Izia by Sisley

Previous chapter: Eau Du Soir by Sisley. CHAPTER II: EDP Izia by Sisley. If there were a time machine, its fuel would be the perfume Izia. Smelling it, first of all, my memories took me to my childhood: my grandmother’s house, her perfumes Climat and Magie Noire, her petal rose, citrus, red berry, and sugar drink, her divine garden of Eastern European roses with peonies and lily of the valley, jasmine and lilacs, angelica and red, white, and yellow roses. Then I was transported to my adolescence: my first love, the gardens of southern France, the May roses, the jasmine of Grasse. The next stop was the Roseraie de Bagatelle in Paris, whose corners I never tired of exploring. Furthermore, I remember the year 2006. The film ‘The Perfume: The Story of a Murderer’ premiered in cinemas. I was out with a girl, her skin smelled like Miss Charming from the maison Juliette has a gun. Izia reminded me of Miss Charming. Even, out of curiosity, I bought Miss Charming and checked that yes, after 2 hours its trail on my skin smells exactly like the main notes of Izia, rose and bergamot. If I didn’t know that the rose inspiring Francis Kurkdjian is the Moroccan one and the one inspiring Isabelle d’Ornano is the French one, a mysterious rose that only blooms once a year, I’d say it’s the same rose both took as a starting point. Only that the perfumer fruited it, making it capricious, greedy, the one that never existed (not to say synthetic), and Isabelle wrapped it in the mantle of cedar balance, the tranquility of angelica, the longing of lily of the valley, the freshness of aldehydes, and the bitter notes of peonies. She has created a noble and soothing composition, with great class. It conveys inner peace. The vast majority of perfumes demand exhibition, being seen, shining, impressing others. In contrast, Izia invites me to interiorise in its all-encompassing company. It is where Isabelle will be with me, the one who doesn’t push me towards unknown experiences, doesn’t ask me to renew my wardrobe, doesn’t ask me for action; in fact, it doesn’t ask for anything. Carefree and friendly, it sends its greetings of joy and kindness. It’s not a complex and majestic perfume, rather simple. Its name tells us everything, Izia, the diminutive of Isabelle in Polish. The grand clothes rest in their wardrobes, the diamonds and rubies are kept in jewel cases. The princess is at home, simply showing herself as she is. Sincerely, I’m not surprised that the vast majority of Spanish Fragrantica users don’t find Izia attractive and interesting. The stifling atmosphere of warm climates, according to my experience, kills this delicate and romantic perfume. Above all, the dry Mediterranean summer is completely mortal for it. To open up and bloom, Izia needs freshness and humidity. I also don’t see it as compatible with sub-zero temperatures. On my skin and clothes, it is long-lasting. The trail is moderate in evolved users. I, like a savage who doesn’t think of others (in this case), easily achieve a two-metre trail, i.e. heavy. I’d like to add my observations on the bottle. At first glance, it seemed similar to a rubber duck. Then, when I brought it home, I put it on the black wooden shelf stuck to the wall in front of the window. Seeing it among the ship model caravels and vessels, I saw in it an impetuous sailboat with its little flag (the cap), illuminated by the pink-yellow rays of sunset/sunrise. It’s not a uniform colour of a solid object but a gradient, diaphanous colour, the colour of light. I have dozens of high perfumery and niche bottles but none reflect light as much as this one. If you want to adorn some strategic corner of your home, place Izia there. It will sparkle with multiple light beams like a Christmas tree. This bottle is a true masterpiece. To be continued… in CHAPTER III: EDT Tropicale by Sisley.

The bottle is unforgivable; it looks like a low-quality 80s perfume, those that smelled like hairdresser’s concoctions. The contents are nowhere near the standard of other perfumes from this house, but something curious happened: it reminded me of the first time I smelled DKNY and thought, ‘What on earth is this?’ I wasn’t ready to appreciate a cold, neon-like and energising scent when flowers and jasmine were the dominant notes. The impression is that it was released in an era surrounded by gourmands, and it’s probable we won’t truly appreciate it until later. Longevity is around four hours and the sillage is average (it fades significantly in the dry-down). As for the scent, the opening is slightly sharp and there’s something quite acidic, though in a good way, I suppose it’s the lemon. Then come the flowers, and I swear I detect a hint of tropical. In summary, it’s a good perfume, very original, in a horrible bottle and not reaching the heights of its older siblings. For that price, I would definitely buy a small bottle of eau de toilette.

Chapter II of Sisley: Izia. If time travel existed, its fuel would be this perfume. It takes me back to my childhood with my grandmother’s perfumes and her rose garden in Eastern Europe, then to my adolescence with the gardens of Southern France. It reminds me of Miss Charming by Juliette Has a Gun. Francis Kurkdjian used a Moroccan rose, Isabelle a mysterious French one; here they fruitify it, make it capricious, and wrap it in cedar, angelica, and lily. It’s noble and soothing, conveying inner peace. It doesn’t demand exhibition, but interiorisation. Izia, the diminutive of Isabelle in Polish, is the princess in her own house. I’m not surprised many Spaniards find it unattractive; the Mediterranean summer kills it. It needs freshness and humidity. On my skin, it’s long-lasting and the trail is heavy. The bottle looks like a sailboat illuminated by a gradient sunset. It’s a masterpiece that shines with the light.

Sisley is masterful with its roses; it has its signature and Izia is no exception. It is a radiant, luminous, young, fragrant, and vibrant rose, with a velvet texture. It smells of happiness, of a sunny day with rosebuds covered in dew, intense citrus, green leaves, and acidulous sensations. Despite its youth, it has inherited lineage; it is the sister of Soir de Lune and Eau du Soir but with its own personality. There is clarity, freshness, modernity, and energy. It is a palpable, fleshy, intense, clean rose, with a woody and sweet base. It feels natural, with quality and luxury. To smell like the most refined princess. It could easily be a signature scent; I see no date or time tattooed on it; it is mouldable to any situation. On my skin it lasts 6 hours, the first two intense and then skin-scent. If you love natural roses, do not miss it.

I can only speak to how it makes me feel. It’s a very cheerful, elegant, citrusy aroma with juicy roses and a very light sweet touch. I wear it in the mornings for work, but also on very hot summer nights. I’d highlight the bergamot, the roses, and the pink pepper. You don’t have to be an expert (which I’m not) to know it’s refined and of excellent quality. I don’t recall hearing anything like this in other perfumes. I see it as perfect for spring/summer, but also on warm, humid autumn days. The longevity is very good; on my skin it lasts about 7 hours, though I usually reapply because I love that initial sharp burst that disappears in a few minutes. It’s a beautiful, sparkling perfume worth trying.

To say it’s a bad perfume would be a lie; the bottle isn’t impressive, it doesn’t look like a great perfume, but to be honest, none of Sisley’s are visual marvels. But the quality is good; the aromas tend to be sophisticated. Izia is fresh and light; at first it didn’t seem like much to me, but after a few minutes it seemed significant. It has pepper, rose, peony; it’s very floral but not overwhelming. The longevity is good but it’s not a perfume with great projection; it lasts about 6 hours without causing a scene. It’s lovely, with a nuance I liked very much. As it’s Sisley, it’s expensive, so it has to enchant you or you’ll feel you’ve wasted the money.

Izia isn’t a bad perfume, although it’s not what I expected. Leaving aside the bottle, it’s a modern, light, youthful rose with modern aldehydes that seek the past without being pasty. It tries to unite what is missed with what is stylish today. It makes more sense when worn: it makes a difference. It’s not what I expected from Sisley, but I don’t dislike it. In spring, with sunlight, it puts me in a good mood. This time I noticed a greater trail than other scents from the brand and longevity that comes in bursts. I’d like to buy it, although the price is through the roof and the bottle is small.

The bottle is unforgivable; it looks like an eighties perfume of poor quality smelling like a mixture. The contents don’t match up to others from the house, but it reminds me of my first DKNY: cold, neon, and energising. We probably won’t appreciate it until the gourmand trend passes. It lasts about four hours with a medium trail. The opening is a bit sharp, slightly acidic (perhaps lemon), then the flowers arrive with a tropical hint. It’s original and a good perfume, but in a horrible bottle. At that price, I’d buy a small vial of Eau de Soir instead.

But what an energetic and dazzling scent is this? After having my olfactory senses accustomed to linear fragrances, all similar to one another… smelling something so different, so sparkling and cheerful suddenly fills you with energy and optimism. Yes, to such an extent is this perfume powerful. It’s very potent but with cheerful, acidic, youthful notes… and with incredible longevity and trail. I’ve loved it. Finally something different! I love it for any time of year and situation. Wonderful!

What a disappointment! I bought it blindly trusting the good reviews and that Sisley is a guarantee, but I was completely wrong. On the wrist, the opening was unpleasant, it improved a little but I still didn’t like it. After half an hour it was hard to smell, and by an hour I felt nothing. It is a serious flaw that it lasts so little, and besides, it is one of the most unpleasant perfumes I have tried. I don’t know what to do with the bottle or how to sell it; the lost money hurts.

What an energetic and dazzling scent this is! After being used to linear and boring fragrances, smelling something so different, sparkling and cheerful instantly filled me with energy and optimism. It’s very potent, yet with cheerful, acidic and youthful notes, plus it boasts incredible longevity and sillage. I absolutely loved it. Finally, something different! I adore it for any season and occasion. Wonderful!

BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The more you use it, the more you like it. At first, I didn’t like the opening; very aldehydic and strong, unpleasant to my nose. But over time, I was amazed by the heart notes, like a rainbow, the smell of a rose with a solar halo. Then it dries down to citrus and lasts six hours. I recommend trying before buying. Try it, there’s nothing like it!

I don’t know of any other Sisley fragrances; they never intrigued me. But when I tried Izia, the sales assistant invited me to sample it, and the scent transported me to the rose gardens of Palermo: soft yet crisp, fruity roses, acidic with warm sweetness. I love clean fragrances where you can detect the quality of the flowers. Everything else is just smoke.

They invited me to try it out during the festive season, and the sales assistant almost convinced me. It’s an unconventional rose, sparkling with a strong trail. I wouldn’t call it fresh; rather, it’s dry, talcum-powdered, and elegant. It’s harmonious, cheerful, and a truly unique scent. It’s absolutely worth it for the quality and price.

Total disappointment. I was looking for a floral aldehydic scent but found not a trace of aldehydes, only sweetness. They warned me it smells like Delina, and, as happens with my parents when they say ‘I told you so’, I didn’t want to believe it until I tried it.