After being really disappointed in the performance of the current L'eau d'Issey, I decided to give this one a try. While I cannot say that it's a replacement for the vintage version, Fraiche does fill the gap.
It does smell pretty similar; not the same, but similar. It's more sour and pungent upon initial spray, as the citrus is like a grapefruit rind, and it doesn't have that distinctive yuzu note. Nonetheless, if you're captivated by the original's opening, this is oh so very satisfying.
As it dries down, the citrus note does linger a lot longer than I'd have expected. It becomes slightly herbaceous, there's a bit of vetiver, and some musk. It mostly continues in that direction through the duration of the scent. It's not floral like the original, though I do get a slight hint of rose in the drydown which caught me off guard (in a good way).
I happen to love the original's floral character, but others may prefer this direction.
I got this during a heat wave, so I wore it while being somewhat sweaty. I can't comment on how this will perform in the winter, but this is magical in the high heat. It really shimmers beautifully, and you get these gentle wafts from the scent.
Longevity is around 8-10 hours.
Good projection for around an hour. Sits closer to the skin after that, but it lingers. Spray it on clothes and you'll get even more mileage.
