Page 42 - Sharp September 2024

KEY INGREDIENT
INTRODUCING ISSEY MIYAKE’S
LE SEL D’ISSEY, A TRIBUTE TO NATURE AND MODERN MASCULINITY
By Haley Dach
THIRTY YEARS AFTER REVOLUTIONIZING PERFUMERY
with L’Eau d’Issey pour Homme, Issey Miyake introduces Le Sel d’Issey, the highly anticipated new fragrance inspired by the natural element of salt. This fragrance celebrates modern masculinity, reconnecting men to their senses, and expressing the vitality and energy that salt represents.
Renowned perfumer Quentin Bisch crafted Le Sel d’Issey without a natural salt extract, leaving much to the imagination and the challenge of transforming something odourless into a captivating fragrance, creating a unique interpretation that combines woody and marine notes. “I love this project because I think working on a perfume like Le Sel is so inspiring and modern, and there is a lot of freedom about this idea, because you can interpret it in so many ways,” Bisch explains.
The fragrance features laminaria seaweed, oak moss, natural vetiver, and upcycled cedarwood, delivering a fresh, pulsating scent that transitions seamlessly from sea to land. “I needed to interpret
the idea of saltiness,” Bisch says. “I saw this picture in my mind of the sea and the earth and these eternal waves that come and go, the only thing that remains on the earth is the salt.”
The clear, curved bottle — designed by artist and longtime Issey Miyake collaborator Tokujin Yoshioka — embodies movement. “Where I am very happy with this project is that there is a huge coherence between the name, the bottle, and the perfume. It’s good because it is not always the case. I’m lucky,” recalls Bisch when asked about the connection between the bottle and the scent. Made from up to 20 per cent recycled glass, it is the brand’s first refillable bottle in the men’s range, emphasizing Issey Miyake’s commitment to eco-friendly designs with reduced environmental impact. Additionally, the vegan fragrance formula consists of 95 per cent natural ingredients, and the packaging is made up of 10 per cent upcycled seaweed.
With the final product released, Bisch reflects on the process fondly and eagerly anticipates encountering the perfume in the real world. “The greatest reward is when you smell it on someone you randomly encounter on the street. That is a huge reward every perfumer seeks. It means you’re contributing something valuable; it’s not just about creating something for the sake of saying, ‘We did it.’ No, it becomes part of the beauty of people,” says Bisch.
Although he never had the opportunity to meet Issey Miyake before his passing, it added even more focus and dedication to making something he would be proud of, “I’ve been even more connected to him than if he was alive because we were all very anxious to be sure that he would love the work and so you put even more strength and focus and dedication to be sure that you’re doing something that he would be proud of. You never know, but you try your best,” says Bisch. The fragrance speaks for itself with its innovation and luxurious scent, ready for wearers to create their own memories in.
42 GUIDE • SEPTEMBER 2024
SHARPMAGAZINE.COM
GUIDE
LE SEL D’ISSEY EAU DE TOILETTE (STARTING AT $120) BY ISSEY MIYAKE