L'eau D'Issey by Issey Miyake

It’s an old favourite and one I hadn’t bought for years until I picked up a tester recently, under the microscope today is L'eau D'Issey, a fragrance although made in France is from the Japanese fashion/fragrance house Issey Miyake.

I was introduced to this fragrance by a friend of the family. Now don't get me wrong, I don't go around smelling people, this smell simply wafted my way whilst out one night. I was immediately hooked.

At £38 for a 125ml bottle it won’t break the bank and gives enough of the aftershave to leave you well and truly smelling like the gods. 

Metallic in its finish the box and actual shaping to the bottle are unique. The bottle, made out of thick frosted glass rather than being round is flat, about 3.5cm thick at the bottom and then it tapers to about 1cm thick at the top. It contains a lot of glass and is rather heavy! 

The frosted glass look and actual colour of the visible liquid reminded me of the Acqua De Gio bottle. It said to me, this is a cool, fresh, vibrant young smell (I‘d like to say just like me but I‘m not going to be teeing up jokes for everyone else today). 

The notes to L'eau D'Issey build this fragrance up as being a fresh yet warm woody scent with spicy notes.

Released two years after the female version, the male fragrance has the same theme of water running through the smell. This fragrance is meant to excite the senses and make you feel more confident and self assured in the fact that you smell gorgeous. The ingredients include carnation, peony, white lily, nutmeg, saffron and coriander. Again, this fragrance has surprising ingredients.

On first application only four tiny sprays were needed and the bathroom began to fill with an extremely sweet, fruity fragrance. The carnation and lily were evident and my first impression were that of a sweet, light fragrance which seemed to fade fairly quickly. I swore (a regular occurrence for me, but not of the vulgar kind this time) I could smell a hint of lemon, but this isn't mentioned in the notes!

Although it seemed to fade, that first initial blast from the bottle seemed to give me that wake up call I needed. A pleasant assault on my nose.

While the smell was noticeable as I moved around, the smell became heavier, with the woody earthy undertones of nutmeg and cinnamon. The fragrance was still very subtle to me, but not to others around me and I was complimented by several people over the next seven hours of the smell.

After wearing the fragrance for around four hours the smell was no longer present as far as I could tell although when undressing, the fragrance still smelt beautiful on my shirt, although by this time it was a warm spicy smell. This was around 10 hours after those first four blasts with the atomiser.

Further applications were required later in the day, just to get that fresh feeling back, but on the whole I was very pleased with the staying power and the nice compliments. As this is a fresh, light, citrus fragrance I'd put it in the same league as Acqua De Gio and Joop. It's aimed at males from 20 to 65, and in all honesty, every time I've smelt this on another person it has smelt as lovely. It is one of those fragrances you can detect a hint of in a bar and know what it is - distinct is an understatement.

Bearing in mind only four blasts of the atomiser were required for good coverage, the 125ml bottle lasts for at least four/five months at a time, and at less than £40 a bottle, it's a bargain and a must have for any sensible bloke who likes to smell damn good. 

This fragrance will get you complimented in the office and noticed on a night out. It really is a wonder fragrance.

I personally don't have sensitive skin, and have never had a problem with using this aftershave, but my brother has, so prior to purchasing you may like to try a tester out just to make sure you don't come out in a nasty red rash. If you don't have a reaction, buy it.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Post note: Without going into too much detail here. The female version of L'eau D'Issey is pretty much the same as the male version. The only difference is that the female version is a touch lighter and sweeter. This is also highly recommended.

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Fathers Day Fragrance Gift Ideas

Personally picking a gift for Father’s Day is a nightmare. More often than not I opt for the easy answer of a card and a promise of a gift at a later date. 

As the day (15 June people) fast approaches instead of leaving it to the last minute I’ve actually put some thought into potential gifts this year and while doing so thought I would categorise them and share possible ideas with my readers. 

As a bit of an aftershave freak I’ve narrowed down the type of dad to help me break this down and hopefully be a bit more helpful to potential consumers out there.  

Going back through the various reviews of aftershave I’ve done here and previously under a different guise for an opinion website here are my recommendations for gifts this Fathers Day. It's worth noting, these recommendations are good all year round for birthdays and Christmas.

The categories are: Trendy Dad, Earthy Dad and Sporty Dad (it‘s like a bastardised version of the Village People/Spice Girls).

Trendy Dad

The dad that doesn’t want to grow up (this is my dad, pushing 60 and still clinging onto the hope that he can behave like a 30 year old. He dresses in the latest trends, tries and fails to remain hip).

L’Eau D’Issey Pour Homme by Issey Miyake

An extremely light, sweet and fruity fragrance. Carnation and lily are the top notes that fade fairly quickly. Personally I can detect a hint of lemon and citrus but the notes make no such mention of such an ingredient.

Although it seemed to fade, that first initial blast from the bottle always gives me a fresh feeling and is like a fragrant wake up call. It’s a pleasant assault on the senses.

Although the smell is light it is strong and starts to get heavier over the course of the day. With woody earthy undertones of nutmeg and cinnamon I find that over time it becomes so subtle that it doesn’t leave people around you gagging, in fact you’ll be surprised by the compliments. 

With longevity, a few squirts of this will last for well over 10 hours. 

At around £30 for a 75ml bottle you can’t go wrong.

My full review of L'Eau D'Issey can be found here.

Acqua Di Gio

One of my own personal favourites you can’t go wrong with this beautiful citrus explosion. This light fragrance on contact with skin changes dramatically. The light fresh smell of citrus is still evident, and a woody undertone starts to work its way through the top notes. The major thing for me is that as it sits on the skin the strength of the fragrance magnifies making it incredibly hardwearing.

This stuff smells so good I have to remind myself not to smell my hands whenever I've used it at night. It's addictive!

This is an ideal gift and at £32 for a 50ml bottle it isn’t that expensive when you consider that it lasts, and lasts, and lasts some more. 

My full review of Acqua Di Gio can be found here.

Bvlgari Pour Homme

A massively biased entry here from me - bar Prada Luna Rossa this is my favourite fragrance of all time and at just under £30 for a 100ml bottle it represents not excellent value for money it is one of the freshest and lightest aftershaves ever.

A few sprays will fill your bathroom with the gorgeous aroma. 

On application it hits you that this is a light, citrus fragrance similar to CK One with hints of lemon and lavender. 

On dry down it continues to become lighter but much spicier on the nose.  It is such a delicate fragrance that after only a short you can’t tell that you are wearing it. 

Three tiny sprays of Pour Homme or one/two of the Extreme version cover me in a light citrus fragrance that became spicy with only the mildest of woody undertones for in excess of 10 hours. Now that is a result.

My full review of Bvlgari Pour Homme can be found here.

Earthy

The dad that loves the outdoors, the man who is expert at DIY, loves to potter in the garden and is a general all round mans man.

Fahrenheit by Dior

Don’t be put off by the rather bland looking packaging to Fahrenheit, it is a hidden gem that really doesn’t get the credit it deserves. It’s reasonably priced at under £20 for a 50 ml bottle and the warm sensual fragrance with hints of hawthorn, honeysuckle, sandalwood, cedar and patchouli are to die for. 

As soon as it is applied you are struck by the warmth that this gives off on the nose and it has delightful woody overtones. On dry down you can detect hints of honeysuckle that take the edge off the warmth and stop this from being overly masculine. 

Although this is marketed as a sensual fragrance I wouldn't say that it's one of those aftershaves that will make heads turn (not unless you put too much on) in the street but it is very pleasant. 

This is a quality man's aftershave for daywear.

My full review of Fahrenheit can be found here.

Bvlgari Man Extreme

I’ve been using Bvlgari Man Extreme for just over a year and the people I work with share my view that it is one of the best hardwearing fragrances around. Unlike most of the male fragrances from Bvlgari this doesn’t have the light citrus tones, instead it plays up it’s warmth and woody blend of notes to create something completely unique.

When first applying it has the freshness of Bvlgari, light on the nose but quickly becomes heavier, warmer and with hints of spice it screams “I am man” without going too far.

60ml will set you back just over £40 but as this is the concentrate a little goes a very long way. I have found a 60ml bottle will last well over 6 months when using nearly on a daily basis.

Invictus

Invictus, an aftershave I’ve only had for around two months and bought solely on the notes advertised. It sounded great on paper and far exceeded my expectations. This is the must have for any dad who wants to be ever so unique, smell masculine while turning heads in the street. 

Not only does the bottle allow you to pretend you are lifting the Champions League trophy (yes, I can be that childish) it is an aftershave that will make you stand out in the crowd. 

The top notes of grapefruit zest provide a fresh and zesty intro to the fragrance as you prepare for the immediate dry down to warm amber and then patchouli.

50ml will cost just over £30 which can seem a touch on the expensive side but remember, when it comes to writing wills and dividing up assets, when he is torn between leaving you the house or his frankly poor collection of antique gardening tools, you’re going to get the house (please note this is gallows humour and not to be taken literally - there you can‘t sue me now). 

My full review of Invictus can be found here.

Sporty

The dad that hit’s the gym, likes to be fit and healthy while also trying his best to be trendy.

Ralph Lauren Polo Sport

My love affair with Polo Sport started in my late teens (sad to say nearly two decades ago now) when living with a cousin. 

The scent is strong, fresh yet very masculine. 

While the notes to Polo Sport state that this aftershave has a clean and invigorating scent that energises the skin with natural citrus extracts, soothing agents and protective emollients I don‘t find anything that stands out as soothing. 

This aside, it does have a hardwearing citrus zest that dries down to more earthy and woody undertones. Without looking at the actual ingredients, once blended I find that I can detect hints of moss and cedar wood which give it legs in the lasting power stakes.

For just over £20 you can pick up 75ml of this beauty and you will be flavour of the month. 

My full review of Polo Sport can be found here.

Chanel Allure Homme Sport


A quick confession, I adore the female version of Chanel Allure. I can be stood on a train platform and detect it from 20 paces it is so lovely so when the male version was released I just had to have it.

The initial shock of how much it costs is blown away, as are the senses as soon as you smell it. It is awesome. It does actually do what it says on the tin (well, the bottle) and blends from a fresh fragrance down to a warm and spicy hardwearing aftershave.

After around an hour you can almost feel the warmth on your nose while hints of freshness remain. It is a sensory master class with a zest that dries down to an earthy yet light woody undertone. Slight hints of spice take the edge of this making it sportier.

A few sprays and hey presto, you have a good 10 hours of coverage that will turn heads for all the right reasons wherever the wearer goes. That you can’t argue with.

At nearly £50 for 50ml this is one of the most expensive aftershaves on my list but well worth a look if you want that dazzle as your dad opens this gift from you. Chanel oozes style and quality and Allure Homme Sport does this with ease.

Armani Code Sport


With heart notes of Spearmint and Peppermint you’d think that this would leave you smelling like a lump of chewing gum - you couldn’t be more wrong. The minty top notes blend wonderfully with the mandarin and lemon to create a light citrus that is both refreshing and light. 

While it dries down to become more sensual, the ginger and base notes of rosemary give it an edge that says yes I’m sporty, but I’m also a rugged manly fragrance. 

Personally I like the initial application and the smell that lingers in the air for well over an hour before it becomes warmer. A few liberal sprays of Code Sport will leave you with an air of confidence that you smell divine.

At £45 for 50 ml again this isn’t a cheap aftershave but as it lasts for well over 12 hours from just a few sprays it has longevity making it worth the initial outlay.

As always, thank you for reading and I hope that I've given you some useful ideas for a gift for your dad.

What would you recommend for a trendy, earthy or sporty dad?

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Aftershave Wishlist

It’s isn’t that long until I can no longer refer to myself as ‘mid 30’s’ and while I’ll be tucked away with a bottle of Jack Daniels and some anti-depressants sobbing uncontrollably into a pillow there is one upside - presents. 

Over the last 20 years I’ve sampled over a hundred aftershaves of one type and another, ranging from the cheapest and nastiest to some of the finest luxury fragrances on the market. 

The first ever to grace my face (I’m a poet and I didn’t even know it) was Brut (stop laughing at the back) circa 1985 and was more of a childlike bathing in my dad’s aftershave of the time. It was rank! 

Since taking control of aftershave purchases for myself I’ve always had some firm favourites that I’m always drawn to so when it was suggested I should write about the fragrances I want to try it took a while.

I’ve chosen six, I could have easily chosen six hundred and sixty six for comedic effect but my writing time is sadly limited.

In true Jim Bowen style (that’s a Bullseye TV show reference from the mid 1980’s) - Innnnnnnnn one…..

Joop Splash

Anyone who has read my thoughts on the original Joop Homme will know that I really like it. I’ve tried Jump and wasn’t impressed, however the notes to Splash will me with some optimism. 

I haven’t even tried this or smelt it but the top notes of Coriander and Cassowary Fruit, heart notes of Cardamom and Sea Water and base notes of Labdanum, Cedar and Sandalwood lead me to believe that while not as fresh as I‘m used to, this will scream ‘I am man‘ by blending into a warm and spicy combo - rugged but also with redeeming lightness until completely dried down. 

Innnnnnnnn two…….

Issey Miyake L’eau D’Issey Homme Summer

As soon as I saw that Issey Miyake had released a variant of L’eau D’Issey I knew I had to try it. I’m a HUGE fan of this fragrance and even just a slight tweak to the fragrance would leave me drooling in anticipation.

The original is so light and fruity I just can’t get enough of it, so to learn that there is another blended around the freshness of kiwi with woody and fruity undertones gets the thumbs up from me.

The only downside - the bottle looks a bit camp, but I don’t care - this is on the list, it’s staying on the list and I’ll stamp my feet if I don’t get a bottle to try out soon. There, you’ve been warned!

Innnnnnnnn three…..

Paco Rabanne Invictus

Back in my younger days, when inside toilets where just a pipe dream (I’m joking about the inside toilet) I liked Paco Rabanne’s XS but as quickly as it was a favourite it as quickly left the collection never to be replaced. 

I hadn’t smelt any other of their fragrances until I was presented with a small tester of Invictus. 

Not only does the bottle look cool, but the fragrance is divine - which is apt considering what they say about it in the marketing blurb. Seriously, they say “…is godly and emphasizes power and masculinity.”

An invigorating mix of marine accord, grapefruit zest, bay leaf and patchouli. Unusual metallic notes are effortlessly blended together to add a level of invincible success to this deep and seductive fragrance. That’s what they say, and from the tester they are spot on. When first applying it was really strong but it dried down quickly to a warm sensual fragrance - the grapefruit and bay leaf are heavenly. 

Innnnnnnnn four…..

Prada Luna Rossa Extreme 

I’d never tried a Prada fragrance, never owned one and I have to confess would normally never even approach the testers. This one is the extreme version of the original Luna Rossa fragrance for men and is marketed as a darker and more sensual take on the original. 

It has notes of Italian Bergamot, black pepper, juniper berries and vanilla. The marketing blurb says that it should create a fresh and spicy fragrance which hypnotises the senses and after having a few squirts of a tester I have been instantly hooked.

As a fan of light and citrus fragrances this one really bucks the trend. It has the warmth of Christian Dior’s Fahrenheit yet is so subtle on dry down that the spice, bergamot and black pepper are infused beautifully. 

I tried just a tester and couldn’t stop smelling my hand. It’s addictive stuff.

Innnnnnnnn five……

Marc Jacobs Bang EDT

I’ve never tried a Marc Jacobs fragrance, in fact until last weekend I’d never even heard of the brand. 

A friend showed me a bottle of the female Daisy Eau So Fresh and I really liked how subtle yet fruity it was. I wander over to a few online stores to look how much it cost and stumbled across Bang for Men.

The bottle looks as though it’s made of metal sheeting that has been punched in the middle. It oozes cool.

While I have never heard of it, this has been around for years. I think I may have shopping blindness as I can hand on heart say I’ve never, ever come across this - and I think I’ve been missing out. 

Described as a peppery, woody and spicy fragrance the smell it claims is expolsive - that’ll explain the bottle then! With heart notes of elemi resinoid and benzoic and base notes of vetyver, white moss and patchouli this is going to be a warm and long lasting fragrance.

Gimme, gimme, gimme!

Innnnnnnnn six……

Dolce & Gabbana The One for Men Sport

It’s been seven or eight years since I last had a bottle of D & G aftershave. It was their original that I wore around the office. 

The fragrance itself was far too warm and the heart notes way to overpowering for the head and heart ingredients. It wasn’t bad, it was the Volvo or Volkswagen of the aftershave world. Hard wearing and reliable.

However, the newest edition of the D&G The One range for men really ticks the boxes for me. I haven‘t smelt it but I can‘t wait to do so.  It has watery top notes with Rosemary that suggest it will be light, heart  notes Sequoia and Cardamom and dry down notes of Patchouli and Musk. This is something that will start light and dry down to a warm and masculine fragrance. 

This post is in no way exhaustive, I’ve sampled a few and loved them, a few I’ve only read the notes but immediately known that it would suit my skin and preference.

If these were to appear on my birthday in June I may be talked down from the ledge and convinced to put down the Jack Daniels - #justsaying

Thank you for taking the time to read my aftershave wish list - are there any fragrances you want to try? 

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