L’Eau d’Issey pour Homme Eau Essentielle by Issey Miyake

It seems to me so similar to Solar Lavender that I don’t understand its release. It is an eminently lavender fragrance, seemingly a bit on trend this year. On the drydown it turned more towards the lavender of HB’s Striking Lavender, but the similarity to Solar Lavender is obvious, and from the same brand at that, released the previous year. It’s as if they felt the need to release something lavender this year and, even though Solar Lavender is still current, they took some of their discarded formulas for that launch and brought it out this year. It adds nothing to the line or to the market. If I were to keep one, I’d keep Solar Lavender, because although they are two lavender perfumes, the other one is better, for me. That said, regarding longevity on skin, this one has turned out better.

I’ve just bought it and am trying it out. I don’t get the citrus at all, but I do get a soft, lightly spiced lavender with a barbershop touch, combined with a fairly present woody base. I find it perfect for spring or summer; it gives a feeling of cleanliness without being intrusive, though that won’t please many either, as like many Issey fragrances its projection is quite discreet. In short, a scent perhaps not very original, but one that I liked quite a lot for its simplicity and clarity of ideas. ……… On a second try, I notice a fairly pleasant aquatick freshness at the opening, although I can’t perceive the ginger and mandarin notes, and it quickly gives way to the spiced lavender heart.

I think that here the executives of Shiseido saw that Kenzo (LVMH) released last year the Eau Pure, and said, hey, what if we do the same here with our flagship an “Eau D’Issey Pure”, come on, let’s call it Essentielle. It smells like cleaning product, no Yuzu, the ginger quite poorly achieved, the mandarin, the same as any citrus from the 90s made with basic chemicals. The duration is pitiful. What is pretty is the bottle and the colour (by the way very similar to the Prada green, which they use as background paint in their boutiques). Like everything that comes out these years, does it smell bad? Not at all, it smells clean (so clean that it seems like a cleaning product) and pleasant. Is it purposeful? Is it novel? Is it exciting? No, no, no.

I just bought it and I’m testing it. I don’t notice the citrus at all but rather a slightly spicy and soft lavender, with a barbershop touch, combined with a fairly present woody base. I find it perfect for spring or summer, it gives a feeling of cleanliness without being invasive, although this won’t appeal to many, since like many Issey fragrances its projection is quite discreet. In short, a scent perhaps not very innovative but for its simplicity and clarity of ideas I quite liked it. ……… After a second test, I notice in the opening a rather pleasant aquatic freshness, although without perceiving the ginger and mandarin notes, which quickly gives way to a heart of spicy lavender.