L'eau d'Issey (for women)

Maugli

Must be the synthetic nature of the composition which puts people off (me included)... Melon rules here despite the big number of other notes. Reminds me of the glass cleaning liquid aroma.

mirror

I remember first hearing about this perfume. A very popular magazine nominanted the 10 worst smells in the world. L'eau d'Issey was on rank 2, just after the winner: rotten squid. (I am not joking!)

Well, I don't know if it was because of this but when I first tried it turned my stomach. Overripe fruit with flowers on the edge to turning bad mixed with that strong cleaner-like aquatic note. The powdery and heavy sweetness just did not fit with the overexaggerated aquatic...
A few day's later had a friend try it because I wanted to show her what an ugly fragrance I had found... Strangly the notes were still the same but on her skin the fragrance was quite pleasant! She loved it and even ended up buying it.

But one thing I still regret. It is a very strong fragrance in terms of being all around you. I can always tell if someone in the room (or in the next room) is wearing L'Eau d'Issey. So even if the fragrance smells good on some people it can be quite bothersome to the surroundings.

persefonex

At first, i loved. But later, it made me sick. I have that use it in drops, because other way, i will have a headache. i think that is for other kind of people.

Wristsniffer

I jumped on the bandwagon a little late with this one. It's my latest purchase and I couldn't be happier with it. It took testing out the eau de parfum version before I noticed the carnation note (I never noticed it in the EDT). After spraying and for the first half-hour or so, I smell A LOT of carnations - and not the artificial ones so commonly used in perfume that smell more like cloves than the flower itself; the carnation in Issey is a very real rendition of the beautiful flower in its natural form. It's light, just slightly spicy, creamy, and smooth.

The melon notes also stand out quite a bit, though they don't show up on my skin until about an hour or so after application. This perfume dances between powdery and green - but never quite feels like an aquatic because it's lacking any harsh artificiality.

I read that this perfume was inspired by water and I can see that - it's very pure, very fresh, very natural. It's what I'd expect to smell if I dipped my nose into a bowl of cool, pure mountain water that carnations and lilies had been soaking in, with a few melon slices at the bottom, smiling up at me. I also want to say it's almost lactonic, a rice milk perhaps, but it's not really that, exactly. There's something indefinable - that note that I can't quite figure out that guarantees I'll end up loving the scent because it offers something I can't express with words.

Despite the light tones of Issey, it's quite a thick fragrance with a lot to say and it sings at the top of its lungs to make sure those around it don't miss its beautiful song. Though it's strong, I'd say it's relatively inoffensive. The EDP lasts all day on my skin and through the night, as well.

I was looking for something fresh, yet natural, for the summer heat and I found it in L'eau D'Issey. Instead of something fruity or "fresh" that just smells clean, Issey blooms in the warmer weather and smells like a garden bathed in light. It makes me smile and puts me in a brighter mood! =)

sky76sky

I simply adore the male fragrance....but, try as I may, my chemistry just doesn't work with the women's one :(

I get the freshness, the melon, the crisp florals.....but then it develops into a sour affair....there is an 'off' smell to it, almost rotting leaves! I can't put my finger on it....but it's definitely not pleasant.

When I was at uni, all my friends wore this scent & it worked well on them. I think you really need to try this one on your skin, in case you are disappointed.

Matin

Really special, a perfume to get lost in. He reminds me to one day with rain in a small place and the soft smell of the wood.

christina~xoxo

wow! after reading all the reviews seems like people absolutley love it or absolutley despise this one! cant figure out why but i just love it..i used to wear this about 8 yrs ago and have been craving something clean and fresh smelling so i went back to issey :) i can understand why some say they can get a headache from it because a little goes a long way..it has a spicy-ness to it that definitely could result in burning of the sinuses if sprayed too much!
but i still love it!

tvu

This is my all time favorite perfume. This suits the younger age group.You can wear this perfume all year round. The long lasting floral aqua fragrance gives you that feeling of relaxed, joy and freshness of summer delight!

guest_evgenia

generally I don't like fresh and clean parfume...like White Linen and so on but this one!!!I like it!!!!and it's longlasting on me!.

Trinity

A co-worker of mine wears this and it remains me of old socks….. :-(

Although, it is considered an "aquatic" fragrance, there is something in the fragrance that smells old and rotten…..like something you forgot in the laundry basket…hmm….like old socks…..maybe it’s the melon….?..who knows…?!….

menaman

sometimes i feel it smells good...
but not for dating...the smells pricking your nose til you get flu..hahaha~

azuriiita

Its a sharp and common watery scent. Nothing special for me. A rare mediocre fragrance of the Issey Miyake 's stock

Perfumaniac

The presence of light, delicate flowers combined with rose and lotus notes reveals a fresh aquatic floral with a fragrant, woody aura.
A sharp, aquatic fragrance. This feminine scent possesses a blend of fresh water florals including lily. Along with a touch of carnation.

guest_amarilla

erm... i guess it must be the melon, as i really hate it -thats what bothers me in hillfiger's true star and anna sui's fragrances :(

guest_amarilla

I like all the Miyake fragrances -except this one. I tried to like it but there is something very annoying in it. Dunno which note(s) but makes me feel sick and gives me a headache.

justine_gayle

at first, i hate it. It's too fresh and it just gave me a headache. But the scent grows on you. Now, I like it. Although I only have to spray it once a day because it lasts all day long. :)

Marianne

@ katyas: You're right - it seems to be based on the same "idea" as Ming Shu. BUT: In my opinion, Yves Rocher copied this structure and now produces a similar fragrance, just with cheaper (maybe more synthetic) ingredients. I wouldn't prefer Yves Rocher's perfume - Issey Miyake might be more expensive but it's worth that. I think that you can definitely "smell the quality".

tessture

White floral explosion. What I call a tea-party fragrance, because you can wear it anywhere, with anything short of evening-formal and offend no one. Last forever, too.

katyas

I tried this, and discovered that, on me, it smells EXACTLY the same as Ming Shu by Yves Rocher. I put a drop of one on one arm and the other on the other and neither my husband NOR I could tell the difference. Ming Shu lasted longer and had a more pleasant dry-down, which is the only difference I could tell. In future I will save myself money and just go with Ming Shu.

star10

it opens strangely,misterious,without leaving you the ability to guess the compositions,but you can just smell some fresh aquatic notes,which is not sweet,neither bitter.how can I describe it?it's all about lotus,mixed with some light notes of other flowers.I can hardly smell any fruity notes and that's strange,because I'm into fruity fragrances and yet I can't get enough of it.I love all of Issey perfumes and this one is unique.just smell and imagine you're swimming.

LizzieM

Love this. I started wearing this in 1992 when it first arrived on the scene, my mother in law started to wear it this year..so I stopped......

The lotion is divine, stunning. I would often use that and not the EDP/EDT

rheea oana

I'm a bold, ouspoken, always saying what I think person ...my sister says I'm kind of bitchy!!And sometimes I feel I need aquatic soft fragrances to temper my fiery coleric personality.
The scent itself is flawless!
Fluidity charecterizes this per ansamble...pure essences bloom from the firts application...watery juicy at first, certainlly the melon!
The infusion of flowers adds complexity and body in the structure of the fragrance!!The development it's not a linear one....it has ascending and descending notes that intersect borrowing from each other some characteristics making very hard to say when one scent starts and one end...but the general scent I sense is a melange of spring flowers: peony, rose,lily spritzed with melon extract...What I like in a good aquatic fragrance is the presence of flower essences in the base note.Here the osmathus-tuberose seems to cover the woody notes in a honey glaze emphasizing the musky-cedar aroma!

Overall in has a very tranquil effect to me...a soothing aromatheraphy quality to balance the machiavellic persona I sometimes am ;)

simonac

I try it a few times, but on my skin it's too fresh; on the others skin I like it (annoyng, don't you think?); definitely not for me

brickbird

I like this fragrance. It is very fresh and clean.

anca.ionescu

I like it very much.Feminine and fragile.

Trvevil

My mum loves it. But it always gives me headaches.
One perfume that I don't like to wear or smell. First is Chanel N5.
On me this one's top notes are definite melon and it fades away very quickly. Leaving just a smell of honey and flowers. Long lasting and fresh, but not watery on me. It's like juice with honey.

amanda

its such a clean scent, people like it on me, but they say it has quite a strong lilyofthevalley smell, but i cant detect its so strong, for me its very harmonized

p_autumn6

it's too strong but the scent of it is very classic.

elaida_00

This perfume was the first designer perfume that i had.i still remember it; it is floral and fresh and long lasting

Althea

smells sour to me and it reminds me of Ralph Lauren Polo Sport woman. Also the bottle is very simple but not in a pretty way, looks cheap, smells cheap. No offence please.

Kittycat63

This is a horrible perfume! I read a rave review of it once and couldn't wait to smell it but when I did it made me virtually recoil. I really hated the smell and would never buy a perfume that smells this yucky. I can't believe it's so popular.

gosienka

Years ago I used to like it a lot. Now all that I can smell is melon, melon and melon... and something strong and sharp. I also do not like the Lily of the Valley ingredient. It smells too ordinary and reminds me of soap. I look for something more sofisticated and unique in perfumes. Well, I am definitely not a fan of aquatic fragnances, at lest not this one.

hena a

the smell of rose and rose water are very dominating. the scent is fresh tho.

Luciana

buenisimo perfume, es excelente

Boggi

My best friend wears this, but I dont like it. Something sharp in here that I dont like. My boyfriend like it. How annoying!

Halvah

I'm looking for a feminine, fresh but unique summer fragrance for a very long time. OK, now it's September, I can wait for a while.... but could you help me? I have one favourite: Jesus del Pozo Duende (not Essentia Duende), and i'm looking for a similar styled scent.

Issey Miyake L'Eau Issey is definetely not for me, it's nothing classic in it, it's somehow sharp and annoying on my skin:(

liat

A uniquely bad mixture of whatever it is they put in there. Can't stand it.

chance25

This scent reminds me of EA Sunflowers and CK Escape. Very aquatic feeling and almost captures summer time for me. I know for many it's an HG scent anytime of the year. For me, the citrus I smell has such a cool heady tone that it's almost too much. I wish this were tweaked a little to bring in some interesting warmth. All the LE summer editions are all the same usually alcohol free.

tinuviel8

It's so over-rated. I honestly don't think it's that nice at all. Well to each its own I guess. Definitely not for me.

Passionflower

I used to love it and wear it all the time, but I so did everyone else at the time! I guess I got bored with it. When I smell it now, I still like the freshness of it, I'd recognise it anywere.

dianachif

I wear this scent as a jewelry. I Have no words to describe how wonderfull I feel myself wearing it! It is one of my favourites!

indigo.smile

It's safe and clean..i use it infrequently. It's not quite my cup of tea

indigo.smile

It's safe and clean..i use it infrequently. It's not quite my cup of tea

Sicily

I like this scent. It's fresh and light, but not teen, it's very classy and feminine. Staying power is great. I also like the bottle, it's simple & unique.

bartamy

I love how it wears on my skin - floral but crisp with the water notes nicely pronounced. I prefer the EDP; the EDT is noticeable lighter and doesn't last as long.

guest_Zoe M

It's very fresh and clean for me. So modern. But not for me. I didn't like it when I smell it.

pimpnazt

My mother wears this and it seems very safe and fresh.

elgab89

Very nice and fresh on my friend. Not for me, I preffer warmer perfumes.

sandrina_bambina

Brings lasting freshness with sweet flavuors, and explosions of joy.
One of my favoured for a good mood :)