Hudson Yards by Bond No. 9

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In today’s review, I am going to do another entry by Bond No. 9. This time, it will be a ladies’ fragrance, Hudson Yards. It was released back in 2014 As usual, I will cover what the notes are, how it smells, develops, when it should be worn, if the performance holds up, and if it is indeed worth a purchase.

Reviewing Hudson Yards: What does it Smell Like?

Notes include: musk, rose, peony, lily of the valley, iris, orange blossom, litchi

Click here to try: Bond No. 9 Hudson Yards Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.3 oz

Full Wear Review

Right off the bat, you’re dealing with a very floral fragrance. However, at the start there is a bit of juicy fruit provided by the litchi. Hudson Yards opens with a blend of the lily of the valley, peony, and rose.

I don’t think that the litchi is particularly strong. Though, it is quite noticeable at the start, and gives Hudson a somewhat different aroma than what we eventually end up with.

It seems to my nose at least, that the peony and rose are stronger at the start than the lily of the valley, which then takes over as the dominant player.

The floral notes have a ‘green’ kind of aroma to them but I don’t think that it is overplayed like some of the other floral Bond No. 9 perfumes that I’ve sampled in the past. It gives you that fresh dewy aroma, not quite a full aquatic but like a nice misty morning in the flower garden.

It’s a very springtime scent that is bright and upbeat while wearing. This one has a fairly similar style to High Line, not the same smell, but in the same ballpark.

As it moves on, the other florals become detectable (namely the iris), and Hudson Yards gets that powdery aroma that is so common to ladies’ perfumes. There is also a slight musky undertone but it’s not too noticeable for me.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s a moderate scent. You’ll know that Hudson Yards is there, but it is definitely not a bomb, by any means. I’d say it’s stronger than Bond’s Brooklyn that I tried out the other day.

Hudson will project itself about 4-6 feet from where you spray, then, draw closer towards that area as the sillage softens up. The performance in terms of leaving a scent trail or staying detectable by others for a good amount of time is above average.

I would also rate the longevity as quite good but not great. I’m more or less getting seven solid hours of wear from Hudson Yards. Testing it out a few times, it doesn’t seem to go any further than that, but will sometimes only hit the 5 hour mark.

Seasonally, this is a dead ringer from spring/summer. It reminds me of sunny days and gardens. It’s rather sophisticated, as well. So, Hudson Yards can be worn casually or on more dressy occasions without ever feeling out of place.

I wouldn’t call it a ‘sexy’ kind of fragrance but I do find that it is really pretty and pleasant to be around. It’s mature, without being stuffy and old lady-like. It’s a nice floral, with fresh and greenish vibes, that peak out during the wear.

Anyhow, you should be able to get plenty of use out of this one.

Overall Impressions of Hudson Yards

Overall, would I recommend Hudson Yards? Yes, to floral lovers. This could be a great addition to anyone’s rotation for the warmer months of the year. I don’t think that it’s an amazing, must have scent, but it does everything very well.

Smells nice and has an interesting composition. The performance is pretty good, could be better, and that might be a hinderance for some looking to give this perfume a go.

Personally, I like the opening with the peony and litchi notes, more so than the middle where the lily comes through more. The iris finish is also a nice touch, giving this a somewhat different feel and a more balanced aroma.

Is it worth the high price? Probably not for most people. If you can get it cheaper or a smaller sized bottle, it may be worth a look for spring and early summer wear.

It’s not good enough for those who are looking for a floral to blind buy. There are cheaper options to get your feet wet with. Still, Hudson Yards is one worth checking out if it sounds interesting.

Himalaya by Creed

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Creed is a highly respected and world-renown fragrance designer. Personally, I like a lot of what they do and Millesime Imperial is one of my favorites for the summer months. However, I am not wild about all of this brand’s fragrances.

For instance, Himalaya wasn’t one that I was too enthusiastic about when I first tried it, many years ago and reviewed it for the site. Now, I am coming back to this page, trying it again to see if my opinion has changed. How does Himalaya smell? Is it any better this time around?

What does Creed Himalaya Smell Like?

creed himalaya

Notes include: sandalwood, musk, bergamot, grapefruit, lemon, mandarin, pepper, nutmeg, vetiver, tonka bean

My Full Wear Review

Just to be upfront from the start, I don’t like this scent at all. Some guys might, however, I think it’s quite poor. The opening is a bitter citric accord  (grapefruit, lemon, bergamot) mixed with sandalwood and ambergris.

I’ve tried this one multiple times, over the years, and still really don’t enjoy the opening act. Which is strange, because I usually love citrus. It must be the inclusion of musk and ambergris notes, which is bothering me. The musk, is particularly noticeable.

Update: I don’t hate the opening anymore, not pleasing to me, but it’s okay.

I had a hard time deciphering this scent, until I read the ingredients, and got a better sense of what I was smelling. There is this strange aroma of soft and bitter citrus with this almost metallic scent that hangs around.

Update: Once that grapefruit wears off, I get a brighter lemon note, with some of the nutmeg/pepper peaking through early. The musk feels substantial and it’s giving the citrus accord a very clean feeling.

While there are plenty of scents who’s opening I do not care that much for (see: Creed Aventus), these colognes tend to settle down into something more palatable or beautiful. Himalaya never does, in my opinion.

It’s a clean fragrance with soapy qualities to it but it really isn’t pleasant to me nor is it interesting. The woodsy and musk notes do emerge more in the dry down, though, it never quite takes off into something special.

Sandalwood with a dash of pepper, join the citrus top notes about 20-30 minutes in, and then really take over. I think the middle of the wear, is the best part, and still not too impressive. Yes, its clean and soapy, and the sandalwood note is very good.

The pepper and a slight nutmeg, give Himalaya a bit of a spice, for a period of time. However, that Creed ambergris and musk come in, and take the dry down a notch below of what it achieved in the middle.

Update: Nowadays, it strikes me as an old school cold/fresh/clean sort of scent. The sandalwood and musk give it the clean sort of barbershop vibe, but it never fully goes in that direction (at least by the more shaving cream lavender cologne standards).

Still has that soapiness and some spice among the wood and musk. The citrus hangs around, but I’m still definitely not in love with the top notes here and how they integrate in the composition.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

It’s sillage and longevity are both moderate to very good in my opinion. That is one bright spot, however, if you actually enjoy the scent itself, then I suppose that this would be a selling point for you.

I can get around 7-8 hours from this fragrance. While the sillage isn’t super powerful, it is quite noticeable, especially during the first 2-3 hours of the wear.

In terms of its versatility, Himalaya is best in the springtime and it can venture into the summer months, as well. For me, it felt too sharp wearing around in the cold of winter. I mean, it wasn’t terrible but it stood out too much.

This can be worn casually, at work, or more formal occasions. It is a well put together scent, like most of the other releases from this designer.

Overall Impressions of Himalaya

Overall, I cannot personally recommend this scent. It’s not completely offensive to me like something such as Oud Noir or Issey Nuit but it just isn’t a great cologne. Especially, at the price point Himalaya is sold at, I expect something better.

I know that I could buy 3 bottles of cheaper colognes, and make out much better, in the deal. In the end, it strikes me as a sandalwood/musk soapy, with a bitter semi-metallic opening act.

Creed has much better options than this, but some people still dig Himalaya. I’m just not one of them.

Update: I’m still not a massive fan, but I have come to enjoy this Creed a bit more. I don’t want a full bottle and it’s still one of their ‘mid-tier’ offerings, to me. The citrus is meh. The rest of it past the opening 30 minutes or so is fairly enjoyable.

Nothing amazing, a classic clean cologne with some soapy vibes. It’s worth checking out, as others will appreciate this style much more than me. Too expensive for what you’re getting in return, unless you really love it.

1 Million Elixir by Paco Rabanne

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1 Million is still a powerhouse name from Paco Rabanne. The brand has been releasing newer flankers these past handful of years, with 2022’s Elixir being the latest. I recently got a sample of 1 Million Elixir to review and have been testing it out. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does 1 Million Elixir Smell Like?

Notes include: osmanthus, Damascena rose, tonka bean, cedar, apple, davana, patchouli, vanilla absolute

Click here to buy: 1 Million Elixir

million elixir review

My Full Review

Here’s how Paco Rabanne describes it: 1 Million Elixir, richer than ever before, for thrilling sensations.  The hand-picked ingredients, Turkish Damascena rose, osmanthus and wild grown tonka beans, undoubtedly make this masterpiece composition stand out by the extreme quality of its raw materials. Deeply sensual, liquorous davana vibrates with the power of smooth woods and black vanilla seeds. Supreme sensuality meets absolute long-lasting power.

Elixir opens up with a crisp apple note up top. It’s not massively strong or candy-like, but that note will help lend this one some fruitiness. Beyond the apple, you get contributions of ‘fruitiness’ from the davana, osmanthus, and the Damascena rose.

Each of those notes adds something akin to a fruit smell, without actually being fruits themselves. They also seem to give Elixir almost an amber-like aroma underneath. Not sure which note or combination is doing that here.

Davana up top gives this one a drier woodsy/herbal/fruity smell, that will fade away rather quickly.

What I do notice from the start and throughout is the vanilla note. Well, really vanilla and tonka bean, but the latter will get stronger later on in the development of this scent. Up top, you’re getting much more vanilla.

The Damask rose is more floral than sweet, but even that adds something to the top. After the apple settles and the davana passes, the rose will come out along with some smoky fresh cedar.

Now, this isn’t a traditional red rose aroma. It’s lighter and sweeter than that, more pinkish or white than what you might otherwise expect. This is going to be one of the main notes throughout.

Though it’s not listed and doesn’t feel to intense here, I do get something that smells like cinnamon here. Cinnamal is listed in the actual chemical ingredients and it was a note in the original 1 Million, so, I’m not crazy in picking it up.

As it dries down, this becomes less fruity sweet and more of a vanilla and tonka bean dominant scent. For the rest of the way, the other notes will just jockey for position underneath those two notes.

Rose, patchouli/cedar, some remaining apple. Warm and fresh.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

1 Million Elixir is a strong fragrance, especially at the start. I don’t think that it is a complete monster, with how it projects and the scent trail that it leaves.

However, it is well above average, and is more importantly consistent. This isn’t a fragrance that starts out big and quickly fades. No, the projection will taper off slowly and you’ll be good to go for a long time. Just, the peak isn’t a total bomb.

With the longevity, it lasts on my skin for up to 10 hours. It seems to fall in the 8.5-10 hour range, but doesn’t go beyond that for me. The performance here is well worth the price of admission.

Seasonally, more of an autumn and winter scent. I wouldn’t go much too much above room temperature with this. So, that eliminates summer and much of springtime.

1 Million Elixir really gives you another option, as a nightlife scent. It’s nice to see that this line has headed back to being about that aspect of wear, like the original was. Lucky and Parfum didn’t have that same feel.

This one is going to skew younger, but isn’t completely childish. Just don’t expect a cologne that is built for formal occasions or office wear. This is one to draw complements and go out with.

It can probably fit better into more daily wear situations that the original and many others in the series, especially because of the easier and fresher dry down period.

Overall Impressions of 1 Million Elixir

Overall, do I like 1 Million Elixir? Yes, this is one of the better 1 Million releases. I think it’s about on par with the original, but not as good as 1 Million Prive. Though, it’s better than the others in this line.

The opening and first quarter of the wear is really the best part. After that, the vanilla and tonka bean take things over fully, and it’s not as dynamic.

Not that it’s bad, but I wasn’t all that enthusiastic about the later parts of this cologne. The davana was a bit too short-lived, while the osmanthus and apple pairing is great while it’s got the center stage.

But, that first bit is definitely strong enough to warrant a try or buy of 1 Million Elixir. This scent is for sure in the same vein as the Stronger With You line or Ultra Male. Though, the latter is much sweeter and has a spicier cinnamon note.

Either way, it’s not exactly the same as either of them and stands separate enough to be a distinct fragrance.

The smell is quite attractive and the performance absolutely delivers what you’d want from a 1 Million scent. They went a bit of a different direction with 2023’s 1 Million Royal, which I also like a lot.

Terre d’Hermes EDT by Hermes

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Alright, I am revisiting this fragrance a handful of years. Also,10 years after my initial review. I know how popular and well loved this Hermes release is since its 2006 release. However, I pretty much hated it the multiple times, I wore it back then.

Now, I have hundreds upon hundreds of other fragrance reference points since then, and my nose has become much more adept at picking up details. I started to wonder, if I would still not like Terre D’Hermes? Wearing it today, would I change my tune and begin to love it? Below is my updated thoughts on this fragrance (over multiple years).

What does Terre d’Hermes Smell Like?

IMG_0260

Notes include: mineral note, Grapefruit, bay rose, pepper, geranium, Atlas cedar, benzoin, patchouli, vetiver, orange.

Click here to try: Terre D’ Hermes By Hermes For Men. Parfum Spray 2.5 Oz / 75 Ml

My Full Review

When I first tried Terre D’Hermes, I had pretty high expectations as to what this fragrance would be, and afterwards, I was really disappointed.

The opening act featured a strong orange note, which is sharp, and joined by an equally sharp and very bitter grapefruit note. On my skin, the opening smells like this old citrus scented cleaner/polisher, that I used to use on my furniture.

That’s exactly what I though of back ten years ago, with the initial review.

Update: Today, I don’t really feel that way, and I can definitely detect some more nuance here.

It’s not as sharp, as I once found it. I’m much more used to these sorts of smells, than I was back in the day. The citrus actually feels balanced here, sweeter with the orange than the bitterness of grapefruit.

Plus, you get a spicy black pepper note, bay leaf, and a mineral aroma. I actually have begun to enjoy that spice. Particularly, the lighter bay leaf note. It gives it a kick without dominating the composition.

I still don’t really enjoy most ‘mineral’ accords. In AdG Profumo, it works. Here, it’s not too distracting, either. When I first tried it, that’s a big part of what I could smell and why I hated this Hermes fragrance. But, this time around it doesn’t play a major role. Great!

There is also a certain level of smokiness here from the vetiver and perhaps the benzoin. I think that’s what it is, because I get a similar feeling from Kouros Body. Sort of fuzzy, smoky, but that YSL scent also had incense too.

I still get a lot of the pepper, but with more patchouli (decent), and a really fresh cedar and vetiver blend (I like this part). On top of all of that, is the orange note, still adding a sweetness.

The scent has less of that vetiver smoke, but I dig the touch. It’s a sweet orange and wood with an earthy quality and the remaining notes dancing in the background.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage of Terre d’Hermes is strong. Not super powerful projection, but still very good. I’d say that it settles into something noticeable, slightly above average, but not going to blow the doors off. Unless you really go heavy with the sprays.

The performance of this fragrance is great and the longevity hit 8 hours on my skin, during this latest trial run. Update: Here in 2023, still getting 8-ish hours from it. So, if you dig this scent, you do get your money’s worth.

The other strength of this fragrance is its versatility. It’s got an almost unisex quality to it, but it definitely leans more masculine. It’s clean, citrus/woodsy aroma, is safe for work, casual wear, formal situations, etc.

Terre d’Hermes is one that can be worn daily and works well in just about all climates, excepting the high heat of a summer’s day. It’s works in warm weather, but wearing it on a hot day, was an even worse experience for me.

Overall Impression of Terre d’Hermes

Overall, I’m still not a massive fan of Terre d’Hermes. However, it has gone from a complete dislike, to something that I can enjoy from time to time.

I still don’t really want a full bottle or to wear it all of the time, but I appreciate it more.

Eau Intense Vetiver, is another flanker of this that I like. Eau Tres Fraiche is one is still really don’t like.

This time around, I’m getting less of the mineral note, less sharpness/bitterness from the citrus, and highlights of the aspects of Terre d’Hermes that I like.

The orange seems to have more control in this batch, versus the grapefruit.  I prefer the orange, playing off of the other notes. The vetiver is great, as is the bay leaf, and benzoin.

Now that I get a better opening act with this one, the entire lifecycle of the cologne feels much smoother and something likeable. I’m never going to completely be one to love this fragrance, but it’s worth checking out for sure.

Others, have always been into it more than me. These days, Terre d’Hermes is something that has sort of won me over, just not entirely.

12 Best Smelling Strawberry Scented Perfumes

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Fresh strawberries not only taste delicious, but also smell great. While they’re not the base note in a ton of perfumes, strawberry, is featured in enough to find some amazing smelling options.

In this post, I want to present twelve ladies fragrances, which use this fruit as a main note. Each of them, offers something a bit different. I have updated this page, but left some of the older options on here, as they can still be found online in most cases.

Favorite Ladies Strawberry Perfumes

The Daisy Flanker

Marc Jacobs Eau de Toilette Spray, Daisy So Fresh Sunshine, 2.5 Ounce– So Fresh Sunshine is a lighter fragrance for the spring/summer months, but also smells amazing. This one is led by the fruit notes, grapefruit and strawberry, above the floral ingredients.

It’s quite a different take from the others in the Daisy line, however, the juicy fruits at the opening and that clean upbeat energy makes it a beautiful departure from the norm.

The strawberry note and apple blossom, reign at the top. During the dry down, rose and jasmine begin to come in. Sunshine is well balanced, but not a powerhouse type of perfume.

New York Strawberries

Kate Spade New York– Adding this one to the list, since I’ve tested since the last update and found this perfume quite enjoyable.

The strawberry note with this one is bold up top, blended with citrus notes, and has more of a naturalistic feeling. Less of a pure sugar sort of strawberry, but it does have somewhat of a mixed drink vibe to my nose.

Strawberry will be joined by a light rose essence and some freesia, in the heart of things. Neither is massive in the mix, but you do get some floral touches and dewy greenish aromas for a time.

But, this dries down with our target note, cashmeran, and ambroxan rounding things out. This is a great pick up for daily wear. Kate Spade New York Review

A Popular Pick

Burberry Her Eau De Parfum Spray– Burberry Her EDP gets a lot of recognition nowadays, mostly due to its similarities with BR 540 and Cloud by Ariana Grande. However, that’s not all it has going for it. This perfume also contains a big dose of strawberries.

Update: You might want to go with the newer Her Elixir, instead. It has a more focused berry blend with a stronger strawberry note.

Well, beyond our target ingredient, you get a sweet/sharp mix of rasp- and other berries. Plus, a nice added citrus blend up top. To me, the strawberry is the strongest of all of them, and stays around for the longest time.

The floral notes aren’t that strong in this one, to me. It dries down sweet, woody, and musky. It’s closer to Cloud than it is in the opening stages. Burberry Her EDP Review

Pink and Berries Mix

Valentina Pink by Valentino– Valentina Pink is a scent that has a lot in common with Mon Paris, which is found later on this list.

With Pink, you get a mix of berry notes and rose. Blackberry is a big contributor, but it isn’t as heavily weighted as our strawberry. But, if you want a blended berry scent, this gives you more strawberry without having just it alone.

Praline, some peony, and a light musk round things out. There isn’t a ton of development with the floral notes, but they are there, and this finishes with a bit of a powdery aroma. 

Strawberry Phlur

Strawberry Letter by Phlur– This is an interesting one, that has lots of overlap with the Burberry Her fragrances, especially early on.

I think it’s still distinct enough, even at the start. It feels fresh and not too heavy or jammy. The opening act is fruity with our target strawberry note, but it is also joined by a slight plum.

Between that and the cassis, it has a tart streak, while still being sweet and somewhat sugary.

The dry down has an accord in it, simply called, ‘earthy woods’. Yeah, you can definitely get that idea. It’s still a strawberry lead, there is amber, and the fruity sweetness never goes away completely.

I think that they were going for something more naturalistic with Strawberry Letter. I don’t think they completely succeeded, if that’s the case, but this is still a very nice example of what we’re looking for.

Escada Strawberry Blend

ESCADA MOON SPARKLE by Escada EDT SPRAY 1.7 OZ– Has a youthful and sort of girly air to it. Moon Sparkle is a moderate and sweet scent that isn’t a tropical fruit fragrance. You get apple and strawberry with floral notes of freesia and jasmine.

Strawberry is paired with a bit of a sharp black currant note at the top and the fruit notes later drop off somewhat. Overall, Moon Sparkle is sweet, with very good performance.

Strawberry is the fruity note, which is the most dominant and hangs around for the entire wear. In the dry down, it gets paired with some tropical floral notes, and a woody base.

Update: I seems like this one has been discontinued and is pretty tough to find, at times. I wouldn’t pay too heavy of a price for Moon Sparkle, despite its positives.

Strawberry Chypre

Cartier EDP Spray for Women, La Panthere, 2.5 Ounce– La Panthere isn’t a pure strawberry perfume, but it does feature a good deal, as a part of a blend and within a composition that is different from others on the list.

Rhubarb, strawberry, and some other fruit kick things off. It’s fruity, but dry, and not super sweet. Gardenia, musk, and moss are really going to steady the base of this Cartier fragrance. 

Gardenia and orange blossom along with the musk are going to highlight this one as it dries down. The moss and patchouli give it a woodsy finish. The strawberry is lesser of a participant, but it sticks around for the duration.

It’s a chypre scent, with great performance, that gives strawberry lovers something that’s not just another fruit salad blend. La Panthere EDP Review

Flashy Strawberry

Jimmy Choo Flash Perfume For Women 3.4 oz Eau De Parfum Spray– A floral bouquet is joined by that familiar warm spiciness of pink pepper and a juicy strawberry note. Our ingredient is joined by jasmine, lily, and tuberose. 

It’s a sweet floral fruity blend, with some musk coming from the base. While this does have a distinct strawberry aroma, it isn’t a pure strawberry perfume. Pink pepper is the note that stands out to me, aside from the fruit.

This is a pretty unique scent. It’s familiar, yet I couldn’t come up with another fragrance that smell quite like it. Yet, it’s a great wear that is worth a try.

Strawberry and Coconut

Katy Perry Mad Love Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce– Mad Love is an under the radar fragrance from Katy Perry, but it is honestly one of her best. Plus, we get our target note in spades. 

It is a sweet and fruity perfume, with a coconut/strawberry blend sitting on top of a creamy undertone. Then, there is a light and crisp apple. Hints of floral notes, emerge during the dry down, but this is mostly a fruity affair.

Good warm weather fragrance, for the price, with solid performance. Nothing insanely amazing, but I enjoy it as a value option.

Strawberries lead the way, with a nice juicy coconut, and a sugary finish. Later, it gets somewhat musky, but that stays light and there is some floral and woody notes coming through.

Popular But Not a Pure Strawberry Scent

Victoria’s Secret Bombshell- Not only is this a beautiful fragrance but one which is also versatile enough to wear on any occasion and always turn heads.

Bombshell has a strong sillage and features plenty of grapefruit and passion fruit, to go along with a powerful peony, for the floral aspect.

At times, the strawberry note takes over, and provides a different type of juiciness versus the citrus notes that dominate the opening. Is this a sexy scent? Yes, but probably not in the way that the name would indicate.

It’s super attractive, but one might expect an in your face and dominate sort of perfume, but Bombshell doesn’t behave like that at all. Regardless, it smells great.

Really a clean everyday kind of wear. Bombshell isn’t a pure strawberry option, but it does have a rather large amount in its composition, and is worthy of placement here.

 

Strawberry Flowerbomb

Hanae Mori Hanae Eau de Parfum spray, 3.4 Ounce– This is one that smells quite a lot like Flowerbomb. However, Hanae Mori EDP is sweeter than the Viktor & Rolf, with its use of strawberries and other fruits.

Oh, and add a solid amount of vanilla, and you’ve got a Flowerbomb alternative with a fruity/sweet profile.

If you like or are familiar with that perfume, just imagine that, with additional berries (blueberry and blackberry, also) with a woodier finish to it. Really nice buy for not a lot of money. 

Blended Berries with a Strawberry Highlight

Yves Saint Laurent Mon Paris Eau de Parfum Spray, 3 Fluid Ounce– On some people, the strawberry sticks out more when they spray Mon Paris. For me, it was like a blend of berries (strawberry and raspberry) along with pear and citrus.

I thought that I’d include this one, as it can feature a stronger strawberry note early. It is a fruity floral fragrance, with datura and peony really coming through, along with a general muskiness. The latter stages are basically a sweet musky datura fest.

It’s a nice enough fragrance, that’s easy to wear, versatile, and has good staying power. I suppose how much of the berry you get depends on your skin. Yet, the blended notes should be there regardless. Mon Paris Full Review