is the benchmark for this scent profile. Alternatives may be worth comparing, but they are independent products and we do not present them as equivalent to Angel Schlesser's own fragrance.
They do not replace the original fragrance, its presentation, or the version created under the brand's own quality control. If that is what you are looking for, search the official site or trusted retailers below.
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UK ShopAbout the Original
The fragrance these clones are inspired by.
So Essential is built around a bright fruity opening of pomegranate, mandarin and kiwi, a heart of sweet pea, rose and nectarine, and a base of musk and patchouli. Launched by Angel Schlesser in 2011 and created by Jean Jacques for women, it reads as a fruity-sweet floral with woody and musky undertones. The strong rose heart steers the drydown toward a soft powdery musk while the top fruit keeps the opening lively. Accord data point to dominant fruity, sweet and floral facets, and reception is mixed with the fragrance most often used for daytime wear.
Our take
I like the lively opening here; the pomegranate and mandarin give a fresh, pink-fruity hit that fades into a clear rose and soft musk. On my skin the nectarine and sweet pea are gentle background notes and patchouli gives a faint woody anchor. It is pleasant and easy for daytime, especially in spring, but the weak longevity and mostly close sillage leave it feeling ordinary after a few hours.
Perfumer: Jean Jacques
Top Notes
Dominant Accords
The Bottle
Angel Schlesser So Essential comes in a broad rectangular bottle with rounded lower corners, curved side edges, and pale pink liquid visible through it. The vertically ridged, silver-gray-looking cylindrical cap and small dark front lettering keep the presentation familiar. The white box’s vivid magenta band adds contrast, but the overall package remains conventional rather than distinctive.
Original or Clone
Jean Jacques is the credited perfumer behind So Essential, giving the original a clear authorship that an interpretation cannot carry over. Its character is identified chiefly by fruity, sweet and floral accords, but the market signal is modest: only one house is represented by one tracked interpretation. We therefore find a defensible case for the original on authorship, while the limited reproduction activity does not by itself make the alternative unreasonable.
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