L'Eau d'Issey pour Homme 
Issey Miyake (1994)

This is why fragrance enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the yearly summer flankers from Issey Miyake. While the fragrance has a lengthy list of notes, the primary notes that stand out to me are yuzu (citrus), cypress, nutmeg, and vetiver. The scent has a citrus quality that can at times feel aquatic due to the invigorating freshness of the lemon verbena and cypress. Despite the absence of marine notes, the combination of greenery and citrus creates a watery and blue sensation. At other times, it has a slightly herbal and vegetal quality. Unlike the fruity and sweet greenness of a Hermes Jardin scent, this scent incorporates musk and woods into its base. Although there is a hint of cinnamon, it is blended in such a way that it is not prominent.

Tobacco is listed as a note, but it is barely noticeable and serves only to bolster the woody base's muskiness. I haven't encountered many scents that are similar to this one, so I believe it is a unique composition.

Certain aspects of this fragrance may be polarizing. While I don't believe it is sour, some may feel that the citruses are overpowering. Others may find the floral woody drydown underwhelming. These are among the reasons why this scent should not be purchased blindly, and it isn't necessary, as it is available for testing at almost every store. This is a masterpiece, and I believe there is a reason why it has been on the market for over two decades.

As for reformulations, I cannot provide any insight. The bottle I am reviewing was purchased in 2016.

I am in love with this perfume since the 90s .. and I have it , it is fresh and makes me feel good

There was something in the air in 1994. With Voyageur, Monsoon, and aquatic flankers of Insensé and Quorum, it was a very wet year.
As well as these, there was of course the arrival of cK One and L'eau d'Issey pour Homme - which changed the course of perfume for years to come. Aquatics were officially the new black.

This happened a generation ago, so it's worth going over Issey pour Homme for those who don't remember it : sour citrus with milky-powdery woods, made masculine by spice - which is slightly sweet, a peppery overtone, green herbal nuance, white-lily flowers, the twang of calone.

Like its sister from '92, the masculine is thin and pale - but powerful. It has more body than the feminine and feels darker, and (as Bal a Versailles puts it) less 'technological'. They both have an amazing ability to project from seemingly nowhere - like a ventriloquist.

Even if they don't get worn much, both Les eaux d'Issey are on the 101 list; essential sniffing.

This is a somewhat reserved, almost neutral rating. It's a thumbs up with a very big caveat - that you've never worn it before the reformulation.

L'eau D'Issey pour homme has become a great lesson for me in respect to the effect of reformulation and the effect of scent memory upon a buyer's expectations. It's probably not for me anymore, but I still think it's good, and I'll explain why.

This was my daily driver for some time, an easy dumb grab for the office and a fragrance I really enjoyed. Fresh as fork, went really well with my skin and that yuzu note... woof. I love me some yuzu and this was just magnificent.

I don't know if I'd be as harsh to say it's now lemon pledge, because let's be honest, this was never subtle or gentle in its delivery. It always punched you square in the nose with sharp, dry freshness. For me, this is now Sad Panda pour homme, or just straight up L'eau Disappointment.

So why the thumbs up? I went in to my local cafe wearing some of the reformulated juice a little while ago and the owners (husband and wife) came out for a chat with me. I've been a customer for over a decade. They've both admired some of my fragrances before, but they immediately fell in love with L'eau D'Issey and the husband chose to purchase it right then and there. They've both been stoked with it and keep thanking me for letting them know about it.

I've recently acquired Guerlain Vetiver for the first time - to me it's magnificent. There is, however, a gentleman who's reviewed it on Basenotes and has been quite scathing of the modern reformulation, because he regularly purchased and wore the original. The current version simply doesn't measure up to his expectations.

After having this experience with L'eau D'Issey, I completely understand his point of view... but it doesn't stop me from enjoying the current Guerlain Vetiver fragrance I've come to know. In this case, ignorance truly is bliss.

This is still quite wearable and I have too many good memories to trash it. I won't enjoy wearing what I have left and may regift it soon, but for a new buyer who's never experienced the original, it's a worthy purchase.