Nuit D'Issey Bleu Astral

Not sure why I didn't review this before, as I have had it for a few years. I like a lot of Issey miyake frags. The problem is they are always hard to get, unless you want leau dissey or it's intense brother. Both of which I do love. Blue Astral was one of my firsts when I started purchasing fragrances at an alarming rate. I love fresh citrus scents, and if you can make one that can perform in the colder months, then here is my money. I will be honest. It's a beautiful scent. Holds onto the nuit dissey dna. Adds a wonderful unique citrus opening, but it's downfall is performance. It's not loud or intrusive. It's something you wear for yourself. On a special day. Like new years day. Bois Arctic is another great Issey scent with similarities to blue astral. Everything I've said about astral can be said about bois arctic. Great scent. Not so great performance. Good luck getting your hands on either one for a fair price. I paid 40 for my 2.5 and 60 for my 4.2 of BA. Got super lucky last year and scooped a bottle of bois arctic for 50.

Bleu Astral is Issey Miyake’s most ‘mainstream’ scent DNA outside of the Majeure line. There is little similarity to the OG, Bleu, or Intense- it definitely goes its own way. As a flanker of Nuit d’Issey, it has the similar citrus and leather over a woody base. The opening is quite mesmerizing. It’s the same coriander and lime combination that is so incredible in Austral Expedition- indeed, these two are the closest relatives in the Miyake lineup. Bleu Astral becomes more “cologney” in the drydown, modernly masculine and spicy fresh. I might add that the bottle is a thing of beauty- the deep, transparent, dark glowing blue color truly reflects the scent profile inside. Overall, this is a very nice smelling fragrance and is easy to wear for most all occasions and seasons. If you would like something similar in style to other “Bleu” fragrances but overlaid with some beautiful, amazing notes, give Astral a try.

Perfect for rainy weather, when the wind is slightly cold, so aptly matches the whole vibe of this scent. This is very pleasant, smooth, lime, with cold coriander blended with some sweet creamy woodiness from the amber wood, the leather is light and it's a very casual clean take on the note. The initial spray has a certain Sichuan pepper type of spice which lasts for a very short while, reminded me of Noir Anthracite by Tom Ford's opening, in the far dry down this gives BdC Parfum vibes, also reminiscent of CK In2U for men throughout. Performance isn't all that great, average at best wish it did better. But overall, a very versatile easy, inoffensive well made quality scent from Issey, an oddball in the Nuit D'Issey line. 7/10

Got this as a 2ml spray from scentswithsense.com. One can never know with Miyake if a scent you find today will be available tomorrow, unless it’s the sour, mediocre, unattractive, unremarkable and unlikable “L’eau d’ Issey Pour Homme”, which I made the mistake of buying without trying in 1994 and after the first day never wore again. It took the passage of twenty years for me to give another Miyake scent a chance, and of course not in a blind buy. Parfum, Austral, Bois Artic, Noir, Polaris, I like them all, but can never find them for more than five minutes. But that nasty f-ing L’eau d’Issey Pour Homme”, that mess is always available, never runs out of stock anywhere. You’d think they would notice.

Issey Miyake with this scent have combined really something special . It is in Nuit line and it is for a good reason there. Blue Astral reaching full potency during warm months , summer night makes this fragrance huge compliment gather ! Projection isnt massive but you can have this in combination with Issey's Intense ... they make huge sillage and project for hours !! Cardamom makes dark vibe but still very pleasent + intense where is benzoin and you have combination that lasts 8 hours and it makes .... just try and you will see ! I like how this same fragrance works during hot summer days ( without Intense ) , it is uniqe scent and people reacton is always in good way .