Hey there Posse! As you all head into spring in the northern hemisphere I thought we could talk about something aimed at the dudes but in reality perfect for everyone. Solar Lavender, a perfect idea as you all get warmer. Thomas Dunckley, ex Candy perfume Boy, now of MakingScentsMakeSense has called it early. S/S 2026 will be about water/mineral/ozone notes. Well, here they are. As always Issey Miyake ahead of the pack but this 2024 banger is also infused with a hefty wallop of lavender. YUMMO!
Not sure if this is important to you all but: “Created with a patented design, the innovative 100% wood cap requires no plastic, reducing environmental impact. The bottle is made with 20% post-consumer recycled glass. The box is made from material from responsibly managed forests certified by FSC™ and other controlled sources. L’Eau d’Issey pour Homme Solar Lavender is a vegan-certified fragrance made with 93% natural origin ingredients.”
This is totally unisex and I think it will work projecting the scented equivalent of being an oasis of calm in a crazy world. Serenity in fragrance form. I don’t want to get too Woo Woo but this smells like being centered, grounded and resolute. For people who have scents for particular sections of the day You could wear it work, gym, track, romantic rendezvous. Where I’m thinking it could really shine though is as a wear at home fragrance, always. So the family associates this clear and beautiful scent with a strong, loving parent or guardian.
Solar Lavender by Issey Miyake 2024
(L’Eau d’Issey pour Homme)
Issey Miyake Parfums give these featured accords:
Pure water, ozonic notes, lavender, Sichuan pepper, woody notes, cedar
First blast is pure, lightly salted water and breeze. It’s icy cold and very calming. Interestingly, I get none of the dry scratchiness in the back of my throat that pepper and peppers can so often give. This smells much more like the cooling crispness of a bell pepper, or capsicum as we Aussies call them.
The lavender does a trick for me through the heart. While my arm is up close to my nose Solar Lavender is all about the chilly water and cool crisp fresh air. Once the arm moves off I get this wonderful burst of lavender. Unlike many of the L’Eau d’Issey pour Homme oeuvre, Solar Lavender is not a beast mode attacking monster. Still very fragrant, with excellent longevity but it’s done in a much more covert way. After the first 20 or so minutes the fragrance is more of an aura, a wash.
Dry down is a simple woody amorphous nothing made interesting with lasting remnants of lavender.
I got my 50ml bottle for a song at a local discounter.
Are you a lavender lover? Aquatics, minerals or ozonics? Could Solar lavender be calling your name?
Portia xx
Loved reading this review. The fragrance notes sound really elegant and long-lasting. I always enjoy discovering unique scent inspirations through posts like this.
Issey’s minerallic & iconic ouvre have never been to my taste. A Drop d’Issey is the exception with its cool, watery, lilac.
This doesn’t immediately appeal but if I see it in the wild will give it nose time
Heya Alityke,
If the others don’t grip you I’d be surprised if this does. Maybe it’s your gateway?
Portia xx
I think it might be one for DH. Lavender has positive memories for him & the OG Issey PH is in his collection
This is a fantastic review, P… but none of those notes work for me – EVAH! ( though your prose gave me pause… before I came to my senses)
I love ozonic/aquatic scents in the world… in perfume, not at all!
I adore lavender… in EOs and sachets
I adore YOU!
Adoration is mutual Musette.
Yeah, I get that this combination will not work for many perfumistas. It does seem to be particularly polarizing. My hope is that the bunch of us who love something in this category will feel seen and included. Even if just for a moment.
Portia xx
I always thought perfume was something that includes and sees everyone simply by what it is. I want to hear about categories/perfumes I may not have explored before. And when we’re all over the place about a fragrance is when it really gets interesting, enthusiastic, and fun.
In a perfect world Maya, yes. There are some notes, styles and levels that are heavily scorned. That doesn’t even include the dupes, which I’m more against (for IP theft reasons) than for.
This is not at aLL my cup of tea, although like Cinnamon I love that smell coming off the ocean. From a bottle and on me? Not so much. We’re under a snow advisory for tomorrow hahahaha yes May 1. We will see.
OMG – Shouldn’t this have happened on April 1st 🙂 not on May 1st?!
HA! Probably not for you March. No matter. It’s nice to find something you don’t have to fork out $$$$ for.
Good luck with the snow.
Portia xx
Where I live smells like this, particularly during spring storms coming off the Atlantic (ie, ozone, lavender, mineral, dirt, salt). It is an incredible smell in the air.
I think I like the faff about trying to be more environmentally friendly/aware. I’d rather corporations try vs being completely dismissive.
You are a very lucky duck Cinnamon. One day I’m coming up to visit.
Yes, I agree. The memes lately have been pointed about us all doing our bit to recycle, lessen our footprint, treat the world better and yet the governments are happily blowing up bombs and missiles with gay abandon. My bit seems so ineffectual.
Portia xx
See you in ’27..
You’re coming to Sydney or meeting us somewhere in the world Tom?
For REALZ!
Amazing.
Portia xx
I’d love to but I am just skipping the ozonic and waiting for ’27. That will be all about pretty white flowers. I declare it!
OH! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha.
I’m so off with the fairies.
The invitation to join us on an adventure is forever open.
We love you, and your generosity of time and friendship while we were in LA 2013 and ’14 was peerless. Come have a little of that returned.
Portia xx
This sounds like a cool fragrance, literally and figuratively. I am unfortunately not a big fan of lavender. A touch in perfume is fine, but not as the main player. And I hope 2026 is not all “about water/mineral/ozone notes”. Maybe more about yellow florals 😉
Yeah, lavender is divisive. Maybe because it was so ubiquitous in our grandparents fragrance choices?
Maya, you make your 2026 about anything you love. I’m going to.
Portia xx