Issey Miyake Parfum will release a new men's fragrance, "NUIT D'ISSEY," on October 8th. We spoke with Agnes Satin, International Marketing Director of Issey Miyake Parfum at Beauté Prestige International, who visited Japan for the launch event, about Issey Miyake Parfum's initiatives and how to enjoy perfume.

--How do you express Issey Miyake's creations in perfume?

We gather all information, from the brand image to various projects related to Issey Miyake and the latest news, and use it in creating perfumes. You could say our job is to translate the worldview of the Issey Miyake brand through collaboration and turn it into a concrete perfume.

--What do you focus on when creating Issey Miyake perfumes?

It's a simple perfume that is characteristic of Issey Miyake. Of course, this doesn't mean simple in the sense of being simple. It's a simplicity that only something carefully selected from many, something refined, can have. Contrast and the creation of a consistent scent that reflects the brand's identity were also important. As the concept of "Nature is the most wonderful perfume" suggests, a connection with nature is essential and of paramount importance in creating Issey Miyake perfumes. However, the scent must not be so overpowering that it's immediately recognizable as "this is a rose scent" or "this is a forest scent."

--Issey Miyake has previously released several men's fragrances, such as L'Eau d'Issey, but what makes this new fragrance different from previous ones?

This time, we hired two new perfumers (Dominique Ropion and Roc Dong) because we wanted to create a fragrance that incorporates a fresh perspective while respecting Issey Miyake's identity as a natural fragrance. As for the specific scent, it features a more pronounced leather scent than previous fragrances.

--Are there any differences in the craftsmanship and attention to detail for men's and women's fragrances?

That's a very difficult question. Men and women are different, so generally, the methods for creating men's and women's fragrances are different, but Issey Miyake fragrances never attempt to express standard masculine or feminine images in the form of perfume. As I said earlier, we first focus on nature and offer emotions and experiences through scent. Issey Miyake's philosophy is not to conform to preconceived notions of masculinity or femininity, but to allow people to be more themselves by wearing them.

--Although the number of men using perfume is increasing, I believe that compared to European men, there are still fewer men using perfume in Japan. If you were to give advice to Japanese men, especially young men, about how to enjoy perfume, what would you say?

I have teenage children myself, so I'll answer from a parent's perspective. While young people have a desire to belong to a group, they also want to assert their own identity. Wearing perfume is one way to express and emphasize their identity. Just like wearing a baseball cap or Nike sneakers, wearing your favorite perfume allows you to assert who you are. Young people's identities are not yet fully established and they are constantly searching for and building themselves. However, wearing Nuit d'Issey can help them look deeply into themselves and find their identity.

--What about Japanese women?

Unlike clothing, perfume can be worn 24 hours a day, but it can also be enjoyed as an accessory. In fact, in Europe, especially France, men and women use perfume slightly differently. For example, men shower, apply perfume, and then get dressed. This order serves both hygiene purposes and adds a punch. Women, on the other hand, shower, get dressed, and then apply perfume. In other words, in France and other countries, women enjoy using perfume as an accessory. I encourage Japanese women to enjoy different perfumes just as they change their accessories.