Women’s Perfume Essens W202 — a Fragrance Inspired by Chloé Nomade

A chypre, floral fragrance — elegant, spicy and effortlessly French

🏛️ The Legend of Chloé Nomade

Nomade was launched in March 2018 and became one of the most recognizable premieres of the French house of Chloé. The composition was created by perfumer Quentin Bisch from Givaudan, the largest perfume company in the world. The name Nomade translates as «Wanderer» or «Nomad», and this is a concept of a free woman who is not tied to one place and loves travel. The fragrance was created under the leadership of Natacha Ramsay-Levi, creative director of Chloé in 2017–2021. Nomade became the first fragrance reflecting her vision of the brand, bolder than that of her predecessors, yet preserving the bohemian spirit of Chloé. Chloé perfumery is produced under license by Coty Prestige, the same company that holds licenses for Gucci, Burberry, Marc Jacobs and Calvin Klein.

🌸 The fragrance pyramid. Top notes are Mirabelle plum, bergamot, lemon and orange. The heart is freesia, peach, jasmine and rose. The base is oakmoss, patchouli, amberwood, white musk and sandalwood. The fragrance belongs to the chypre-floral group. Mirabelle plum, a golden plum, is the main ingredient of the top, giving honeyed sweetness with a light tartness. Freesia, the main flower of the heart, adds transparent floral freshness. Oakmoss creates the foundation of the chypre character, earthy and forest-like, which contrasts with the honeyed plum and prevents the fragrance from sliding into cloying sweetness.

👨‍🎨 Quentin Bisch. A former actor and theatre director, before perfumery he led a professional theatre troupe and composed music. His first fragrance memory is Opium by YSL, which his schoolteacher wore, he approached to ask the name and she reprimanded him for breaking the chain of command. Later he obtained an art education while also securing a position as an assistant at the Robertet laboratory under the mentorship of Michel Almairac. Bisch tried to enter the prestigious ISIPCA perfume school in Versailles but was rejected for lacking a chemistry background. He later entered the Givaudan school and joined the company’s staff in 2011. In addition to Nomade, Quentin Bisch created Ganymede for Marc-Antoine Barrois, Delina and Valaya for Parfums de Marly, Fleur Narcotique for Ex Nihilo, Angel Muse for Mugler, Good Girl and Bad Boy for Carolina Herrera, Bois Impérial for Essential Parfums, Guidance and Purpose for Amouage. He has over 190 fragrances to his name, has twice been named «Perfumer of the Year» in 2019 and 2020, and in 2023 received the prestigious Prix du Phénix.

🌲 The Akigalawood accord. Bisch’s signature technique is the use of Akigalawood, a synthetic accord from the Givaudan laboratories. It is a hybrid of palo santo, guaiac wood and «noble mold», like in wine cellars. Bisch uses it to add a characteristic «rough» depth to compositions, preventing the fragrance from sliding into cloying sweetness. In Nomade this technique is realized through oakmoss and patchouli, an earthy and forest-like base that contrasts with the honeyed plum.

🎬 The campaign. The face of Nomade became Greek-French actress Ariane Labed, known for the series «Black Mirror» (episode «Nosedive»), the films «The Lobster» and «Dune». Clémence Poésy, sometimes mistakenly named as the face of Nomade, was the face of other Chloé fragrances, Chloé Signature in 2008–2010 and Love Story in 2014. The commercial was directed by Fleur Fortune in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Ariane Labed rides a motorcycle through the desert, climbs rocks, dances in the streets with local women and pets horses. The inspiration was Egypt, the homeland of Chloé founder Gaby Aghion, who was born in Alexandria and brought to the brand the spirit of a free, nomadic Mediterranean aesthetic.

💎 The bottle. A rounded, oval silhouette with a ribbed faceted surface that refracts light. Smooth glass without a metal frame, the neck is tied with a ribbon, the signature mark of Chloé, referencing the house’s dresses and accessories.

📊 Comparison and reviews. On Fragrantica Nomade is often compared to Narciso Rodriguez for Her and Chanel Cristalle, as a modern chypre where moss works not «grandmotherly» but freshly and dynamically. Fragrantica rating is 3.97 out of 5 with more than 11,000 votes.

⏳ The line. Nomade EDP (2018, the original, Mirabelle plum, freesia, oakmoss), Nomade EDT (2019, lychee, freesia, oakmoss, lighter version), Nomade Absolu de Parfum (2020, Mirabelle plum, oakmoss, davana, sandalwood, more intense), Nomade Naturelle (2022, oakmoss, freesia, dates, vanilla, sandalwood), Nomade Jasmin Naturel (2023, jasmine, bergamot, dates, vanilla, sandalwood, the only flanker not by Bisch but by Caroline Dumur).

📖 Stories of the Notes

🌰 Nutmeg is a spice with a warm, slightly sweet and woody character. In perfumery it is prized for its ability to give a composition depth and coziness. In Nomade nutmeg adds spicy warmth to the start and distinguishes the fragrance from dozens of purely citrus compositions.

🍈 Melon is a juicy fruit with watery sweetness and light coolness. In perfumery melon is found less often than other fruits and is prized for its ability to create a fresh effect without citrus. In the heart of Nomade it gives the composition unexpected juiciness and playfulness.

🌿 Oakmoss is a classic chypre note with an earthy, slightly bitter and damp sound. It is exactly what gives Nomade the character of a chypre fragrance and distinguishes it from ordinary florals. Moss adds forest coolness and natural depth to the heart.

🧡 Amber is a base note with a warm, amber and slightly resinous character. In Nomade amber gathers the composition and makes the trail cozy and lasting. Together with woody accords it gives the fragrance a noble completeness.

👤 Portrait of the W202 Woman

She is free and curious. She loves travel, new cities and unfamiliar streets. Her suitcase is always packed, and her passport lies in plain sight. She is not tied to one place and finds home wherever she feels good.

Her style is light dresses, leather sandals, wide-brimmed hats and minimal jewelry. She loves morning coffee on the terrace, conversations with locals and sunsets over the sea. There is a natural elegance about her without effort.

Essens W202 suits her at any time of year. In spring it sounds in unison with blooming gardens, in summer it refreshes with spicy melon, in autumn it warms with amber and moss, and in winter it adds warmth on cool days. This is a fragrance for the one who values freedom, travel and modern French elegance.

⚖️ Original and Essens W202 Side by Side

The only difference is the price and the bottle. The scent remains recognizable from the first seconds, a sparkling spicy-citrus start, a floral-fruity heart with moss and melon, a warm amber-woody base.

✨ Essens W202 women’s perfume is a chypre-floral fragrance unfolding with the noble trail of a French journey. It has absorbed the elegance and freedom of Chloé — it is an exact dupe of the legendary Chloé Nomade. Every drop carries the recognizable accord familiar to fans of the original. It gives a feeling of lightness and confidence while remaining affordable luxury.

A refined, spicy fragrance for any season, and for any day when you want to feel free and elegant. Try it and see for yourself.