Nature (7)
'nature' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for essence that I've seen before include "Scent; core" , "Intrinsic nature; four Dn" , "one of 21 [HEARTS]" , "Extract (eg, of vanilla)" , "Vital part of something" .)
'nature' is the definition.
(a person's nature or condition)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for character that I've seen before include "Type - letter" , "Letter or figure" , "Part" , "Sign" , "Eccentric person" .)