Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Issey Miyaki L’eau d’issey (Summer EDT 2012)






One of the best things about Issey Miyaki perfumes is the new editions it launches every season, and it keeps me and my nose ever inquisitive. Though I must admit every time I go to an outlet to pick up a bottle, I get a little paranoid as to what if the next edition is still better than this one? Almost all the L’eau d’Issey editions have my approval, be it the Florale, Noir, Summer or the Amber. There is generally very subtle difference in the scents from the original L’eau d’Issey, the theme almost always being the same – Fresh, Floral and aquatic.

This time around, I gathered courage (and funds) and finally decided to pick a limited edition bottle and as I had always liked the green and blue summery bottle, I decided to invest in the Issey Miyaki L’eau d’issey (Summer EDT 2012).



The well known variant blatantly announces Summer. I love the way the bottle plays with transparency against the green opaque leafs. A light blue transparent bottle is wrapped with opaque fresh green leafs giving the bottle a very natural, tranquil and rain forest feel. The original shape of the Leau d’Issey bottle is retained.
It is very difficult to describe the perfume without comparing it with its sister L’eau d’issey. The Fragrance can be described as fresh, aquatic and floral with hints of summer, grass and something else green.  The fragrance is very light, fresh and exhilarating. It is a very feminine scent and oozes elegance. The fragrance envelops you and lingers for hours making you feel fresh and confident. It feels like a splash of fresh fragrant water on a warm summer day.

The inspiration of this edition is desert, palms and tranquility. One can definitely smell the roses, melon, pear, peony and fresh cut grass in the top notes, more flowers along with fresh aquatic notes in the middle and citrusy, spicy and woody notes in the dry down.  Aquatic notes abound in freshness and energy, are in harmony with flowers, aromatic herbs, citruses, spices, wood and amber.



The staying power of the perfume is very good. It lasts for 3-4 hours on my skin and even longer on my clothes. I especially like to use this one during the day for its freshness and crispness. It just seems perfect for warm summery days.

I like this special edition even more than the signature L’eau d’Issey as it is more fresh and green and little less expensive than the signature scent.



Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Cool Water For Men

Cool Water For Men



Cool Water is like taking a plunge into the deep blue sea and emerging rejuvenated from it. As the name suggests the Fragrance is outright aquatic.

Cool water is a combination of Orange Blossoms, Coriander, Peppermint, rosemary and lavender in the top notes, Jasmine, Geranium and sandalwood in the middle and Amber, musk and cedar in the base notes.
Though it is essentially an aquatic fragrance there are very noticeable hints of greens in it. It is a clean and fresh fragrance with a slightly spicy tone and a hint of musk. Though there is a sharpness in the fragrance, it is essentially a mild and well balanced scent with no particular note too over powering.

The Tones starts off as a clean citrusy fragrance and develops a spicy tone. I am a not a big fan of the dry down of the scent which gets a little powdery and synthetic. The dry down reminds me of ‘Ponds Dream Flower Magic’ . Though musk is an essential ingredient in this fragrance, the scent of musk is very mild. So if you are a musk fan, this one is not for you. The staying power of this scent is not too strong. It lasts 2-3 hours on the skin.

Cool water is an any time fragrance and you can depend on it for any season and occasion. It is most ideally suited for casual and daytime occasions. It works well for men of all ages. It is most widely used fragrance available in the market. Due to its subtle and mild fragrance, it is considered a safe bet and hence is ideal for gifts.

It is not a perfume you would love, not a scent you wouldn’t like.