Women's Perfume Essens W149 — a Fragrance Inspired by Marc Jacobs Decadence

An oriental fragrance — sensual, mysterious and incredibly alluring

🏛️ The Legend of Marc Jacobs Decadence

This fragrance was launched in 2015 and instantly became a symbol of bold luxury. It was created by the famous perfumer Annie Buzantian together with Ann Gottlieb. Buzantian is a master perfumer at Firmenich, the first woman to receive this title at the company in 1988, the author of Estée Lauder Pleasures, Tommy Hilfiger Tommy and Marc Jacobs Daisy. Gottlieb is not a classic perfumer but a «marketing nose», a developer and creative director who translates the brand’s vision into a brief for perfumers. She founded Ann Gottlieb Associates in 1983 and stands behind the most influential fragrances of the last 40 years, including Calvin Klein Obsession, CK One, Dior J’Adore and Carolina Herrera Good Girl.

👩‍🎨 The three characters of Marc Jacobs. Decadence is not just another fragrance but the third pillar of Marc Jacobs perfumery. Jacobs himself described each as a separate archetype. Daisy is the sweet girl next door. Lola is the eccentric coquette. Decadence is the sexy, refined, grown-up woman. Daisy and Lola were light and youthful, Decadence became a conscious step into «adult» perfumery.

🌸 The fragrance pyramid. Top notes are Italian plum, saffron and iris. The heart is orris root, jasmine sambac and Bulgarian rose. The base is vetiver, papyrus and liquidambar (styrax). Liquidambar is a resin of the amber tree, giving a warm, slightly smoky-balsamic shade. Without it, «smoky papyrus» hangs in the air, the smokiness is created by liquidambar, not by papyrus itself.

💎 The bottle. The bottle is made in the shape of an elegant women’s handbag with a gold chain, python print and a black silk tassel, not a bow. The gold chain and black tassel are two accents that turn the bottle into a «handbag». The design was created with the personal involvement of Marc Jacobs and has become one of the most recognizable in modern perfumery.

🎬 Advertising. The campaign with Adriana Lima was shot by Steven Meisel, one of the most influential fashion photographers in history, a legend of Vogue Italia. The style is a radical break from previous Marc Jacobs campaigns. Instead of sun-drenched fields and girls in white dresses (Daisy), smoky eyes, Lima on the floor with the gold chain of the bottle in her teeth. Jacobs described the image as «almost awkward, writhing sexuality in the spirit of Elizabeth Taylor». Jacobs himself appeared in some shots together with Lima.

How it sounds and wears. «Plum compote with saffron and iris settling on papyrus and vetiver» is a recognizable description. The start is juicy, honeyed plum with piquant saffron and powdery iris. In the heart is dense Bulgarian rose with honeyed jasmine sambac and earthy orris root. The base is green-woody, vetiver, damp papyrus and warm liquidambar. Not sweet, not gourmand, but dry, green, leathery luxury. Concentration is Eau de Parfum. Longevity 7–10 hours, noticeable sillage. Fragrantica rating is 3.78 out of 5 with 7,140+ votes. Many users note a «niche» sound, unexpected from Marc Jacobs.

⏳ Discontinued and returned. Decadence was discontinued around 2021–2022 but was later returned to shelves and is again available for purchase. Decadence has spawned a series of flankers, Divine Decadence (2016, with lily-of-the-valley and rose), Decadence One Eight K Edition (2016, gold bottle), Decadence Rouge Noir Edition (black-red bottle), Decadence Eau So Decadent (2017, a lighter eau de toilette).

📖 Stories of Four Notes

Plum — a juicy fruit with a tart sweetness and a light sourness. In perfumery it sounds bright and appetising, adding depth and sensuality to the composition. It is what makes the opening of the fragrance so rich and memorable.

Saffron — a precious spice with a warm, slightly leathery shade. In the top notes it creates a sense of luxury and intrigue, and together with plum and black currant it unfolds especially multi-faceted.

Iris — a noble flower with a powdery, slightly cool aroma. In the heart of the composition it creates a sense of elegance and refinement, and together with rose and violet it becomes truly regal.

Papyrus — a unique note with a papery-smoky shade. In the base it adds mystery and depth to the fragrance, and together with patchouli, vetiver and vanilla it creates that very enveloping trail that is impossible to forget.

👤 Portrait of the W149 Woman

She is luxurious and self-confident — and not afraid to show it. Her presence cannot be ignored: a passionate gaze, a light smile, natural seductiveness. She loves life, enjoys every moment and knows how to turn an ordinary evening into an unforgettable event.

She suits velvet dresses, deep colours, golden jewellery. She loves parties, travel and beautiful gestures. Her style is decadence without vulgarity, where every detail speaks of inner strength and passion.

Essens W149 lives with her all day: in the morning it unfolds with juicy plum and saffron, during the day — with a floral-woody heart of iris and rose, and in the evening it warms with patchouli, papyrus and vanilla. This is a companion fragrance for those who value a bright yet noble presence.

⚖️ Original and Essens W149 Side by Side

The only difference is the price and the bottle. The scent remains recognisable from the first seconds.

✨ Women's perfume W149 by Essens is a bold oriental fragrance that unfolds with juicy plum, precious saffron and powdery iris. It embodies all the magic of the French perfumery school — it is an exact analogue of the legendary Marc Jacobs Decadence. Every drop conveys the recognisable accord familiar to fans of the original, and gives a feeling of luxury, sensuality and appeal.

A versatile fragrance for any season and any occasion. Try it and see for yourself.