Essential

I anticipated something sweetly fruity and aquatic from this designer perfume, but instead, I was taken aback by a surprisingly green scent reminiscent of leaves, vegetation, and powdery fruits. The aroma is akin to stepping into a humid greenhouse filled with tomato and vegetable leaves, where the fruity notes are overpowered by the pungent tomato leaf. This peculiar combination creates an unpleasant stuffiness that disrupts the entire fragrance. Moreover, the cheap blending of powdery notes, similar to those found in Elegance and Challenge by Lacoste, is quite off-putting. The only redeeming quality is the pleasant bottle design, but unfortunately, it's not enough to save this underwhelming experience. The scent is subtle, with no standout features, leaving me feeling disappointed. Even the woody notes are unremarkable, as they often are in most fragrances. As another reviewer aptly put it, "Absolutely unessential." While I understand that a perfume is just a matter of personal taste, I believe there are many more engaging and sophisticated options available, both within and outside the niche fragrance market.

Solid freshness abounds in this scent, making it uniquely original while still being versatile enough for various occasions. However, I find it just slightly too clean and soapy to my taste, yearning for a more pronounced peppery note or an even stronger rose presence to harmonize the earthy undertones. This perfume is suitable for those who enjoy the aroma of freshly cut grass or individuals with youthful personalities.

It's intriguing that the scent doesn't explicitly feature green apple as a note, yet it still evokes a strong association with the fruit for me.

One of the most remarkable sports fragrances to debut in the 2000s, Lacoste Essential Sport unexpectedly surpassed Polo Blue's popularity among European and North American department stores, revolutionizing the notion of what casual, gym-oriented, active summer scents could achieve. This enigmatic blend seamlessly combines soapy clean, citrus, leafy green, full-flavored fruity, and fresh spicy notes, making it suitable for wear throughout spring, summer, and early fall. Initially, the fragrance is dominated by its fruity, leafy, and dark cassia elements, which, in tandem with the tomato leaf, produce a unique blend of spicy, fruity, and green aromas that subtly tone down the high-pitched citrus top notes. The tangerine and bergamot are effectively eclipsed and pushed to the background. The scent undergoes a significant transformation over time, transitioning from its initial top notes to mid and drydown phases within 1.5-2 hours. As the cassia and citrus fade, the sandalwood rose accord emerges, yielding a soft, unobtrusive drydown that persists for around 5-6 hours before requiring reapplication. What becomes apparent during wear is that the early performance of Lacoste Essential Sport can be attributed almost exclusively to its core ingredients – the cassia and tomato leaf – which, once they begin to fade, also diminish the scent's performance and character. This fragrance is still an excellent everyday choice for active men seeking something distinct from traditional cologne pyramids, but it's essential to temper expectations regarding longevity. Lacoste Essential Sport is at its best during the initial 2 hours of wear, after which it dramatically subsides in intensity. While this suits athletes who don't require a lingering scent, it may not be suitable for those looking to make an impression or have a lasting presence at work or the beach. If you're seeking more performance and longevity, consider Lacoste Essential Sport instead. This unique top note is what sets Lacoste Essential apart, offering a fun, light, optimistic, versatile, and uplifting fragrance that's worth having in one's wardrobe for spring and summer seasons, especially considering its reasonable online prices.

I caught a whiff of this scent at Sephora with my friends and was struck by the initial grassy aroma. Although I'm not typically drawn to green notes, I found myself really enjoying it. As the fragrance developed, it took on a more masculine quality that all of us in the group praised. I'm seriously considering making a purchase, as its broad appeal seemed to transcend traditional gender preferences.