Essence is a free multi-page eCommerce website template built on Bootstrap 4, designed for online shops that want a clean, responsive layout with a slide-out cart and a dedicated shop page. It was created by Colorlib and distributed through ThemeWagon.
What is Essence?
Essence is a free HTML5 eCommerce Bootstrap template that provides an entire front-end for an online store: a home page, shop page, product listings, checkout page, contact page with Google Maps, and a blog. It accepts your content and product images and renders them through 8 HTML files, 10 CSS files, and 7 JavaScript files, all powered by Bootstrap 4.1.0, jQuery 2.2.4, FontAwesome, Owl Carousel, Nice Select, and Magnific Popup. The template is produced by Colorlib and distributed by ThemeWagon, released under an open-source license that allows commercial use.
Key Features
- Sticky navigation — A fixed header with search field, dropdown menus, and an integrated mega menu for organizing product categories.
- Slide-out cart — A cart panel that appears on click, letting customers review items and proceed to checkout without leaving the page.
- On-hover animations — Product cards in the popular products section animate on hover to draw attention, applied across the shop grid.
- Dedicated shop page — A shop layout with sorting options, pagination for many products, and a back-to-top button for long pages.
- Filtered gallery — A carousel slider and filterable gallery for showcasing products or portfolio items.
- Ready checkout page — A pre-built checkout page that connects to the slide-out cart flow, reducing setup work.
- Google Maps integration — The contact page includes an embedded Google Map to show your store location.
- Email subscription & social icons — Newsletter signup form and social media icon links for audience growth.
- 8 HTML files, 10 CSS files, 7 JS files — Includes SCSS source files and demo images so you can restyle and extend the design.
Who is it for?
- Independent online retailers — Small shops that want a ready-made storefront with product pages, a cart, and checkout without hiring a developer.
- Web designers and freelancers — Designers who need a clean, editable static eCommerce template as a starting point for client projects, with SCSS files for custom styling.
- Startups and small businesses — Businesses launching a brand site that includes a blog and contact page alongside their product catalog.
What can you do with Essence?
- Launch an online store quickly — Replace the demo images and text with your products and pricing, then deploy the static HTML files to any web host or CDN.
- Create a brand website with a blog — Use the included blog page layout to publish company or product updates alongside the shop.
- Showcase a physical store location — Embed your Google Map on the contact page so customers can find you, and link your social media profiles.
- Customize the look with SCSS — Edit the SCSS source files to change colors, fonts, and spacing, then compile to CSS with your own build setup.
What's inside the download?
- 8 HTML files (home, shop, product, checkout, blog, contact, etc.)
- 10 CSS files, 7 JavaScript files, and SCSS source files
- Demo images to populate the layout during development
- Built with Bootstrap v4.1.0, FontAwesome, jQuery v2.2.4, Magnific Popup, Nice Select, and Owl Carousel
License and support
Essence is open source and free to use in commercial projects, with lifetime free updates from ThemeWagon. The theme has been downloaded 12,069 times and is compatible with Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Mobile, Opera, and Safari. Version 1.0.0 was released 8 years ago, so the underlying Bootstrap 4 and jQuery versions are older than current releases.
Alternatives
- Posh — A Bootstrap 4 template from ThemeWagon for creative agencies.
- Baikal — A Bootstrap 4 startup and small business template from ThemeWagon.
FAQ
Is Essence free?
Yes, Essence is free to download from ThemeWagon. It is open source and can be used in commercial projects without payment. Download requires an email address, and ThemeWagon sends the download link by email.
What technologies does Essence use?
Essence is built with Bootstrap 4.1.0, jQuery 2.2.4, FontAwesome icons, Owl Carousel for sliders, Nice Select for styled dropdowns, and Magnific Popup for lightbox galleries. It includes SCSS files for custom styling.
Does Essence include a checkout page?
Yes, the template includes a ready checkout page that works with the slide-out cart. Customers can open the cart from any page and proceed to checkout from there.
Can I use Essence for a non-eCommerce website?
Yes, the template's pages can be adapted. It includes a blog, gallery, and contact page with Google Maps, so it can serve as a general business or portfolio website, though the shop features are its main focus.
Does Essence have a mega menu and slide-out cart?
Yes, the sticky navigation includes an integrated mega menu and dropdown options, and the slide-out cart appears on click so visitors can review and check out without reloading the page.
