L'Eau d'Issey Pour Homme Noir Ambre

Returning briefly to the house of Issey Miyake, I’m taking a look at another highly regarded and now discontinued release. Having previously reviewed Pulse of the Night and Polaris, both of which are now discontinued but proved to be excellent fragrances that ultimately earned a place in my collection, expectations here are naturally set quite high. Noir Ambre carries a similar reputation, especially among those who appreciate more refined amber fragrances, suggesting this could be another standout from the house’s discontinued lineup. On paper, it gives the impression of a warm, spiced amber composition with a dry, slightly resinous backbone, leaning more toward elegance and structure than outright sweetness. There’s a sense that this could be a more restrained take on amber, something that focuses on balance and texture rather than density, potentially offering depth without becoming overly heavy or gourmand. It reads as the kind of fragrance that aims to feel composed and intentional, rather than attention-grabbing. Let’s see how this darker shade of amber reveals itself once it meets the skin. Opening: The opening is balsamic, leathery, and spicy. The primary notes I get are amber, leather, cinnamon, and saffron, with the amber and leather leading. As the name suggests, the amber takes center stage immediately, presenting as warm, balsamic, and softly glowing, establishing a rich foundation from the outset. The leather rises alongside it, offering a refined balance between rugged and polished, with just enough animalic nuance to add texture without overpowering the composition. Beneath that, the cinnamon weaves in a gentle, powdery warmth, adding depth without becoming sharp or aggressive. The saffron complements this with an added layer of dry, slightly earthy spice, reinforcing the structure of the opening. In the background, there are subtle hints of creamy sweetness from the vanilla, along with a softly rounded warmth from the nutmeg that helps smooth the edges of the spices. The result is an opening that feels warm, structured, and quietly luxurious, with a refined balance between resinous depth and spiced leather. Dry Down: The dry down is still balsamic, leathery, and spicy. The primary notes I get are amber, leather, saffron, and vanilla, with the amber and leather continuing to lead. The composition remains anchored by that same pairing, with the amber maintaining its warm, resinous glow while the leather continues to provide a refined yet subtly animalic texture. The saffron persists into the dry down as well, now slightly more pronounced, contributing the same dry, earthy spiciness that adds structure and depth. The most noticeable shift comes from the vanilla, which has grown in strength and now plays a more active role, bringing a smoother, creamier sweetness that softens the edges of the composition. Meanwhile, the cinnamon from the opening has largely faded, leaving behind only a faint trace of aromatic warmth from the nutmeg in the background. The result is a dry down that stays true to the opening’s identity, but with a smoother, slightly sweeter, and more rounded character as it settles on skin. Performance: The initial projection within the first hour is strong, reaching out to around six feet with ease. Sillage follows closely behind, leaving a dense and noticeable scent trail that carries the fragrance’s rich character well. After about three to four hours, the projection remains impressive, still hovering in that five to six foot range, while the scent trail softens slightly but remains clearly perceptible. Around the seven to eight hour mark, the projection settles closer to three to four feet, and the trail becomes lighter, though still present. The fragrance continues on until about the ten hour mark before transitioning into a skin scent, delivering a solid and consistent performance throughout its lifespan. When to Wear: Noir Ambre feels most at home in the cooler months, where its warmth and depth can fully come into their own. As the name would lead you to believe, it naturally leans toward evening wear, aligning well with more intimate or elevated settings. This is the kind of fragrance that suits moments where presence and refinement matter, making it an excellent choice for occasions like date nights, anniversaries, or more formal, suit and tie gatherings. At the same time, that a level of intention that makes it less suited for casual, everyday wear, and its strength and character alone make it an impractical option for the office. Blind Buy: Noir Ambre is not what I would consider a safe blind buy. The fragrance leans heavily into a balsamic, leathery profile that prioritizes depth and texture over immediate mass appeal. While there is a touch of vanilla present, it remains firmly in the background and does little to soften the overall direction. This is not a sweet, easy amber, but rather one that feels darker, drier, and more composed. It’s the kind of scent that will resonate most with those who already enjoy resinous ambers, leather-forward compositions, or spiced fragrances with a bit of weight behind them. For those expecting something smoother or more gourmand, it may come across as too serious or too structured. Because of that, sampling first is strongly recommended to make sure it aligns with your taste. Final Verdict: Having experienced both Polaris and Pulse of the Night, and holding both in high regard, expectations for Noir Ambre were naturally elevated. While I still find Pulse of the Night to be the standout of the three, Noir Ambre settles comfortably into a space that aligns well with my preferences. The combination of amber, leather, and spice delivers exactly what it sets out to do, creating a profile that feels confident, masculine, and quietly seductive without needing to be overly loud or flashy. What stands out most is how composed the fragrance feels from start to finish. It doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel or push boundaries, but instead focuses on executing a classic style at a high level, with a smooth transition from opening to dry down and a consistent identity throughout. The performance only reinforces that experience, maintaining a strong presence without falling apart or becoming thin over time. Since this was a blind buy, the real question isn't whether or not it will end up in my collection, but rather if it was a successful blind buy. After spending time with it on skin, I can confidently say that it was. It may not surpass Pulse of the Night for me, but it absolutely earns its place as an enjoyable addition to my collection that I will reach for from time to time. Scent: 8/10 Longevity: 7/10 Sillage: 8/10 Versatility: Average Compliment Factor: Average Gender: Masculine Value: Fair

Issey Miyake Brand have a 33 years of journey making fragrances since 1992. It was very popular by the OG Vintage L'eau D'issey Pour Homme 1994 created by Jacques Cavalier, it's purely hyped the market because of the scent not because of marketing shit. Because it was even sell in Indonesia a lot even there's no advertisment about this brand. So someone like me that have been wearing Issey Miyake 20+ years, I'm sure many new kids these days don't know about this brand because Issey Miyake won't do TikTok hype, Celebrity Recommendation, Big Banner Advertisment. If you watching advertisment shit a whole time you won't get their releases in time but very late and sold out. (Saw a few kids on the review section giving hate to this because they can't get it)😅 Just do the traditional way by look up their releases info and go to your trusted store that didn't sell online. Issey Miyake very serious creative about their release and already have tons of senior fans in a whole world, Nature-Art-Fashion that's what I love about Issey products they have a background story of their products. Okay back to the real topic I lived in a Humid Hot Summer weather country a whole year, I rarely wear winter fragz because it's very uncomfortable if got into non AC situation. But at least I need a few of Winter Fragz for attending full AirCon Event. I don't separate Dupes,Niche, Designer fragrances, I'm simple man that not following the market trend. My batch is 2020 0155FM with sealed condition at 180$(Yeah this offline store always charge like retail price) even the OG Issey Miyake they sell it same like Sephora Retail price 120$ 😂. it's makes sense hard to get because it was only selling in Europe. Noir Ambre opens up with Very Strong but Smooth Bold of Spicy DryWoody and Leather on the Mid to Drydown warm of Dark Amber comes out with the slightly touch incense. The projection and Silage is crazy it can 12hrs+ on Longevity. It's very complex and slow transition from opening to Drydown need around 2-3hrs to arrived at fully base note. I'm curious by people saying this exactly like SWY Oud, so I bought a decant, I can say they have the same vibes and similarities but c'mon SWY Oud it's not exactly of Noir Ambre, SWY Oud still have a very well known DNA of SWY that trying to go to Noir Ambre direction. Similarities is 60% with less Bold ,less Deepness and less smooth. But you can get SWY Oud to at least feel what kind of direction Noir Ambre is. It's not versatile and not suited for under 30, it's a Grown up Serious Man vibes and mysterious. Very luxury scent profile and formal. Sadly Issey Miyake take down so many successfully DNA that they created and got took over by other big brand and got famous with their marketing. Hopefully they bring back their masterpiece creation, Nuit D'issey Line specially Pulse of the Night, Noir Ambre, Or Encens OG Vintage formulation of L'eau D'issey Pour Homme(Dior Homme Sport 2022 very similar longevity & drydown,but less unique Yuzu and less complexity no floral touch) L'eau Bleue D'issey strong Green fragrance.

I have reviewed this before, but here we go again. This is such a beautiful fragrance, it was my signature scent for the first two years I was collecting. A somewhat pricey proposition as I only entered the hobby in 2023. I have smelled several other fragrances that are made using a similar concept, but none can measure up, let alone surpass, Noir Ambré. Opens with a burst of raw saffron that can be off-putting for a novice nose. I've heard people say the opening smells like rubber. That's the saffron and it's a very high quality saffron. The Suede and vanilla are very obvious right from the beginning, as it dries down the saffron lightens and gives way to cinnamon, papyrus and the most beautiful amber I have ever had the pleasure of putting under my nose. Everything smells natural and Reynaud balanced the notes perfectly! Longevity is absolutely wonderful at 10+ hours on skin with good projection in the first 4 hours. By hour 8 it becomes a skin scent and lingers for several more. Seasonally: best worn in Fall and Winter, can be used in late summer and early spring where I live and nights in air conditioned environments. This juice smells unbelievably good, and I find myself sneaking a spray to the back of the wrist sometimes at home even on the hottest nights to relax in the air conditioned rooms. I would say this fragrance is unisex, but definitely leans masculine by virtue of fragrance gender classifications (some types of scent profile with certain accords are traditionay .arketed more towards one gender but may not smell that way). I have acquired 8 vintage bottles in the last three years or so and always keep an eye for lower prices bottles, which was becoming harder and harder. It's a shame that Issey Miyake decided to release it as a Middle Eastern exclusive and an even bigger shame that they discontinued it after two years... Or did they?? Much to my, and many other enthusiasts delight, Issey Miyake made the wise decision to revive this fragrance in 2025. I have a bottle of the new juice arriving today and will likely delete this sentence and update this review in the coming days to reflect my opinions on the new juice. Issey Miyake also revived Nuit D'issey Parfum and Nuit D'issey Bleu Astral in 2025 and I have seen bottles of both pop up for cheap on discounters with a 2025 batch code. This could mark the beginning of a "new" era of excellence for IM if they start releasing the discountinues limited run classics. So many mind-blowing frags didn't get the lifespan they should have in favor of boring L'eau D'issey "flankers" that no one asked for or care for nearly as much. Solar Lavender, Wood & Wood, Eau & Cedre, Vetiver. So sad. I have gone on for far too long, let me end by saying this: L'eau D'issey Pour Homme Noir Ambré is an absolute masterpiece 96/100

It doesn't really say 'gasoline', to me but then, I also own and love Fahrenheit, which is what I associate with a gasoline (or creosote) accord. Oh, I absolutely love this, by the way. Stunning! 10/10. In all departments. First time I tried it was from a decant seller. It had an, overall, quite 'rubber' sort of accord (or 'so you could say', anyway) but I knew, at the same time, that I loved it 100%. I have a 2/3 full bottle and a sealed back up bottle, from when Notino still had it for about £59 in the UK. I see resellers on eBay now asking £125 for it and getting it. Despite this, and despite sporadic eBay selling, myself, I will not be selling mine. I don't really have such a trained nose, yet, to pick out many individual notes or tell you how prominent they are (after reading or being told, I can go 'oh yes' but that's about it), so I won't try to review it that way. Luckily, though, there are plenty of people who are. What I will say is this. Try a sample first, if you can; it's not really a blind buy (especially at £125), unless you are 'rolling in it' and the potential of losing that (or a bit of that) money wouldn't make much of a dent. In which case I would just say 'go for it'. 2 or 3 sprayed bottles seem to be fetching about £70 to £80 at the moment, too (I like always returning to study what's going on with the scalpers and resellers of one of my favourite fragrances). I don't really like scalpers, ticket touts, Seiko Hoodinkee limited edition and Omega Moonswatch resellers, etc, in principle. But, then again, you also have to consider what is inside those beautifully simplistic, 'modelled after a single piece of cloth', amber bottles. With so many people talking about 'niche quality' and niche brands charging into the hundreds, that actually makes this a, perhaps, 'considered purchase' that's well worth considering before it disappears off the face of the earth. Apologies if anyone considers talking about money, like this, vulgar. With stocks dwindling and availability scarce, though, it's increasingly becoming a factor to consider before buying. As I say, I'm not selling mine (I'm keeping the good stuff for me). I just think that it might, even, be worth putting a few other intended future purchases on hold for a while and buying it while it can still be acquired for under £150. Beyond that, I would start looking at the 'This Perfume Reminds Me Of' alternatives (one of which, I have coming in the mail, just to see). Why so many companies are discontinuing so many of the top rated fragrances on this site, is beyond me.

I bought into the hype & after a few months of intermittent searching online, have recently managed to acquire a bottle at what I had considered to be a fair price after weighing up how inaccessible it is these days, most of the reviews & comments, etc. AUD$200(ish) later, I can add to my Issey Miyake collection of the original L'eau D'Issey, the Intense flanker, Fusion Extreme, & Nuit D'Issey Noir Argent. You might say I may be slightly biased in this review. Well... In short, this opens like Dior Farenheit, & dries down to a leathery Guess 1981 Los Angeles Men. The opening has that distinctive gasoleather note of Farenheit, but this also gives off a smokey ambery leathery feel, which is what the saffron note is supposed to do I think? It's definitely sexy & nowhere near the fresh yuzu of the OG L'eau D'issey, perhaps a much smoother juxtaposition of dark and sweet compared to the Intense (which has so far been my favourite of the line)? Despite the fancier packaging box as compared to other L'eau or Nuit D'Isseys, I suppose now I understand what the other reviewers mean by "that well blended niche quality in a designer brand". Is it better? Is it necessary? Is it necessarily better? Not really. Not for anyone smelling it off or on you at least. This luxury is for you & you alone to experience. Is it worth the inflated market price? Honestly no, probably not. This would have been GREAT value at original release price f'shure. Would I buy it again at the price I paid for it? Absolutely yes, because I'm a sucker like that. As it dries down, I must say that the opening lasts for quite a good long while before the sexy smokey ashy notes start to fade into the back, & the ambery vanilla tonka creamy sweetness comes through to the front. Sillage & projection aren't great, but it has quite decent longevity as a skin scent. I can rub the back of my hands on my neck & have a little scratch & sniff kinda thing going. The hype is real. Don't blind buy this if you're after something innovative, new & exciting. The time to do that was probably back in 2016 or perhaps even sometime BC (before Covid =P). I can see why this was discontinued from the D'Issey line. I can also see why this is so much sought after today. Definitely one for the collectors, but set yourself a reasonable price limit when you go looking for it. If you pay too much, you might be disappointed. If you manage to snag yourself a good bargain, you'll make the rest of us jealous.