Bond No. 9

Bond No. 9 is a luxury fragrance house based in New York City, founded in 2003 by Laurice Rahmé. The brand is known for its vibrant, artistic approach to perfumery, with each fragrance inspired by a specific neighborhood, landmark, or element of New York City. Bond No. 9's mission is to create fragrances that reflect the diversity, energy, and dynamism of the city. With a vast collection of fragrances that range from fresh and floral to bold and spicy, Bond No. 9 has become one of the most recognized niche fragrance brands in the world.

General Brand Identity

  • New York-Inspired Fragrances: The brand’s entire concept revolves around capturing the essence of different parts of New York City. Each fragrance is designed to represent a neighborhood or iconic area, such as Central Park, Wall Street, or Chinatown, giving the collection a strong narrative element.
  • Bold and Artistic: Bond No. 9 fragrances are often bold, creative, and unafraid to experiment with a wide range of ingredients. The brand plays with contrasting notes and styles, making their scents unique and memorable.
  • Distinctive Bottle Designs: The star-shaped bottles are a signature of the brand, often featuring bright, bold designs that are as colorful and vibrant as the city they’re inspired by. The bottles are works of art themselves, reflecting the personality of each fragrance.
  • Unisex Appeal: While some Bond No. 9 fragrances are marketed towards men or women, many of the scents have a unisex appeal, making them versatile for all genders.

Notable Fragrances

1. Bond No. 9 New York Oud (2011)

  • Notes: Red plum, saffron, orange zest, oud, patchouli, musk.
  • Review: New York Oud is one of the brand’s most luxurious offerings, blending the Middle Eastern richness of oud with a modern, urban twist. The fragrance opens with a sweet, fruity burst of plum and saffron, which quickly gives way to the deeper, woody oud. The combination of oud, patchouli, and musk creates a warm, resinous dry-down that lingers on the skin for hours. It’s a sophisticated, bold scent that suits colder weather and evening wear. Many oud lovers appreciate its Westernized take on the traditionally heavy oud note.

2. Bond No. 9 Scent of Peace (2006)

  • Notes: Blackcurrant, grapefruit, lily of the valley, musk, cedarwood.
  • Review: Scent of Peace is one of Bond No. 9's most popular and versatile fragrances. It opens with a fresh and bright burst of grapefruit and blackcurrant, creating a juicy, slightly tart opening. The heart of lily of the valley softens the fragrance, giving it a delicate floral aspect, while the musk and cedarwood in the base add depth and a clean, woody finish. Scent of Peace is easy to wear, making it ideal for daily wear or casual occasions. It’s a crowd-pleaser with mass appeal, known for its fresh, uplifting aura.

3. Bond No. 9 Wall Street (2004)

  • Notes: Seaweed, cucumber, leather, vetiver, ambergris, musk.
  • Review: Wall Street is a unique and bold aquatic fragrance with a sharp, green edge. The seaweed and cucumber give it an oceanic, salty freshness, while the leather and vetiver provide a grounding, earthy backbone. As it dries down, the ambergris and musk create a warm, slightly animalic base, making the scent intriguing and long-lasting. It’s a more daring fragrance, perfect for someone looking for something different and evocative of the financial district’s fast-paced, sharp atmosphere.

4. Bond No. 9 Bleecker Street (2005)

  • Notes: Violet leaf, blueberry, thyme, jasmine, cedarwood, amber, vanilla.
  • Review: Bleecker Street is one of the brand’s more complex, multi-faceted fragrances, often described as fresh, green, and gourmand all at once. The blueberry note gives it a juicy, fruity opening, balanced by the herbal greenness of violet leaf and thyme. The heart of jasmine adds a floral touch, while the base of cedarwood, amber, and vanilla provides warmth and sweetness. This fragrance is versatile and playful, with a smooth transition between fruity, woody, and gourmand elements. It's perfect for those who want a creative and unusual scent that’s still easy to wear.

5. Bond No. 9 Chinatown (2005)

  • Notes: Peach blossom, gardenia, cardamom, patchouli, sandalwood, vanilla.
  • Review: Chinatown is a bold, oriental-floral fragrance that mixes sweet and spicy elements. The opening is a burst of peach blossom and gardenia, creating a heady, floral sweetness, while the cardamom adds a spicy, exotic twist. The base of patchouli, sandalwood, and vanilla creates a warm, rich dry-down that gives the fragrance depth and longevity. Chinatown is one of the brand’s more daring and artistic fragrances, with a unique balance of floral, spicy, and woody elements. It’s ideal for those who enjoy oriental fragrances with a strong personality.

6. Bond No. 9 New York Nights (2017)

  • Notes: Gardenia, carnation, jasmine, sandalwood, patchouli, caramel.
  • Review: New York Nights is a floral-gourmand that captures the excitement and vibrancy of the city at night. The floral opening of gardenia, carnation, and jasmine provides a rich, white-floral bouquet, while the base of sandalwood and patchouli adds warmth and depth. What makes this fragrance stand out is the sweet, indulgent caramel note that emerges in the dry-down, giving it a delicious, gourmand quality. New York Nights is glamorous, seductive, and perfect for evening wear.

Strengths of Bond No. 9

  1. Diverse Fragrance Profiles: Bond No. 9 offers a wide range of fragrances that cover various scent families, including florals, orientals, aquatics, gourmands, and woody compositions. There is something for everyone, from light and fresh daytime fragrances to bold and rich evening scents.

  2. Strong Narrative and Storytelling: Each fragrance has a unique narrative tied to New York City, which adds an emotional and cultural depth to the brand. This storytelling aspect makes the fragrances more memorable and gives them a sense of place and purpose.

  3. High-Quality Ingredients: Bond No. 9 is known for using high-quality ingredients in their fragrances, which results in luxurious compositions with great longevity and projection. Many of their scents are long-lasting, ensuring a strong presence throughout the day.

  4. Iconic and Artistic Bottles: The star-shaped bottles are as much a part of the Bond No. 9 experience as the fragrances themselves. The artistic designs and vibrant colors make them stand out as collectible items.

  5. Unisex Appeal: Many of Bond No. 9’s fragrances have a unisex appeal, offering versatility across genders. This allows for a wider audience to enjoy their scents without being confined to traditional gender norms in perfumery.

Potential Drawbacks

  1. Price: Bond No. 9 fragrances are in the luxury price range, which may be a barrier for some consumers. The artistic packaging and high-quality ingredients contribute to the premium price tag, but it can be a significant investment for those new to niche perfumery.

  2. Bold Compositions: While the bold, creative nature of the fragrances is a strength for many, it can also be a drawback for those who prefer more understated, simple scents. Some Bond No. 9 fragrances are quite strong and can be polarizing due to their intensity or unusual note combinations.

  3. Performance Variability: Although many Bond No. 9 fragrances are praised for their longevity and sillage, a few may have lighter performance, depending on the fragrance and skin chemistry. It’s always recommended to test the fragrances on your skin before purchasing, especially considering the price point.

Conclusion

Bond No. 9 is a standout luxury fragrance brand known for its bold, creative approach to perfumery and its unique tribute to New York City. Whether you’re drawn to fruity-floral scents like Bleecker Street, rich oud-based fragrances like New York Oud, or fresh, versatile options like Scent of Peace, Bond No. 9 offers a diverse collection to suit different tastes and moods.

If you appreciate high-quality, long-lasting fragrances with strong storytelling and artistic packaging, Bond No. 9 is worth exploring. However, the price and bold nature of some scents may not appeal to everyone, so it's essential to try samples or testers before committing to a full bottle.