WHAT I SMELL:  Issara’s opening is warm and mysterious focusing around a heavenly dreamlike pine and cedar.  It also feels gently masculine along with a sense of confidence and security.  In a short while, there’s a light barber shop vibe that emerges, like hair tonic.  This helps to make the perfume feel neat and trimmed without feeling stuffy.  As the perfume continues to develop, there’s a buzzing and humming radiance that moves the perfume from the barber shop to the more herbal topped with just a hint of flattened booziness.  There’s a consistent green that sits at the base, but more of a forest vs. a floral green.  I find at this point that there’s a real beefiness to the fragrance.  But as soon as I say that, out bursts a more sparkling pine tinged with a light sugared amber and honeyed tobacco.  Here the perfume resides in the most perfect of states for a lengthy period until a light musk is added to the mix which doesn’t detract from the overall state of grace.  Where other perfumes lose their sweet spot at the heart, Issara keeps on giving throughout.  Absolutely wonderful.

From the Parfums Dusita website:

A one of a kind fresh Fougère fragrance for the free and independent spirit  – the scent with a sense for inner freedom. A fabulous perfume evoking fresh summer mornings, lush green fields, an invigorating breeze blowing through the pines …

At the Top: Brisk, fresh green Pine stirs the senses and blends joyfully with subtle, soft herbal notes for a walk in nature!

The Heart :  A rousing Coumarin accord delivers the pure country-fresh  fragrance of new-mown hay, with rich balsamic notes of the forest from Vertiver Bourbon, and the intimately mellow scent of Sylvester Pine Leaf. 

Base Notes : Played by a trio of spontaneous, earthy aromas — magical Musk, a woody Oakmoss and an extremely rare, rich natural Ambergris

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  The perfume for the Millenial man.  It’s a traditional male scent with a modern and softer edge.  It could easily be worn at the office (buttoned up), the virtual office (buttoned down), a night out with the boys or at the grocery store with the kids.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE ISSARA:  easy, comfortable, nod-to-nostalgia

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ISSARA: Megan in Saint Maxime, Kafkaesque, The Scented Apprentice

BOTTOM LINE: I am typically a bit skeptical when I keep hearing raves about new perfumes that seem to sweep through the various perfume groups on Facebook and other sites; but Parfums Dusita with its first trio of debut perfumes really delivers on all fronts.  Melodie de L’Amour is a beautiful deep and narcotic white floral that is sensuality in a bottle and Ouhd Infini restores my faith in the use of oud which has been so completely overdone in the last couple of years.  I’m having a hard time deciding which one of these three is the true masterpiece in the collection.  Maybe they all are?!

• Bone Rating:  4.5 out of possible 5 bones
• Scent:  Aromatic Fougere
• Nose: Pissara Umavijani
• Classification: Unisex but leans masculine
• Expense: $295 Euros (approximately $330 US) for 50 ml parfum extrait