Formerly EFL teacher and IT consultant, now relocated to Marseille, France. Final year biochemistry ...
Formerly EFL teacher and IT consultant, now relocated to Marseille, France. Final year biochemistry student, my passions are perfumery and making my own natural cosmetics / body care products.
Member since:12.12.2007
Reviews:147
Members who trust:146
Launched: 2000 Group: Woody floral musk
INTRODUCTION
I bought Le Feu d'Issey Light as an alternative to its hard to find, very expensive and discontinued sister fragrance, Le Feu d'Issey which is one of the most interesting, beautiful and unusual perfumes I've ever come across. The name suggested a ligther version, so how did it fare in the end?
THE PACKAGING
The fragrance comes in the same sphere-shaped bottle as Le Feu d'Issey, however, this time it has a milky white colour with a red inner cone. Issey Miyake didn't release any more addition to his 'Le Feu' line, so at the moment this is the only fragrance you'll find in this packaging. The outer carton is also white with red letters on.
THE FRAGRANCE
Top notes: mahogany, coriander leaf, star anise, coconut, bergamot, rose
The opening notes of Le Feu d'Issey Light are a mixture of sweet and sour spicy notes of anise to my notes. The difference between Le Feu and the light version is definitely the bergamot, which we have a lot of here so the fragrance has marked citrusy - anise theme going on for about half an hour. The overall impression is light, sheer and not overpowering at all, even with a generous application.
Middle notes: jasmine, milk, caramel, hortensia, rose
There's an undoubtedly sweet continuation in the heart as well and this sweet impression is masking most of the notes that were more accentuated in Le Feu. There's a light spicy, musky and milky accord that's backing up the sweetness but obviously it's never coming to the fore which was a letdown for me. The phase doesn't last more than a couple of hours, as the composition is sadly lacking in substance.
Base notes: sandalwood, musk, amber, vanilla, gaiac wood, cedar
I started noticing whiffs of some light creamy dry down after about three hours which was mainly composed of a delicate vanilla note back up with some powdery woody feel. Sadly, the accord was too light to be enjoyed for long, as the whole composition disappeared altogether after a mere 4 - 5 hours.
CONCLUSION
The biggest disappointment for me is how hard Le Feu d'Issey Light tries to be like Le Feu d'Issey and boy, in terms of being compared to it, it's a flop. Apparently, the formula used in the two fragrance is the same, however the overall feel of Le Feu d'Issy Light is two-dimensional at most. The spicy, the floral and the woodsy notes are all smothered by a certain sweetness that takes away all originality of the composition. Coupled with that, Le Feu d'Issey Light has poor staying power, very little sillage, so apart from the similarities due to a similar formula there's no pretending it's in the same league as its big sister. I'm only giving it three starts because it reminds me of Le Feu d'Issey and not on its own merit.
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
I've seen it at perfume counters in London, though judging from the price increase online, it may be rapidly becoming a rarity just like Le Feu d'Issey. Prices start from £31.25 / 30ml Eau de Toilette Spray on Amazon.co.uk.
SUMMARY
A disappointing light version of Le Feu d'Issey
Thanks for reading.
İpowered by lillybee also posted on dooyoo.co.uk
Pictures
Issey Miyake Le Feu D'Issey Light Eau De Toilette Spray and Miniature (top and left)
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Le Feu D'Issey Light represents the sparks of a fire and the crystal-clear flames. By more
combining a series of extremely fragrant ingredients, Issey Miyake creates a fragrance quite unlike any other. He kindles a fire full of sparkling bergamot and the femininity of freshly picked gardenia. Le Feu d'Issey Light is a luminous, fresh and lively scent with sensual undertones of gaiac wood and milky amber.
Le Feu D'Issey Light represents the sparks of a fire and the crystal-clear flames. By more
combining a series of extremely fragrant ingredients, Issey Miyake creates a fragrance quite unlike any other. He kindles a fire full of sparkling bergamot and the femininity of freshly picked gardenia. Le Feu d'Issey Light is a luminous, fresh and lively scent with sensual undertones of gaiac wood and milky amber.
Oct 22nd, 2009
exceptional by (3%):
very helpful by (97%):
