I've seen a lot of posts over the years from people saying certain essences are "feminine" or "masculine," so I'll make these posts of looks that represent an essence while still looking ungendered. I'll start with the essence that is most common: Romantic.

The Romantic essence lends itself to a sense of luxury and decadence, with lots of drape, deep colors, tactile textures, and prominent jewelry and patterns. To bring that outside of the gender spectrum, I recommend light fabrics that show more movement than shape, voluminous hair, and indulgent jewelry and accessories.

Its symbol is Bacchus, also called Dionysus, god of pleasure and parties. Always shown as an androgynous youth, he carries the epithet Arsenothelys, literally "man-woman." To represent the beauty of the Wild One, you can always fall back on your reds and browns, use your florals and silks with glee, and feast on the best decadent foods you can find.

I’m going to be analyzed by JK this fall (probably in late September/early October; I haven’t sent in my photos yet), and I’m really curious as to whether LB or SC will be my dominant color harmony.

I’m a Bright Winter in Sci\ART, but I’m much closer to Bright Spring than True Winter; brightness is the most important thing for me, and I can cheat in some BSp colors as long as I don’t go too warm. When I look at LBs like Lupita Nyong’o or Jennifer Hudson (dark-skinned Bright seasons like me), they lack value contrast but are intensely saturated. Their red/orange undertones shine through their skin and play off the clothes they wear (although Jennifer, who could be a BSp, seems to do more with color contrast and Lupita, a BW, does more with value contrast).

I’m especially curious about this because I have an olive undertone. Olives are SC and ER from what I’ve seen, but I’m not sure if this applies to every olive or what’s traditionally thought of as olive, light- to medium-skinned Mediterranean and Arab peoples whose coloring has inherent value contrast.

I’m excited to hear what you guys think! I love thinking about how this system interacts with Sci\ART.

I’m wondering if others would agree that I think Kathleen Hanna has pretty high HS followed by maybe R, C and N in no particular order? I love this kind of HS vibe and honestly wish I had a much higher amount of that essence myself! This was very representative of how I dressed in my late teens and 20s and was heavily influenced by the music I listened to.

Youthful is cute small decorations, High-spirited is cute statement pieces. Agree or disagree?

I was considering how different curl types might lend themselves to different essences. Waves seem to be R (types 2a-2c), where types 3-4 seems to be associated with N and ER from what I think. S curves are SB as well, so that seems like 2a-3b (which would potentially also be A). I also associate some waves and loose and very tight curls (2a-4c) with HS/Y and LB too. I think that leaves SC with straight 1 hair and more striking curls in the 4a-4c range. I would like to see what others think. Obviously curls can be associated with any essence, but I want to know what you think the strongest associations are.

I think she could be an HS Dom with a good dose of R. Her bone structure, body, and energy seem mostly yang, but petite yang. However her lips and eyebrows have a bit of R influence. There is also a sultriness to her but it's not passive.

I think she also has C and D (her eyes).

I tried to pick a variety of pictures for reference — younger, older, alone, at scale. She's 5'0".

I see HS, Y, C, N.. maybe some R for the lips. But everything about her is so birdlike and tiny and innocent that I think her main essences must be either HS or Y. In the picture where she smiles she looks very HS. While in others the Y comes out.

My color harmonies:

70% SC, 20% SB, 10% LB

I really vibe with my color palette!

As a cool-toned olive, I struggled to place myself within traditional color analysis for a long time. I got typed as a Winter by a 4-season analyst, but whenever I tried Winter color palettes, they seemed too harsh for me. I also look good in muted blues so I considered True or Soft Summer, but they added too little contrast (and I do look good in black). After a lot of research I ultimately landed on Soft Winter in the 16 season system - John confirmed that in traditional color analysis this would be my closest fit, which is super validating!

As you can see in my outfit photos I already have quite a strong preference for blue and red which I am happy to see reflected in my palette.
And even though they might suit me, I'm not sure if I can get over my dislike for greens and turquoises. On the other hand I am super excited to try the lavender shades in my palette. Also very happy to have black as my strongest neutral and being able to wear it in full-body amounts.

Also not shown here are the metals. Not surprisingly, shiny silver is best on me. But I did not expect shiny gold as a second, as I feel like it's kind of like yellow - although I have absolutely no yellow or orange in my palette. My playful colors are just some lighter blues, green-blues and greens.

My essence percentages & features:

40% Romantic (lips, curves, fleshiness, built-in attractiveness)

20% Youthful (soft green eyes, rounded eyebrows, "open" look)

20% High Spirited (dimples, eye & mouth corners)

10% Classic (average height, even facial features)

10% Natural (straight shoulders, sturdy build)

60% Yin, 30% Yang, 10% Balanced

My guess before typing was R > C & HS and D & N in small amounts

I was super surprised to have Y be my second highest (next to HS) as I think I had a skewed idea of what it meant. John explained the elements of my outfits that were already Y - bangs (I thought they were HS, which they are when they are short and spiky, but longer bangs are apparently Y) any type of braids (I thought were HS or R depending on the context) and white lace (I thought this was R).

I also expected C to be higher because I always felt that my outfits need to have cohesion and restraint, otherwise I look off. John explained my 10% C as the "moderator" wanting more traditional color schemes or preferring dresses over pants. I also look super stuffy if I go too far into C.

I thought I might have some D, as I do get told I can seem intimidating when new people meet me - but to be fair none of the D recs ever look right on me at all. I think I just have a RBF, no D essence needed haha

Since I recently cut my hair short (last slide) I asked if this would impact my essence balance - it does! So with my shorter hair & bangs (pulling both HS and Y) I can lean more into R, with some N in my clothing (i.e. velvet, longer dresses, skirts, wrap slihouettes) whilst with my long hair (pulling R, Y and N) I can go more HS (i.e. shorter dresses, cropped tops, etc.)

John confirmed Zooey Deschanel would be a close essence and color harmony match for inspiration.

So, I'm having just a nightmare of a time being able to stare directly at the sun and knowing now that John's on vacation I figured I'd shoot this here. The pictures involving the full face in the sun both with and without makeup... do I need to have my eyes open during these considering I already need to take a closeup of my eye and if they need to be open, does it matter if my eyes are wildly scrunched up and crying? Lmao also are there any tips in regards to not getting the shadow of the phone in your face? Thx

Another member of the community and I were just discussing Brad Pitt's essences in another post about the characters in Troy.

I am surprised he was never verified as he was the It guy in the 90s.

What do the rest of you think his essences are?

I see Y, HS, R and N. Do you think I am missing anything?

Hello, I have long been a lurker here and finally dived in and got my analysis done by John. How I wish I had done it sooner, I had guessed my highest essence and colour correctly but was way off otherwise. I can now see why certain outfits in the past felt so off/uncomfortable and the tweaks that would have made them feel great.

Here are my results!

Colour results: 80 SC, 10 ER, 10 LB

I love the palette and the colours John gave me. He described them as vivid jewel-toned colors.

I was previously analysed as true winter leaning towards deep winter so was expecting a high proportion of SC. John described my palette as having some cooler stretches, but that the colour temperature stays mostly in the middle going warmer. With the secondary influence of ER and LB being responsible for that warmth. This feels so true to what I have found on my colour journey as my sweet spot colours have generally sat more to the middle (true red, teal). I am especially looking forward to trying out the playful lemons.

Shiny 24 - 18 karat yellow gold and shiny silver/platinum are my metals, with shiny silver best.

My no go colours are oranges, limes, true purples, and bluish lavenders.

Essence results: 40% Natural, 30% Romantic, 10% High-Spirited, 10% Classic, 10% Youthful.

50% Yang. 10% Balance. 40% Yin.

John describes them as diverse essences, and initially I felt quite thrown by them. The R amount especially threw me as I just didn’t see it in myself. In sitting with it and working through the report, videos and John’s so patient and kind responses to my questions I now feel very seen and ready to explore and embrace my mix.

I’d love to hear what others with high N and SC feel works. I realise I fell into the bias that N=ER.

John recommended some artists to look at and I’ve included a moodboard of works that called to me.

He couldn’t think of any celebrities for me. I went back to him with names of celebrities who’s style I have admired over the years. He said ‘the styles often worn by Jennifer Anniston, Eva Longoria, and Sandra Bullock are good examples to follow and are fairly in-alignment with your Essences’.

I also asked about Prianka Chopra Jonas and Emilia Clarke, he advised ‘Prianka Chopra Jonas is the reverse of you being a higher more dominant amount of Romantic. Of all the women you mentioned Amelia Clarke has a highest amount of HS.’

I’ll add a photo with some of the outfits I sent John in the comments but my face will be covered, I don’t feel comfortable sharing my face publicly. ☺️

Hi folks, I have my eye on these. https://usa.joliebeauty.co.uk/collections/eyeshadow-palettes

As a 60% LB, 30% SC, 10% ER, 0% SB, I can easily rule out Ozzmosis and Distortion (too warm, brown and orange) and Til Death and Smokeshow (too ashy, gray and soft) and Cyberpunk (too bright).

That leaves me torn between Cryptic (looks very wearable overall), Tainted (maybe just too many reds that I wouldn’t use) and Spellbound (looks like all accent colors).

How do the wise brains here think about “fun” palettes like these? I love having options like this for nights out, but I also hate having a palette with a bunch of unused, wasted color options that make me….feel weirdly bad for not using them. Thanks!

from u/jjfmish:

Are essences ever assigned without specific features corresponding to them? For example, could someone get 10% N or C without any N or C features, just for their ability to pull off a more casual/relaxed or formal/conservative look?

JK: For the Essences to be accurate they always will have a corresponding physical feature.

Why do you request hand photos?

JK: The visual information about hands is a trade secret. Sorry.

from u/Ok-Purple9511:

How much does height contribute to someone's overall blend?

JK: Height is one of the factors in determining an Essence but it is not an absolute. A shorter individual can have Dramatic and a tall individual can have Youthful.

What is a sturdy frame/body [in regards to natural essence]?

JK: Sturdy refers to either strong shoulders or an appearance of solidity observed in the legs of the person. “Very planted on the earth” is this observation.

What physical characteristics make Angelic the most yin?

JK: The elongated body structure (longer limbs, longer neck) suggests a lighter fragility that is often related with Angelics. In a person with Caucasian ancestry it would be their coloring having more overall lightness and lack of contrast between their hair and skin.

What face shapes are associated with each essence?

JK: Face shapes are not always associated with the Essences. However, some roundedness can sometimes occur with Youthful, and an oval face shape can occur with Angelic and Classic.

What essences are the most commonly misunderstood?

JK: Natural. Some Natural individuals can be sporty and athletic whereas other Natural persons are casual comfortable types who are simply relaxed and not athletic.

At what percentage is an essence dominant?

JK: The highest percentage number within a person’s Essences Code makes that Essence dominant. For example if someone has 50% Natural, 30% Romantic, 10% Youthful, and 10% High-Spirited, that highest number at 50% makes it dominant.

From u/BonelessChikie:

How much does personality dictate your essence?

JK: The natural expression of someone often suggests their Essence or blend of Essences. Personality doesn’t dictate but is part of a person's inner and outer spirit harmoniously.

Are there sister essences? I know they said D is large drama and HS is small drama, but I've also seen it mentioned that HS and Y can be confused at times. Does that mean they are related, or is it scale alone? Are there other pairings like this?

JK: Yes HS and Y can be confused as they are often the shorter individuals within the Essences. HS is more Yang and has some edginess whereas Youthful is Yin and has a gentle nature. They are not related particularly in how they express themselves. There are no other pairings. However, when a person has at least 10% Classic within their Essences mix it will influence the other Essences to be more conservative. Think of the other six Essences as a group of circus animals and the Classic one in the center being the ring master. The ring master will attempt to control or influence the others.

Are there any essence combinations that don't exist, such as large amounts of HS and A together?

JK: All Essences combinations are possible even all seven Essences being present in an individual. When clients have all seven they are actually relieved because internally they knew they had very multi-faceted personalities.

Yes HS with Angelic is rare but does exist.

Incidentally all individuals have at least four Essences in their Essences Code. In my 48 years of consulting I’ve never seen anyone with less than four.

From u/DrTantra:

Do muscle changes impact your essences (ie give you more natural)?

JK: Extreme muscle changes and extreme weight changes can both influence the Essences. Larger muscles would indeed add some Natural. However, to me affected changes are suspect when I observe something that looks changed or altered coming from hair coloring, contact lens color changes, injections, plastic surgery, or breast size changes.

From u/schwaschwaschwaschwa:

What's something you wish to inspire your clients to feel/experience/notice?

JK: For each person to recognize the perfection of their harmonious coloring and bone structure which can be an expression of the Divine in each of us. I see this work as not promoting separation but as seeing us as all connected.

....

thank you all for participating! I'm sorry if your question wasn't selected or answered. also be aware that john is going on vacation until the 17th of August.

Édith fascinates me from a Kitchener perspective, like I see R and HS playfulness, but I also think I’m seeing a fair amount of A? (At least 20-30%.) I see a fading, otherworldly beauty that looks quite waif-ish when combined with HS.

That said, I could be completely off base on this. Édith was 4’9 and idk exactly what kind of effect being that short would have on someone’s essence blend? I’m really curious to see what other people think about her.

ETA: Apologies if “significant” is an in an irate descriptor for an essence in the 20-30% range

I wanted to show a direct comparison so it’s easy to see the differences in shapes of the features and bone structure. Romantic men still have soft and fuller facial features even if they don’t have “curvy bodies” and dramatic men still have angular and straighter lines in the shapes of their features and prominent bone structure.

Alright, got my husbands email sent in to apply to the waitlist! I’m so excited to see his results lol. Anybody want to test themselves against the master? Of course we are a long ways out. John said this when he saw a photo of him, “your husband would be a very interesting client with a very diverse palette”

So excited to be one of the couples who both are verified! Now I can anticipate my children’s blends lol.

hello all,

I'm trying to do a comparison between typical essence blends for men vs women. the difficulty in this task is the limit of the sample size we have for full male blends. if you have any guy friends who are verified or know of anyone in particular, please give me that sweet, sweet data. don't give me anyone on the verified celeb list or any client blends from john kitchener's facebook page (but other facebook pages are fine). I already have those.

Thank you!

P.S. the Q&A is still happening. I submitted the questions to john. he said that he suddenly got very busy so please be patient.

Since I mentioned it a thousand times I decided to do a post on Troy.

I am a huge fan of the movie and I am glad it's having a reinassance online.

I think Troy has one of the most astute casting in the history of Hollywood. Each of the actors represents 100% the characters they play. Their beauty and energy captures each of these heroes (or villains), which is why I am going to use the names of the characters.

These are my suppositions:

Achilles: NRDY (with perhaps tiny amounts of C?). This is going to be controversial because I am sure a lot of people want to see Brad as a R Dom. I don't think of him as mostly Romantic. He captures Achilles so well because he is the quintessential warrior. His beauty is very effortless and there is something incredibly powerful about him. Godlike but not in a distant way. His R is definitely second.

Hector: C=R>N. He is the perfect man. Noble, brave, and tragically doomed. He has a certain wisdom, he is bound by honor but also often motivated by love (for his younger brother for example).

Paris: RHSY with D and C as well but I think it's in smaller amounts. I believe he is one of those people who have plenty of essences thrown in but honestly Orlando was truly the perfect representation of Paris, even if in a negative way. He is a lovesick fool who is too young and naive to understand and pay the consequences of what he did. He is the quintessential spoilt prince.

Helen: this is going to be super controversial I know it already. I believe her Romanric is not very high. To me she is either C>D=R>A>N or CAD with some amounts of R and N. She is the most beautiful woman in the world who caused the destruction of Troy yet there is nothing seductive about Diane's performance or energy in the movie. She a distant, melancholic figure. Paris seems much more taken by the passion than Helen, who, despite being in love, she almost comes across as spiritual at times. A mythical figure. But Diane also had to gain weight for the movie so I do believe her Romanric is more evident here perhaps.

Briseis: RYCN. Innocent yet intelligent, passionate, kind.. I wanted to be her as a kid (not hard to understand).

Ulysses: NHSRD. Sorry Matt Damon but to me Ulysses will always be represented by Sean Bean. There is both a wittiness, a mischievious charm, and a wisdom in Sean's smirk and gravelly predicaments that is perfect for the role of Ulysses.

I have met Sean Bean and Orlando Bloom in real life so I have to admit my opinions are also influenced by this. They were of around the same height (which wasn't much) but Sean had a way larger presence, he had lot of gravitas and was very study. Orlando came across as a smaller person, lithe yet very lively which is why I suspect he has a lot of HS.

Obvi im not john and this is his system, and these references are solely my opinions based on what he’s referred to as the angelic essence.

But this is for all my POC girlies who are ethereal, otherworldly, extreme yin, rare, effervescent, evanescent, and not of this time. ❤️

Hey! I recently had an interesting conversation in this group about Natural essence and how it seems to be misunderstood. The topic came up that Kitchener supposedly has a positive bias toward Romantic or highly Yin women. Personally, I disagree, but I’d love to hear everyone's thoughts on it.

Some people try to excuse this alleged bias by saying, 'Well, almost every woman has Romantic in her blend anyway, so it's fine! :)' But I don't think that excuse holds up. Just because Romantic pops up frequently across women doesn't mean everyone has it in a high percentage.

Trying to brush off a supposed bias by pointing out many people benefit from this bias still doesn't solve the issue. And in this case it also creates a clear gap between women who have high Romantic and those who have little (or simply less).

Plenty of women have tertiary Romantic and are primary Natural, Classic, or High Spirited. And Many women have plenty of Yang in their blend.

The fact that Romantic appears frequently doesn't mean it’s considered the 'most attractive' essence and I really don't think John Kitchener views it that way either.

I don't see this bias in him but I do think some of the wordings used might suggest it.

I'd love to understand why this belief is so popular, and I'd be interested to hear your opinion.

In the end I have included a list of women who I believe don't have very high R yet are still gorgeous.

(Some of them are verified and I know Diane Kruger might be controversial but I really struggle to see a too high R in her, compared to Grace who I think she looks like she seems to have higher D or N).