  We study the minimal set of Higgs scalars, for models based on the local
gauge group $SU(3)_c \otimes SU(3)_L \otimes U(1)_X$ which do not contain
particles with exotic electric charges. We show that only two Higgs $SU(3)_L$
triplets are needed in order to properly break the symmetry. The exact
tree-level scalar mass matrices resulting from symmetry breaking are calculated
at the minimum of the most general scalar potential, and the gauge bosons are
obtained, together with their couplings to the physical scalar fields. We show
how the scalar sector introduced is enough to produce masses for fermions in a
particular model which is an $E_6$ subgroup. By using experimental results we
constrain the scale of new physics to be above 1.3 TeV.
