Kamakiriad
“Here at Laughing Pines
Where the party never ends
There’s a spicy new attraction
On the Funway
You can scan yourself
For traces of old heartaches
The details of desire
Shimmering – shimmering”
(Donald Fagen, “Springtime” from his solo album “Kamakiriad”)
Besides the Japanese origin of both Issey Miyake's l’Eau d’Issey and the inspiration of “Kamakiriad” (a legendary futuristic Japanese car) there should seemingly be no connection at all between the two. But if l’Eau d’Issey could have a sound, it will definitely have the sparkling, chilly & magnetizing synthesized studio sound of Donald Fagen and Steely Dan. Particularly the sound that can be heard when playing the few lines that are quoted above.
Everything about this perfume suggests purity – from the bottle design – a simple cone with a transparent sphere suggesting a drop of water caught at a perfect moment in the air, the icy frosted glass and aluminum – to the colourless juice. But most importantly, it is the only water that can be enjoyed when drunk through the nostrils.
Designed to smell like water, l’Eau d’Issey provides artificial tranquility in a most magical way. One drop from this cone vessel encompasses within it all the vital promises of pure water – thirst clenching, cleanliness and rejuvenation. It only takes a tiny drop from the pure parfum to make one feel like swimming in a bubble of fresh water, or the unmatched pleasure of licking off condensation droplets from an icy glass of water.
L’Eau d’Issey strats off green, with notes dewy of fresh cut grass, quickly replaced by the subtle honeyed sweetness of blooming flowers – linden blossom and magnolia, with the freshness of neroli – but mainly lead by a transparent and slightly green rose note. These florals are complemented by a computer-generated note of cool fresh air, which gives the over all impression of a water lilies.
A few minutes through the scent (whether if you showered in the last 12 hours or not) – you ought to feel clean and refreshed! The droplet of perfume expands into a whole water experience which will float around you for the whole day, carrying the fresh breeze of outdoors in a brisk winter day, as well as the freshness of melted ice water.
Though light and fresh in character, l’Eau d’Issey possesses a highly impressive lasting power, and once the water finally evaporates (which will take about 6-8 hours), you will be left with a transparent, white-musk and woody accord, achieved by using double distilled and refined essences of cedar and sandalwood.
l’Eau d’Issey makes me feel like I had just swam in a chlorine-drenched pool, and the scent has not yet decided to leave the skin completely. I love to wear it in order to achieve a detached peace of mind, or as a releaf for mental thirst for water-derived tranquility. It can be also used as a substitute for shower if necessary.
Special thanks to Siobhan Flanagan, who reminded me of this exceptional scent.