As Bond No 9 comes out with more of its fragranced themes for NYC, it is as interesting to see what they have done with the bottles as anything else.

As I’ve said before, I wish all the bottles were refillable. Essentially, the bottles are identical in shape, just with different colors or designs. Refills are not available in all fragrances, but they are less expensive than the decorative bottles and can be used to fill your own decant or, for instance, the purse size sprays, available in some fragrances, that can be ordered directly from Bond No 9 in NYC. (Call toll-free (877) 273-3369). If you are a member of MUA, tell them, as they offer a discount. And tell them you saw it here. I’ve had very good service from them. Or order below at the link.

West Side invokes the musical heritage of New York City — Carnegie Hall, Tin Pan Alley, the Cotton Club, the Copacobana, Birdland, Lincoln Center, Studio 54, etc. The bottle is quite beautiful and colorful, including a treble clef in its design. Definitely a collectable.

The notes are rose, ylang ylang, peony, sandalwood, amber, musk and vanilla.

I usually cannot wear rose fragrances well. But this one is deliciously sweet. In a way, it reminds me of some of the old fashioned salt-water taffys. It is almost gourmand. I can imagine spring time in a garden savoring a sweet with a cup of tea, watching the changing scene looking up from a book, the scent of roses permeating everything in a gentle manner.

Bryant Park is the newest Bond No 9 offering. Its notes are Lily of the Valley, Rhubarb, Pink Pepper, Rose, Patchouli, Raspberry & Amber. By contrast to West Side, it is not sweet. The rose is quite distinct in it, underlying the fragrance. It has the sharpness of lily of the valley and rhubarb, as well as the depth of patchouli, which is less strong to me than the lily of the valley. It evokes spring, heavy on the greens. Bond says it has the dissonance of Pink Pepper. On me, the longer I wear it, the more pronounced is the raspberry note. I enjoy this fragrance more each time I wear it.

The Bryant Park artist-designed bottle, with its swirls of pink, lavender, and black on a white background, recalls the exuberant gossamer silk pre-Mod textiles of the late ‘50s and early ‘60s—just when style was re-defining itself. Bond No 9

And, BTW, these prints are showing up in the stores for this season’s dresses and tops. Very retro in feel.

I think both these fragrances could be in your staple, if you love roses. They are significantly different from each other. I expect they would layer well, but I haven’t tried it. I have sampled one on each wrist, so to a degree they blend together, but not in quite the same manner as layering.

Have you tried either of these yet?

Karin

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Categories:

Perfume review, Perfumes

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