Bella Essence

A sweet, fruity floral is how most people describe Bella Essence: gourmand first, floral close behind, with a third of wearers also picking out woody, musky, amber and citrus facets. Oscar de la Renta launched it in 2020, composed by Clément Gavarry.

It opens on red currant and raspberry, tart and jammy at once, sharpened by a flash of grapefruit so the fruit does not turn syrupy straight away. The heart is where the sweetness settles in: rose and jasmine give a classic, slightly creamy floral body, and vanilla folds through them, turning the berries into something closer to dessert. In the base, musk and ambroxan add a smooth, skin-warm glow with a faintly mineral edge, while patchouli brings a touch of earthy depth that keeps the drydown from being purely sugary.

The result is a feminine, cheerful scent with more fruit than flowers in practice, easy to like and easy to wear, best suited to anyone who enjoys berries and vanilla softened by rose.

Bella Essence — unisex fragrance by Oscar de la Renta (released 2020). Top notes: Raspberry, Red Currant, Grapefruit. Heart notes: Vanilla, Rose, Jasmine. Base notes: Musk, Ambroxan, Patchouli. — Parfica open fragrance database