Issey Miyake Review – L’Eau D’Issey Pour Homme

Our Issey Miyake review looks at the bestselling L'Eau d'Issey Pour Homme. We open, spray and reveal all!

Who is Issey Miyake? A quick Google tells me he's a Japanese fashion designer, known for his fabric innovations. But most of all he's known for his bestselling fragrances. Here at allbeauty there are certain fragrances we all know (even the Accounts department and the mobile Coffee Man) and Issey Miyake L'Eau is one of The Chosen Few. In fact our CEO wears it which makes you think, if a man who has access to thousands of scents chooses that one, it must be pretty special. Armed with these facts, I decided it was time for an Issey Miyake review.

The feeling of freshness and strength of a mountain waterfall - Issey Miyake describing L'Eau

The official notes of Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey Pour Homme are:

• Top Notes: Yuzu, Cypress, Coriander, Mandarin, Clary Sage, Fresh Verbena
• Middle Notes: Blue Water Lily, Nutmeg, Saffron, Bourbon Geranium, Ceylon Cinnamon
• Base Notes: Tobacco, Amber, Musk, Indian Sandalwood, Tahitian Vetiver, Cedar

In fragrance family terms, L'Eau is a Woody scent. Woody scents tend to be warm and cedar-y and manly, so no surprises there. What's the packaging like? Well the bottle is frosted glass with modernist, sleek lines and sharp silver print. There's no hint the fragrance was created back in 1993 (in fact it reminds me of The Shard - sideways on it's actually triangular). It's fairly weighty too and I only have the 75ml. I like it, it instantly evokes quality, modernity, and class. If I was gifting this I'd feel pretty confident I'd made a good choice, especially if I was trying to impress.

 

But what does it smell like? Well it's called 'L'Eau' so I'm expecting something cool, fresh and clean. Reader I am not disappointed, L'Eau definitely ticks those boxes. This is such a clean scent it's almost soap-like. But there's something more here. The overwhelming first impression is citrus but with a fiery, peppery note which I think must be the cinnamon (happy to be corrected!). I can also detect the vetiver and musk. Of course, I can't tell you the dry down on my skin as this is a male scent, but what I can tell you is this scent says clean, groomed and sophisticated. I am noticing after a few minutes that the scent becomes softer and I'd imagine it leaving a subtle aroma rather than announcing itself.

Who should wear this fragrance? I genuinely can't imagine anyone not being suitable for L'Eau D'Issey Pour Homme. Definitely a daytime scent and perfect for the office or casual wear, I'd say it's also great for holidays. It manages to be fresh, clean, citrusy and spicy all at the same time. If you're gifting, buy this for your husband, your boyfriend or your dad (grandads may prefer something a little more traditional).

If you like this then you'll also like:Kenzo Homme - a fellow light, woodsy scent.

So did I like it? Yes. Would I personally buy it? Yes. If I'm giving L'Eau D'Issey Pour Homme marks out of ten it's a solid 8.5. I'd be happy to gift it and I'd be happy around any man who was wearing it.

You can shop Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey Pour Homme right here at allbeauty.