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Issey Miyake Cologne Review: 10 of Our Favorites

Issey Miyake Cologne Review: 10 of Our Favorites

Issey Miyake was a fashion designer famous for combining elements from his native Japan with western fashion elements. Adjacent to his fashion line, he developed the Issey Miyake perfume men and women both love.

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This article will highlight our ten favorite Issey Miyake fragrances aimed at men, including an Issey Miyake L'Eau D'Issey review. We will detail what makes these fragrances great, the main scent notes, and where to wear them. 

Our Top 10 Picks

For our Issey Miyake Cologne Review, we will discuss our choices for the best for every day, the best for day to night, the best for unisex, and more.

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L'Eau D'Issey Pour Homme

Best For Standing Out

To start our L'Eau D'Issey Pour Homme review, you should know that it was the first attempt at a male fragrance after the success of the women’s version. 

Drawing on the women’s version, this scent is bright and citrus yet warm and woody all at once. Some main notes include yuzu, bergamot, mandarin orange, nutmeg, cinnamon, cedar, and tobacco.

PROS: Bright and balanced. Not too heavy. 

CONS: Lacking in darker notes. Not great for cold months.

  • Sillage: Good
  • Longevity: Great
  • Scent Potency/Appropriate for: Daytime
  • Price: Good value

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L'Eau d'Issey pour Homme Sport

Best For Every Day

The Sport was released in 2012 and designed to be an everyday version of their popular Issey Miyake L'Eau D'Issey Pour Homme.

This scent kept the signature citrus and woody scent and boosted it with fresh green spiciness. Some of the leading notes are grapefruit, bergamot, nutmeg, and leather. 

PROS: Perfect for every day. Light citrus scent. 

CONS: Not good for evenings or colder months. 

  • Sillage: Good 
  • Longevity: Good
  • Scent Potency/Appropriate for: Day, Office
  • Price: Great value

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L’eau Super Majeure D’Issey

Best For Day to Night

In 2018 Issey Miyake released this blue fragrance, going further into the realm of typically male-dominated scents.

Super Majeure has a clear, aquatic scent balanced with woody notes to make it masculine. Taking a small departure from other marine-based fragrances, Super Majeure has hints of salt and smoke that make it unique. 

PROS: A long-lasting scent with notes that work at the time of day. 

CONS: Very masculine and less versatile as a unisex option

  • Sillage: Moderate
  • Longevity: Long lasting
  • Scent Potency/Appropriate for: Office, All Day
  • Price: Good Value

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L'eau D'Issey Pour Homme Wood & Wood

Best For Fall

Wood & Wood is Issey Miyake's wood-based scent, slightly different from other popular wood scents.

While other wood-based fragrances often go for strong pine or cedar notes, this version opted for softer, dryer wood notes that act as a perfect base for the fruitier notes of grapefruit and apricot. The result is a woody yet well-balanced fragrance. 

PROS: Balanced, great for all day, wonderful warm fall scent

CONS: Less complex with mainly wood and fruit notes

  • Sillage: Good
  • Longevity: Moderate
  • Scent Potency/Appropriate for: All day, fall, spring
  • Price: Okay

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Pour Homme Intense

Best For All Day, All Year

Based on L'Eau D'Issey, this Issey Miyake Pour Homme Intense is citrus leading with notes of yuzu, bergamot, and cinnamon, with a deeper amber and spicy aroma. The result is a Pour Homme that is richer and warmer while keeping the spirit of the original. 

Issey Miyake Intense is also very versatile, working in nearly any season and any time of day, which is the best Issey Miyake perfume for him.

PROS: Versatile scent that is light enough for summer yet deep enough for winter. Also goes from day to night well. 

CONS: Some find it a little too fruity for deep summer and light for deep winter. 

  • Sillage: Moderate
  • Longevity: Long Lasting
  • Scent Potency/Appropriate for: Anywhere
  • Price: Great Value

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L’eau Majeure D’issey

Best For Summer Days

Like their Super Majeure, this fragrance is a blue-based scent with plenty of aquatic notes and citrus. It's fresher and lighter with more aquatic-based notes than Super Majeure.

To set it apart from Super Majeure, it also has leading woody scents, making this fragrance warm and fresh.

PROS: Light and masculine. Perfect for daytime or warmer months.

CONS: Lacking deeper notes and not as long-lasting as some of their other options.

  • Sillage: Strong
  • Longevity: Long Lasting
  • Scent Potency/Appropriate for: Office, Summer
  • Price: Okay

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Fusion D'Issey

Best For Unisex

Fusion is an interesting twist for the Issey Miyake line. It is balanced with wood, warm spices, sweet fruits, and coconut.

Not only is this perfume the best Issey Miyake perfume for him, but it is also the best option for her, making it a great unisex perfume anyone can use. 

PROS: Sweet and versatile. Masculine leaning while still being appropriate for unisex. 

CONS: Not great for winter.

  • Sillage: Moderate
  • Longevity: Moderate
  • Scent Potency/Appropriate for: Vacation
  • Price: Okay

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L’Eau de Toilette Intense L’Eau d’Issey pour Homme Eau & Cèdre

Best For Office

Eau & Cedre is a traditional male scent with cedar and cardamom leading notes.

On the surface, it is an unassuming scent that goes well in public places, yet those with a good nose will appreciate the fresh undertones.

The result is a woody and earthy fragrance combined with warm spice.

PROS: Traditional and not too strong. 

CONS: Not great for unisex

  • Sillage: Moderate
  • Longevity: Moderate
  • Scent Potency/Appropriate for: Office, daytime
  • Price: Okay

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Issey Miyake Special Edition Pour Homme

Best For Unique Look

Special Edition was launched in 2009 with an intriguing bottle design with its concrete and graffiti appearance.

The fragrance is aromatic and woody, with strong citrus notes. The result is versatile and works day to night and during most of the year except for winter.

PROS: Versatile, cool design.

CONS: Not enough deep notes for winter

  • Sillage: Strong
  • Longevity: Long Lasting
  • Scent Potency/Appropriate for: Everyday
  • Price: Okay

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FUSION D'ISSEY EXTRÊME

Best For Everyday Touch of Tropical

Based on the original Fusion, Fusion Extreme returns with the citrus notes of cardamom and bergamot with sweet coconut while adding in floral notes of lavender and mint.

This scent smells like summer and sunlight yet is warm enough to bring you into the cooler months.

PROS: Sweet and warm. Versatile. Great for unisex. 

CONS: Not deep enough for winter. 

  • Sillage: Moderate
  • Longevity: Moderate
  • Scent Potency/Appropriate for: Office, evening out, vacation.
  • Price: Okay

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Final Thoughts

As you can see from this Issey Miyake Cologne Review, these fragrances are well balanced between light, and warm, favoring citrus and wood notes the most across all of their scents.

The result is a line of scents that are versatile and bright, often favoring the daytime or warmer months. 

If you're looking for your next perfect daytime scent, look no further than Issey Miyake. 

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Issey Miyake Cologne Review