By Designer

I Love NY for Holidays by Bond No. 9

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The march of rating I Love NY fragrances from Bond No. 9 moves on. Today, we have a supposed unisex scent from the brand called, Holidays. This is an interesting gourmand scent suitable for the cooler months of the year. In this post, I am going to go over how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not it is worth a purchase.

What does I Love NY for Holidays Smell Like?

Notes include: apricot, pomegranate, mandarin, praline, leather, musk, patchouli, freesia

Click here to try: Bond No 9 I Love NY Cologne, Holidays, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Review

The opening of I Love NY for Holidays hits immediately with a fruity blend of the apricot and mandarin orange notes. This is flanked by a noticeable combo of praline and patchouli. The instantly reminded me of Black XS, except that the fruit notes are much better than the Paco Rabanne lemon that ends up smelling like a candied strawberry.

It is interesting that Holidays also takes on a different kind of fruity aroma, almost a blueberry feel to it. The freesia gives it a nice little floral scent, as well.

Holidays further takes on the appearance of another popular fragrance, Angel by Thierry Mugler. It seems that Holidays is sort of skirting between Black XS and Angel, which isn’t terrible company to be in, but it will have a rather set appeal with people.

This fragrance is very sweet and gourmand with a distinctive impression of patchouli. Holidays was actually marketed as a unisex fragrance but this leans much more to the female side of things. I could wear it, but it honestly doesn’t seem to fit with me.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Holidays is pretty powerful stuff not super intense but you’ll know that it is there throughout the day, and so will others. I would put it on the upper end of the moderate range, in terms of sillage.

It also does have really good longevity, I’m getting 9+ hours. After testing it out multiple times, it can hit over 10 hours on the right day. But, it seems to fall in that 9-10 time frame. On the performance side of things, Holidays actually does deliver.

Again, I’d treat this more as a ladies’ scent than something that is unisex. It would work well in cold weather but would probably turn into an abomination in the heat. Casual and perhaps romantic wear would work but go lightly with it, if wearing at the office.

Overall Impressions of Holidays

Overall, is I Love NY for Holidays worth a buy? It might be the best smelling of the I Love NY line, in my opinion. It actually performs well and smells good. I’m not too thrilled with the patchouli and praline combo, Black XS is okay, but I never wear any from my bottle.

If you’re a fan of Angel and want something similar but slightly different than this one might be up your alley. This is a very solid offering from Bond No. 9

L’Ambre Des Merveilles by Hermes

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As a part of my batch of sample fragrances, I received a decent amount of ladies’ fragrances that I need to get around to reviewing. I’ve never done a Hermes women’s perfume review, so today will be a first in that regard.

L’Ambre Des Merveilles was released in 2012, as a flanker fragrance to another perfume in Hermes’ lineup. In this review, I’m going to tackle, what’s inside, how it smells, how this perfume performs, and ultimately whether or not I think it is worthy of a purchase.

What does L’Ambre des Merveilles Smell Like?

Notes include: amber, cedar, vanilla, patchouli

Click here to try: Hermes L’Ambre Des Merveilles for Women Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Review

The opening of this perfume is a blend of caramel and what smells like a citrus note, most likely orange, and has a sweet and slightly floral aroma to it. There is a certain salty element within L’Ambre Des Merveilles that plays very well off of the sweetness of the often candy-like fragrance.

Of course, all of this is wrapped up into a warm amber shell with a vanilla note that adds to its laid back sweetness.

I couldn’t find out what other notes were contained in this perfume besides the one’s listed above. I feel like there is a peach note, because there’s something that reminds me of Burberry Body in this scent, and I think that’s what it is.

L’Ambre stays pretty consistent throughout while wearing and the biggest change I noticed was the orangey-citrus note fading more into the background.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, its quite soft and airy but you’ll know that it’s there while wearing it. It’s definitely not overblown or something that will choke out a room, this Hermes scent seems to have the right balance.

It lasted around 6-7 hours on my skin when I applied it. Not bad, quite serviceable, but not really outstanding either. Update: Trying it again…yep, 7 hours is what it seems to be capable of.

Seasonally, I’d save L’Ambre Des Merveilles for the colder months of the year. I think that it would really shine in cold weather, as it is so warm and inviting.

It also has a nice versatility to it, it could be worn casually, but I find it to be pretty sexy as well. I would really enjoy smelling this kind of scent of a woman. It also reminds me of Bonbon, at times.

Overall, would I recommend it? Yes, I think L’Ambre Des Merveilles smells really great. Hermes did a good job of putting it all together and there are no real negatives with it that I can identify.

I will say, if you aren’t a fan of amber/vanilla/caramel, then this perfume is definitely not for you. However, if you want something sweet for the wintertime that isn’t girly, this one does have a level of sophistication that won’t push you too far into the ‘teeny’ category.

This is one of the best from Hermes. Frankly, I think their ladies’ perfumes are generally better than the men’s offerings. Not a super complex fragrance, just one that smells really good.

Woman by Ralph Lauren

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I got a hold of a sample of the latest Ralph Lauren fragrance for ladies, entitled, Woman. This was a part of the ‘goody bag’ that Macy’s sent me when I bought a bottle of Ultra Male, which consisted of all female perfumes. Update: This one came out back in 2017, I’m updating the page years later.

As such, I just had to do a review on this scent, and see if they released something great or a complete dud. I will cover what notes it contains, how it smells, how it performs, and whether or not I think that Woman is worth a buy.

What does Woman by Ralph Lauren Smell Like?

Notes include: black currant, tuberose, pear, rhubarb, sandalwood, orange blossom, hazelnut, rose

Click here to try: Woman by Ralph Lauren at Sephora

From the opening spray, I really enjoy the aroma that Woman by Ralph Lauren gives off. I detect the pear note which when combined with the other initial stars of the show, has a shower-fresh and soapy quality to it.

There is that fruity vibe lingering throughout the life of this perfume but it definitely becomes more of a white floral affair as it moves along.

The two main floral notes that I get from it are the tuberose and orange blossom. There is a rose note as well but it doesn’t seem all that prominent to my nose in this composition; it is there, however.

The floral notes give Woman a fresh/outdoorsy/summery vibe and it is one that will brighten up a person’s mood.

Most of what you’re going to get from this perfume is revealed in the first 30 minutes or so of wear. As it gets further into things, the hazelnut and woody notes are detectable but they never were that strong in my opinion, I had to focus in on it pretty much to catch them.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it isn’t a bomb, but I do think it is fairly strong. I also sprayed it on an old t-shirt and could smell it while walking by and could catch whiffs while 6-8 feet away. Though, it does settle down a great deal more from there.

The longevity is just okay, 5-6 hours seems to be the time frame for max performance, and possibly a few more hours as a skin scent.

This totally strikes me as a spring fragrance. It’s clean, bright, and feminine. The floral and fruit notes are vibrant and full of life, just like on a warm day.

It would also do well in the cooler weather but might not be that great at the height of summer.

I think that this does have some good versatility as well. It’s appropriate for the office or school but can also be worn on a date, no problem. If it’s not really a ‘sexy’ perfume, it is a highly attractive one, that is pleasant to be around.

Overall Impressions of Woman by Ralph Lauren

Overall, is Woman worth a purchase? I’d say yes. This is in my mind, one of the best releases that Ralph Lauren has put out over the past 5-plus (?) years (although, I did like the Romance line).

This could easily become an everyday scent for someone who enjoys lighter floral fragrances that are held in check by fruit notes and doesn’t become overbearing. It’s a great introductory perfume for those who want an easier tuberose experience.

Update: This is one that fits well alongside something like L’Interdit or My Way by Armani, in terms of style. Different scents, but closely related. I’m surprised Woman wasn’t more popular, than it is. They released an Intense version later. It might be discontinued, as it’s not in stock at all on the Ralph Lauren website.

The only downside to me, is the fact that it isn’t a beast in the longevity department, but it is decent enough in that regard. The smell of the fragrance itself? Very enjoyable and has a mass appeal.

Madison Avenue by Bond No. 9

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This is the final review from the last batch of sample fragrances that I received a few months ago. It is also the last of a line of Bond No. 9 scents that were included in that batch. Today’s entry is Madison Avenue, a ladies’ perfume, that blends fruit, sweet, and floral notes.

In this review, I will cover my full experience while wearing it and give my thoughts as to whether or not it is worth a purchase.

What does Madison Avenue by Bond No. 9 Smell Like?

Notes include: blackberry, praline, apple, patchouli, jasmine, rose, magnolia, bergamot, ambroxan

Click here to try: Bond No. 9 Madison Avenue Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce

 

My Full Review

The opening of Madison Avenue reminds me of two separate fragrances. First, the men’s cologne, Black XS. This men’s fragrance shares the patchouli, fruit, and praline combination that Madison Avenue also has.

Though, I will say that Madison Avenue is done much better and doesn’t share the same strawberry/lemon candy aroma that kind of makes Black XS a mess.

The second fragrance, is La Petite Robe Noire Couture by Guerlain. This seems to represent more of the feminine aspect of Madison Avenue, with its shared notes of patchouli, rose, and bergamot. Though, the two berry notes are different, these two scents are closely related.

Madison Avenue immediately hits with its fruity mix of blackberry, apple, and citrus. I think that it smells quite amazing from the jump. It is crisp, juicy, and fresh with a very vibrant and upbeat tone. This is a very sweet perfume but I don’t think that it is overdone.

There is enough punch from the patchouli and amber undertones to give it a more refined profile.

As it moves along, more of the floral notes emerge in Madison Avenue. For me, the floral notes never breakthrough completely and I think that this one retains much more of its fruity sweetness, which is aided by the praline.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Madison Avenue is strong. That’s great news, at this price point, as you will get a performer. However, it also means that it can be over-sprayed, if not careful. One really wouldn’t need more than a couple spritzes.

I also got really good longevity out of this fragrance, easily 7+hours of wear. Not elite, mind you, but still very usable for almost any purposes.

Madison Avenue feels to me like a very versatile scent. It can of course be worn casually but I also find it quite appealing and would love smelling this on a woman that I was dating.

It has its own level of flirty sexiness. Madison Avenue would be most at home in the warmer months of the year but honestly could be worn year round without much issue. Ideally, late spring and into the summertime.

 

 

Overall Impressions of Madison Avenue

Overall, would I recommend this perfume? Yes! This is a great entry from the Bond No. 9 line. There have been many others from this brand, that I haven’t been too keen on.

Madison Avenue, checks all of the boxes for a really good to great scent. This is especially true if you’re a fan of fruity perfumes.

New York Sandalwood by Bond No. 9

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The second Bond No.9 sample vial that I recently received is New York Sandalwood. It actually came in a spray vial instead of the usual Bond vial, that requires you to dab, and has a cap that’s a pain to take off…which was a welcome change.

Anyways, in this post, I’m going to cover: how it smells, what notes are included, how it performs, who this scent is for, and if it is worth a buy or not.

What does New York Sandalwood Smell Like?

Notes include: sandalwood, orris, carrot, amber, papyrus, musk, fig, cardamom, and oak moss

Click here to try: Bond No. 9 New York Sandalwood 3.3 oz Eau de Parfum Spray

My Full Wear Review

The opening of New York Sandalwood is a blast of sandalwood, amber, and oak moss. It’s a very dry warmth, something along the lines of Azzaro Pour Homme, as the mossy wood aroma quickly reminded me of.

Sandalwood, is obviously the star of this scent, and this fragrance is mostly all about how the rest of the notes fit in concert with that.

What’s unique about this fragrance, is the carrot note. What an unusual note to include and it is actually quite potent throughout. It just smells really odd to my nose, not terrible, but I don’t enjoy it at all either. It’s inclusion just sort of baffles me, as I’ve never wanted to smell like a carrot before.

Anyways, there is a level of spiciness to New York Sandalwood, with the musk and an added dryness beyond the oak moss and sandalwood.

I would attribute it to papyrus, which I have familiarity working with in paper form. It’s a subtle scent but if you know it, you’ll notice that it is there. Also, the orris root tempers everything with its powdery presence.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s fairly strong, but never struck me as overly so. Bond No. 9 did a good job with it’s performance in that regard and also with the longevity. It’ll project itself probably around 6 feet at the max. Then, it’ll draw itself closer in to the skin.

I got around 7 or closer to 8 hours of wear out of New York Sandalwood, which is definitely a plus. Not a complete marathon runner, but close to a full workday of sticking around.

This is a cold weather and casual scent. I couldn’t call this one sexy or something that would appeal to the majority of people, it really strikes me as a niche fragrance. While it’s listed as unisex, this Bond No. 9, leans much more to the masculine side of the spectrum.

Overall Impressions of New York Sandalwood

Overall, would I recommend New York Sandalwood? Maybe to a select few. I personally won’t be wearing it again, since I didn’t find it to be that enjoyable. This smell isn’t awful to me, but I’m not a huge sandalwood fan.

If you are, this would be one to consider, but there are cheaper sandalwood scents on the market that might do a better job. Again, this is a really niche fragrance, both in terms of smell and price. I’m almost completely indifferent towards it.