Full Idea
The essentialist approach would be to say that an intrinsic property is one such that it is no part of what it is to instantiate that property that the bearer stands in some relation to its surroundings.
Gist of Idea
Essentialists say intrinsic properties arise from what the thing is, irrespective of surroundings
Source
Ross P. Cameron (Intrinsic and Extrinsic Properties [2009], 'Analysis')
Book Reference
'Routledge Companion to Metaphysics', ed/tr. Le Poidevin/Simons etc [Routledge 2012], p.273
A Reaction
This is offered as an alternative to the David Lewis account in terms of duplicates across possible worlds. You will have gathered by now, if you have spent days poring over my stuff, that I favour the essentialist approach.