Women's Perfume Essens W196 — a Fragrance Inspired by Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia

Floral, fruity fragrance — juicy, delicate and joyfully Italian

🏛️ The Legend of Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia

The story of Flora begins in 1966, when Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco, together with her husband, visited the Gucci store in Milan. Rodolfo Gucci, son of the house's founder, offered her a gift. The princess wished for a silk scarf with flowers — something Gucci did not produce at the time. Rodolfo commissioned illustrator Vittorio Accornero to create a floral pattern, and so was born the famous Flora print — an abundance of 27 flowers of Tuscan flora in 34 shades, inspired by Botticelli's «Primavera.» The scarf became one of the symbols of the House.

In 2005, creative director Frida Giannini revived the print, returning it to bags and clothing, and in 2009 Flora spoke the language of fragrance — the first Flora by Gucci perfume was launched, created by perfumer Natalie Lorson. In 2012, the The Flora Garden collection appeared with five compositions, each dedicated to one of the flowers from the legendary scarf. Gorgeous Gardenia is one of them, and its name plays on the letter «G»: Gorgeous Gardenia, Gracious Tuberose, Glamorous Magnolia, Generous Violet and Glorious Mandarin.

🌸 Notes Pyramid. Top notes — pear blossom, red berries and Italian mandarin. Heart — gardenia, jasmine and frangipani (plumeria). Base — brown sugar and patchouli. It is the gardenia that gives that creamy, rich white floral accord for which the fragrance is loved. Red berries and pear add juiciness, while brown sugar and patchouli create a warm, appetizing trail.

💎 The Bottle. Gorgeous Gardenia is dressed in a glass bottle with the signature Flora print, a pink shade and a gold cap. In 2020, a limited edition was released in a lavender bottle with a black bow, and in 2021, for Gucci's 100th anniversary, the fragrance was relaunched in a new Eau de Parfum version under the creative direction of Alessandro Michele with an updated design. The Flora print, created by Vittorio Accornero in 1966, remains the heart of the fragrance's visual identity.

🎬 Advertising. In 2021, the face of the fragrance became singer Miley Cyrus. The #FloraFantasy campaign was directed by Petra Collins and inspired by Japanese anime: Miley travels through a candy-pink world, surrounded by flowers and fluffy animals. Her image — free, optimistic and authentic — perfectly matched the philosophy of the fragrance. In 2025, Miley returned for the Intense version campaign, shot by Tyler Mitchell against the backdrop of Hollywood sunsets.

How It Sounds and Wears. «A juicy floral cocktail with gardenia and berries» — that is how Gorgeous Gardenia is described. The opening is bright: pear blossom, red berries and mandarin create a sparkling, juicy freshness. The heart is a lush white floral bouquet with gardenia, jasmine and frangipani. The base is warm and sweet: brown sugar and patchouli. Concentration Eau de Parfum. Longevity 3–4 hours on skin, longer on clothes and hair. Fragrantica rating — 3.94 out of 5 with over 7,700 votes.

⏳ The Line. Gorgeous Gardenia has spawned several versions. Eau de Toilette (2012) — a lighter interpretation with pear, red berries, gardenia, frangipani, patchouli and brown sugar. Limited Edition 2020 — a lavender bottle with a black bow, with Russian model Unia Pakhomova as the face. Eau de Parfum (2021) — a relaunch with an updated formula, added mandarin and jasmine, and the #FloraFantasy campaign. Eau de Parfum Intense (2025) — a more intense version with mandarin, gardenia, hedione and sandalwood in a fuchsia bottle with a gold «Intense» inscription.

📖 Stories of Four Notes

🌸 Gardenia — a snow-white flower with dense waxy petals, a symbol of secret love and refined beauty. In China, gardenia was called the «flower of happiness» and given as a sign of sincere feelings. Its aroma is simultaneously creamy, cool and slightly fruity — one of the most complex and precious notes in perfumery.

🍐 Pear Blossom — a delicate, honey-transparent note that sounds lighter and thinner than the fruit itself. In perfumery, it is valued for its ability to give the composition airiness and a spring mood. In Gorgeous Gardenia, it adds a soft, enveloping sweetness to the opening.

🌺 Frangipani (Plumeria) — a tropical flower that in Bali is called the «temple flower»: it is offered to the gods and woven into brides' hair. The aroma of frangipani is simultaneously coconut, vanilla and floral — warm, like a sunset on an island. In Gorgeous Gardenia, it adds an exotic, sunny facet to the heart.

🍬 Brown Sugar — a note that sounds like caramel, but without cloying. In perfumery, brown sugar is valued for its ability to create a warm, cozy trail reminiscent of childhood and home baking. In Gorgeous Gardenia, it softens the patchouli and makes the base appetizing and enveloping.

👤 Portrait of the W196 Woman

She is sunny and free. She smiles more often than she frowns and knows how to find joy in little things: in morning coffee, in a favorite song, in flowers on the windowsill. There is nothing feigned about her — she is real, and that is exactly what makes her irresistible.

She loves bright colors and light fabrics. Loves laughing until she cries and dancing when no one is watching. Loves surrounding herself with beautiful things, not for status, but for mood. Her fragrance is her smile, made tangible.

Essens W196 suits her on any day. In spring it sounds in unison with blooming gardens. In summer it refreshes and delights. In autumn it reminds of warm days. In winter it warms and brings back the feeling of celebration. This is a fragrance for the one who knows how to dream and is not afraid to be herself.

⚖️ Original and Essens W196 Side by Side

The only difference is the price and the bottle. The sound remains recognizable from the first seconds: a juicy opening, a white floral heart and a warm sugar-patchouli base.

✨ Women's perfume W196 from Essens is a juicy floral-fruity fragrance that unfolds with a delicate trail of a summer garden. It has absorbed the magic of Italian luxury — it is an exact analogue of the legendary Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia. Every drop conveys a refined accord familiar to fans of the original. It gives a feeling of joy and lightness, while remaining affordable luxury.

A sunny, radiant fragrance for spring and summer, as well as for any moment when you want warmth and inspiration. Try it and see for yourself.