L’Eau d’Issey Pour Homme Intense by Issey Miyake

The scent is rich and delicious, but it fades in under 15 minutes. It’s not expensive, but with so much competition in the market, it’s not worth buying.

Soft and rich aroma, you can definitely smell the amber. If it lasted a bit longer, it would be spectacular, but yes, it’s worth it.

Cavallier is a genius. Maybe even better than his masterpiece L’Eau d’Issey. It truly deserves the name ‘Intense.’ A few extra sprays make it intrusive, but the right amount creates a warm, sensual cloud. Cavallier inverts the pyramid of the original: where citrus used to dominate with spices as secondary notes, here spices, woods, and incense take the lead, with citrus only making a fleeting appearance at the start. Totally recommended. You can find it in department stores in Peru at a good price. I think it’s underrated. Given its characteristics, it’s better for night time in cold climates (or cool summer evenings if you watch the dosage), and due to its density, it’s suitable for bars, dates, or polluted environments. Ideal for ages 25+.

I’m not sure if it’s my pH, but it doesn’t last on my skin. I applied it 5 times on my arm during a test at Falabella, and by the first hour, it barely smelled. It was $120, about 600,000 Colombian pesos. It would be a scam to pay that much and have it last so little. Unlike the original Issey, this one lasts all day on me and women love it; it’s the most compliment-getting citrus I’ve ever had.

Addictive fragrance; the opening makes you want to spray more and more. Citrusy and woody, but without that strong wood typical of others. Average longevity and projection, about 5-6 hours, with moderate sillage. It’s very versatile, works for any weather, but I feel it performs better at night or in non-scorching climates. It cost me $35 for 125ml; considering the quality, it’s much more recommended and doesn’t hurt to reapply. Scent: 9, Longevity and Sillage: 7.5, Versatility: 9.

A gorgeous fragrance that follows in its mother’s footsteps… At first they don’t seem alike, but once it dries down, it’s beautiful… L’Eau d’Issey never goes out of style; it’s timeless, and the Yuzu gives it an incredible bitter edge.

With both in hand, I see this Intense as the bridge between the classic Eau d’Issey and the later Nuit d’Issey. It has the dry freshness of Yuzu and citrus mixed with woods, highlighting the incense and rosemary, which is also in Bleue d’Issey and Bleue Fraiche. It’s a great signature scent, versatile and distinguished; I could use it as an alternative to the discontinued Loewe 7 Natural/Sport or Adg Profumo, preferring these over the Intense. I recommend it, plus it’s a good price. Issey Miyake never disappoints…

What a ugly-smelling perfume! When I first used it, I didn’t like it much, but I stuck with it through that smoky incense note. I set it aside and tried it again weeks later, and it was worse 😞, with a top note like rotten orange 😑. I totally regret buying it.

I bought it over 3 months ago; I’d seen reviews saying it worked well in heat, but the reality is different. I stopped using it for a couple of months, and with the temperature drop from Hurricane Chris in northern Mexico, I gave it a shot on a fresh, rainy day and loved it. It has a spectacular shine in that weather; 100% recommended 😁.

An absolute gem. The opening is a bit complex and not entirely pleasant, but by the 10-minute mark, the magic happens. It reminds me of Versace Man Eau Fraiche, but less citrusy and with that smoky touch that adds elegance. Moderate trail and projection, and at an interesting price… well, prices here in Argentina are never good.

They say it’s a mature scent, and I agree. Mature doesn’t mean old or pretentious, just as young doesn’t mean virtuous. L’Eau d’Issey Pour Homme Intense isn’t trying to be a fool to get compliments, though it has everything to earn them if worn correctly. The yuzu is beautifully crafted, adding a bitter edge to the fresher citrus notes. There’s a green part with incense and spices that rounds out the composition with sobriety without being solemn. I really value Mr. Jacques Cavallier; so far, I haven’t encountered a bad fragrance from him. What bothers me is that, despite good projection and longevity, the last time I tried it, it felt more moderate than before. I see this is a constant in many Western houses, and that’s annoying. Anyway, a great proposal for romantic dates or casual events, at a good price with decent performance.

Smells like a burnt electrical panel in a dusty place, impossible for me.

A pleasant surprise. It resembles L’Eau de always, but there’s a fantastic twist: instead of being sweeter like most flankers today, this one is more bitter (or sour) than the original. It’s not very current either; it’s been over 15 years, and for a flanker, that’s a long time—I hope it doesn’t get discontinued. I couldn’t find anything similar to it, neither niche nor designer, so its originality makes it ‘almost niche’. In the opening, I don’t feel the sweet orange; it’s like a strong grapefruit thanks to the yuzu and bergamot. Then the spices come through with force, along with the incense that gives it a serious character. I don’t know how Egyptian papyrus smells, but to me it smells like old books (the weird part is it’s the only wood in the olfactory pyramid). I detect amber, but due to the incense, it’s more resinous than ambered. It’s quite complex without going to extremes. It doesn’t seem very versatile or formal; it’s mature, but with a suit, it can seem excessively mature rather than elegant. I think it pairs better with a black or gray tee and jeans, a white tee with black pants, or a sweater if it’s chilly. I see it in gray tones. I agree it’s a ten for rainy days; autumn is the best option as long as it’s not cold, because it’s fresh but for when the sun is covered. Longevity is good, reaching 5 hours, with a couple more hours close to the skin, and projection is moderate. It’s available at a good price, although I don’t see promotions anymore; it still costs less than the classic, almost half. Totally recommended, but not as a signature scent. It’s serious, mature, masculine, and different from everything out there today.

L’Eau d’Issey Pour Homme Intense is citrusy, spicy, and woody. The opening is citrusy and shares similarities with the original and classic L’Eau d’Issey Pour Homme, but shifts after a few minutes, boosting spices like nutmeg, cardamom, and saffron. What I love most is how it balances citrus and spices—very classic style but with Issey Miyake’s unique touch. In the dry-down, it settles into a base of incense, wood, and amber that I absolutely adore. As the name suggests, it’s more intense, especially in the spice notes, but the citrus remains present, making it very versatile for almost any season, work, casual outings, or outdoors. It might suit mature tastes over younger ones due to its classic structure, but that’s subjective. Its longevity is excellent, lasting 9 to 10 hours with a strong trail in the first few hours. Sometimes I think Bleu de Chanel was inspired by fragrances like this, given the citrus, woody, incense, and spicy structure. If you find it, don’t hesitate to try it; I’ve loved it.

Unique, wonderful, and versatile. Some say it doesn’t last long. In my case, it easily lasts about 6 hours.