Our take
What does L'Eau d'Issey smell like?
Introduced in 1992, L’Eau d’Issey translated the designer’s minimalism into scent and pushed back against the heady florals of the 1980s. Jacques Cavallier drew a strikingly clean aquatic floral. Lotus and freesia open over a watery melon that creates a damp, almost vegetal coolness. In the heart, peony, lily and rose stay translucent, as though diluted in clear water. A base of musk, cedar and soft amber anchors the composition without weighing it down. The result is a fresh, slightly ozonic cleanliness that defined much of the decade and paved the way for a whole wave of aquatic fragrances.
When to wear it
Ideal for hot days and the office; it appeals to fans of minimalism and fresh florals.
It belongs to the Floral, Aquatic family. L'Eau d'Issey is one of 4 creations by Issey Miyake in our encyclopedia.
