Yes, your breath still billows like a volcanic spring venting. But as each morning grows incrementally brighter, it’s time to consider what fragrances to stock up on for when spring breaks and those musks that got you through winter suddenly feel a bit oppressive.
The best way to keep your scents seasonal is to echo what’s going on in the world around you. Which is why summer’s perfumes tend towards the citrus fruits that hang heavy on boughs and winter brings the kind of woods and spices unlocked by flames.
Spring is trickier. The sun lingers longer and shoots start their thrust through concrete soil, so floral notes feel appropriate. But the air still bites, so you need to underpin that brightness with something warm to avoid coming over all Patrick Bateman.
Enter the latest incarnation of Issey Miyake’s now two-decade-old l’Eau d’Issey Pour Homme. The original became a classic almost on release back in 1994, its attempt to bottle the scent of water resulting in something fresh enough to wear anywhere (even if its concept does verge on Zoolander’s “Essence of wetness”).
For this new, fraîche iteration, the original’s citrus notes swap from yuzu and mandarin to bergamot and grapefruit, but that clean blast remains. It takes a while to dissipate, too; like its older brother, you’ll smell d’Issey Fraîche on your skin the next morning – an impressive feat for a citrus eau de toilette.
When it eventually does mellow, it’s into floral notes – rose and patchouli – before a hint of heat from pink pepper and musk finally emerge. As re-workings go, this is more fine-tuning than overhaul. But then, it’s a modern update that’s just as versatile as its original. Making it perfect from this spring to next.
Available nationwide from 1 February.
Fragrance Facts
Bottle: A flat-fronted glass flacon that looks not unlike a miniaturized obelisk, and supposedly emulates a tumbling waterfall.
Head notes: Grapefruit, bergamot, mint, rosemary;
Heart notes: Pink pepper, may rose, mate;
Base notes: Musk, patchouli.
Best for: Sunny, chilly days.
