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L'Eau Majeure d'Issey Shade of Sea
by Issey Miyake
L'Eau Majeure d'Issey Shade of Sea is a warm, aquatic fragrance that captures the essence of a tropical beach shoreline. It opens with a crisp citrus burst of bergamot, lemon, and bitter orange, layered with aromatic rosemary and a subtle salty marine note. The heart features frangipani and sea salt, delivering a creamy, coconut-like sweetness without actual coconut notes, giving it a sun-kissed, suntan lotion vibe. The base is quietly woody and amber-grained, with cedar and sandalwood creating a soft, gentle drydown. While the scent is not radically innovative, it feels unique in its execution—grounded yet evocative, with a salty-ambroxan character that lends it a skin-friendly, intimate warmth. Performance is moderately long with decent sillage, though it tends to project moderately rather than strongly. It’s almost exclusively worn in warm weather, especially during daytime hours, and feels most aligned with men, though not aggressively masculine. The fragrance shines best on skin that’s warm and not too dry, so it thrives in summer.
Pros
- +Brings a strong beachside atmosphere with salt, sky, and sun
- +Creates a pleasant, tactile sense of tropical warmth that feels authentic
- +Strong value for money, especially at lower price points
Cons
- −Salty note can border on wet table salt or metallic, which some find off-putting
- −Performance is moderately limited with no lasting strong projection
- −Can feel less inspirational or memorable due to similarity to other popular scents