1. In a medium bowl, combine flour, salt, and baking soda. To reduce clumsiness, sift through a sifter or sieve. Gently mix these together, then set the bowl aside.
2. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugars together, then beat in eggs and vanilla extract, vanilla essence . The coarseness of the sugar granules will help break the butter down, so be sure to do this first. Then add the eggs and vanilla and mix again until completely combined.