Union Square is a lovely fragrance. Billed as a seductive green floral and The Sweet (and Cool) Smell of Pop Art it sneaks up on you as you wear it.

I am sampling it from a vial, so I am not spritzing it.

I think the idea of sweet and cool in fragrance is today's trend. I don't want to call it a modern trend, because other fragrances which I would consider modern, don't always have this dichotomy of sweet with cool. It's as though sweet is too sweet and cool is too cool, but combining the two together, so long as they don't cancel each other out or end up a mishmash, gives a balance that those who desire neither alone (or at least on particular days) find intriguing.

When I first wear it, it reminds me of Miss Dior Cherie which also has a sweet and cool thing going on. Or M by Mariah Carey.

The notes are:

Lily of the valley (in a deliciously impudent frame of mind, they write), green stem notes (uncorruptible), sweet blue freesia (having it's 15 mins of fame); white birchwood (our very own Nature Girl); Amber (decadently mellow); Silver-Cloud Musk Accord (that's sultry on the outside, cool and collected on the inside).

Lily of the valley and greens give it the sharp coolness. The fragrance has movement, but still the notes are distinct, yet blending. My kids like it on me. That is always a good sign.

The bottle is fuchsia, red and yellow, popping from a two-dimensional plane. I quite like it.

For those wishing to recycle their bottles, Bond No 9 or anyone else's, they can be recycled at either SAKs or the NY Bond Boutiques. (As a way of thanking you, they will give you a refillable pocket spray with any purchase.)

There is, however, a niche for those who are bottle collectors. If bottles are kept long enough, are interesting enough, or are rare enough, empty (or not) bottles can fetch a pretty resale price.

I think Bond No 9's concept of the same bottle, but different designs is clever packaging. I only wish they were refillable, that would be really going green. I could see a shelf full of these empty lovelies as a design theme -- or still filled with fragrance if kept from light or heat.

Karin

Originally posted 2008-03-27 13:21:27.

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I've heard a lot of good things about Andy Tauer fragrances, originating in Switzerland, and I was excited to finally be able to try several of them thanks to a friend at POL. I will add my reviews as I try each of them. I have added links to both his blog and his website at my link section.

Perfumes are pictures, painted with scents. Tauer Perfumes

I think for my first foray into Tauer Perfumes, L'air du desert marocain was a perfect choice. It is said to be a unisex fragrance, but it is not like any other unisex that I have tried. Tauer Perfumes says it is for 'him or her.' They do not call it unisex.

In general most unisex fragrances on me smell too masculine. It might be that most unisex fragrances are really neither masculine nor feminine which is why I do not like them on me. They have a certain nondesript quality to them, on me, as if one set of notes cancels out the other.

On the other hand, there are men's versions of fragrances that I prefer on me (and maybe I just prefer them on anyone) over the women's (Guerlain's L'instant for men is one of them.) Many fragrances can be enjoyed equally by men or women if the categories of men's or women's are forgotten and one only goes by the scent and how it smells on oneself. I know several men who wear women's fragrances as part of their fragrance wardrobe.

So I was intrigued to see how I would feel about this one. I find it a winner for either a man or a woman, but I would not classify it as unisex.

The scent of desire. Inspired by the fragrant world of the Maghreb desert. Powerful, sensual and pure. Tauer Perfumes

I find this scent to be wonderfully evocative. For me, it does paint a picture with fragrance. It is very paradoxical -- it is both warm and dry; both sweet and non-sweet; incensy and clear; a sensual scent and an intellectual one... I am transported as I wear it.

And the wonderful thing about it is that no note cancels out any other. Each note stands distinct, yet blends with the others in a dance of joy.

I have never been to the Maghreb desert, but if it smells anything like this, I am ready to go. In one sense that is similar to Hermes Un Jardin Sur le Nil which evokes the area around the Nile.

I was careful my first try to take only the tiniest spritz, because I didn't know what to expect. Not to fear, it is delicious. The dry down is sweet, but not too sweet, full of spicy incense and woods. And the journey from the beginning to the dry down is a lovely bit of travel. The opening is distinct from the drydown. It is not a fragrance that would bore one with sameness in all three stages. A little goes a long ways, and it lasted on me very well. Twelve hours later, it was still strong on my wrists.

For those who fear a cumin note, it is not negative at all.

The elegant head note is based on typical spicy scents of the Maghreb; coriander and cumin, joined with petitgrain. The warm heart note surprises with the fragrance of rock rose and a hint of jasmine. The body note is full of warm woods such as cedar wood, vetiver brilliantly joined with a fine amber background. Tauer Perfumes

Today I tried a bit more, and it is every bit as good. I think of this more as a skin scent, as I don't know if I would want to apply for sillage. Let those who come close to me partake of the pleasure.

It is very sensual, but soothing. I think it is full bottle worthy. It goes for $65 for 1.7 oz at Luckyscent in the US. It is also available in NY.

Have you tried it? do you own it?

Karin

Originally posted 2007-02-17 14:14:56.

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Bond No 9 has created its first non-specific NYC fragrances for Saks 5th Ave. Both are worthy creations -- modern, elegant and large, said to

capture the fashion-forward essence of 21st century Saks, while at the same time expressing the eclectic downtown spirit of NoHo-based Bond No. 9.

DNA for women is a classic, large gardenia scent. If you love gardenia, you will love this fragrance. A little goes a long ways, because it is long-lasting. On me, the dominant note is gardenia. Anything else is hidden among the petals.

DNA For Her
Gardenia, sparkling jasmine, vetiver and vanilla.

I love the scent of gardenias, brought into the house. I float them in bowls.

This scent is true to real gardenia. So many perfumes are not.

DNA for men is an elegant aqua scent, with a classic masculine ambiance, through the notes that are generally thought to be part of men's fragrances.

DNA For Him
Sicilian bergamot, cardamom, amber and cedarwood.

Of interest are these notes:

What makes this eau de parfum metro-modernity is the addition of notes that are new to luxury perfumes: a marine accord, fiery chilies, seductive incense and soothing guaiac wood from South America.

While it is said to be for both men and women, it leans more masculine to me. I would like to smell it on a man. It is perfectly wearable for a woman, once the top notes develop into the lower notes. But the top notes are decidedly masculine. If you are a woman who wears it, tell me how it develops for you.

If you are a bottle collector, the bottles are quite, quite lovely, dramatic black and white, echoed in the new SAKs shopping bags. The women's is white with black; the men's is black with white. They rank up right up there with the Chinatown bottle, which is red and white. You won't be sorry to add either of these bottles to your collection, and if the man in your life wears it, it will be an added plus.

Karin

Originally posted 2007-10-29 07:47:22.

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I have not had the opportunity to sample Washington Square from the juice, but there was an insert in the SAKs catalog. I was really pleasantly surprised!

The bottle is very attractive, their first featuring people. The softness of the colors remind me of pointillism, though that is not how it is designed. I find myself wanting to walk into the scene, for it looks like you could walk right under the arch.

The notes include:

Purple Rose with Tarragon (love this scent and spice), vetiver, and leather accord. SAKs insert.

or, in more detail:

top notes: Italian bergamot, geranium and tarragon;
middle notes: purple rose and honey;
base notes: vintage amber, a leather accord, vetiver and musk.

It is described as

an assertively dissident scent that never forgets to be beautiful; it has a female-male crossover appeal, whose balance is on the female side.

I don't catch any dissidence in the sample (which is a kind of powder) nor do I find the leather very strong. I catch the rose, but it is tempered with the other notes. I tend to like a dirty rose, not a sweet one, and this fragrance appeals to me because it is not your grandmother's rose fragrance. It certainly doesn't smell like rose water. It is a bit like YSL's Elle, but different enough, softer in some respects, that if you like Elle, you could have this in your repertoire too.

Have you had a chance to smell this IRL yet?
I will have to wait until I am shopping out of town, because none of the department stores near me carry Bond No 9. But I'm not too far from a SAKs, so it is on my list of things to do.

How about you? Do you want to try this one? Do you love it? Have you bought it? Will you buy it?
It is priced as all the other Bond No 9's: 3.4 oz edp $230; 1.7 oz $170; .7 fl oz. $95.

Karin
www.savvythinker.com

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28d 22h

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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

Originally posted 2007-03-10 12:21:51.

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Times are tough,

but there’s no need to cut back on your supply of Bond No. 9

It is a well-known scientific fact that fragrance quickly relieves the symptoms of fiscal malaise. And since we do not want you, valued customer, to suffer from recessionary eau de parfum deprivation, we are making an offer you can hardly refuse:

Sunday, May 31st through Saturday, June 6 we’ll give you a refill of your favorite Bond No. 9 fragrance- on us!

OK, you’re thinking, there’s a catch right?

There is: you must purchase any two full size Bond No. 9 items.
(Excluding single soap and bon-bon purse sprays)

Please note: All Online Orders that participate in the refill event are non-refundable.

Originally posted 2009-05-29 21:17:14.

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Coney Island is Bond No 9's newest fragrance offering, and I think it is a winner. The last time I was at Coney Island, I was about 8...but this fragrance brings forward those long-distant memories, hidden for so long in the mists of time.

...Coney Island conjures up both the magical history and the reawakening of this beachfront paradise. Combined in this contemporary gourmand delight are the sugar-cool notes of
margarita mix, hypnotically seductive chocolate and caramel, plus cedarwood. The high-voltage blue bottle recalls the Coney Island's expanse of sea and sky, while the contrasting gold neck evokes the thousands of electric lights that once lit up its night sky.

And throw in a bit salt water taffy. Or at least the salt.

I like this one, because it is so different from anything else I own. I particularly like the more- than-a-dash of lime. It stays bright and true through the whole fragrance, right down to the cedarwood/sandalwood. The chocolate stays underneath as a hint. You almost have to know it is there to know it is there. But it sweetens the deal, just a tad. And it isn't that artificial chocolate, but real chocolate. Plus added to that: the margarita mix is under, over and through all.

Then, there's that salt and lime thing going on.

Lemme tell ya, it's a scent women can wear. It's not a typical male lime scent. It must be that margarita mix. Any way you serve it up, it's delish.

From the description, I initially felt it might have been like Pink Sugar, but it is not sweet. Nope, it is salt and lime. And it conjures up the coolness of a tall iced glass, with or without salt, on a hot day.

It's a happy, summery scent. Do yourself a favor and give it a try. I'm only debating how long I can hold off and which way I want to buy it.

Have you tried it yet?

Bond No. 9's Coney Island is sold at all four Bond No. 9 stores, at selected branches of Saks Fifth Avenue, and at Harvey Nichols, Harrods, Paris Gallery, Lane Crawford. Besides being available in its 3.4 oz. artist-designed superstar bottle and box presentation ($180), 1.7oz travel size ($125), Coney Island may be purchased by the ounce ($40), either in a 2-ounce basic spray flacon with gilt honeycomb cap ($25) or in our unique vintage or art bottles, featured in a wide variety of designs ($60 - $200).

And do you remember I told you how great their customer service is? Call 877 273-3369. Go, Bond No 9!

Karin

MARGARITA MIX, with fiery tequila blanco already poured in

Un-humble MELON that goes way beyond fruit salad Freshly-ripened GUAVA that's naughty but sweet

CINNAMON in sensual mode (fougedaboud apple pie) CHOCOLATE - the stimulant with the tasty mega-kick

Pour-able CARAMEL, out to intoxicate

Decadent, unredeemed MUSK

VANILLA that's not minding its manners

Cool and collected CEDARWOOD … because somebody's got to put on the brakes

Mellow SANDALWOOD, like settling down after a pulse-quickening roller coaster ride

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I wish I lived closer to NYC, because I'd make it a point to visit the Bond No. 9 store in person.

As it is, I've ordered from them and received very good service. Call toll free: (877) 273-3369. Be sure to tell them you are a MUA member, if you are.

As a kind of follow up, the SA who talked to me by phone has sent me samples of their new fragrances as they launch them. And he's called me at least twice.

I just think that is terrific! The newest that I received is Bryant Park. More on that scent later after I get a chance to try it a couple of times.

My only wish is that all of their bottles were refillable. Refills are less expensive than the bottles, but they are not available for all scents. Several of the bottles are so pretty! If I were richer, I'd buy the bottle with Swarovski crystals. I've not seen it in RL, but it looks exquisite. At the moment, I don't remember which fragrance it is.

Karin

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