While Fusion d'Issey expresses a volcanic eruption on the Earth, the new Extrême version is as also eruptive, but underwater, with the coolness of the deep blue sea contrasting with the heat of telluric volcanoes inspiring the fougère.
Nathalie Lorson composed both fragrances for Issey Miyake Parfums.
Launched in the autumn of 2020, Fusion d'Issey is a solar and mineral fougère that gets its cool facet from the citrusy accent of lemon, the milky mildness of coconut water, and the vibrant herbal presence of notes of rosemary and geranium. In the base notes, the heat of volcanic woods combines with the vigour of patchouli and the softness of ambrox.
Fusion d'Issey Extrême represents "a frozen volcanic eruption" by which the cold becomes incandescent, as if the lava had escaped from the depths of the ocean.
"There's an interpretation of volcanic ice throughout the opus. Frosty notes intersect the fragrance, joining a solar, mineral signature that plunges into an underwater volcanic world. That's what I wanted to convey in scent -- that quick shock, as if magma was flowing into very cold water," said Lorson.
The composition opens with fresh citrus note of a bergamot essence spiked with cardamom to add the icy feel. The herbal heart is structured around a solar accord offering the freshness of peppermint in contrast. The soft note of coconut is still there, but it's richer with more texture, and cooled down by hybrid lavender.
The drydown reveals the intensity of volcanic woods, amid patchouli essence and sandalwood that burns naturally, like lava.