bond no.9

Shelter Island by Bond No. 9

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Shelter Island is one of the summer fragrance entries from Bond No. 9 New York. One, which goes more into the aquatic camp, with its use of seaweed. It was released in 2014.

I bought a sample of this a while ago, for testing and to see how I actually got along with a that marine note, that I generally dislike. How does Shelter Island smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Shelter Island by Bond No. 9 Smell Like?

Notes include: lemon, black pepper, seaweed, lily, oud, musk, sandalwood, amber, myrrh

Click here to try: Shelter Island

shelter bond review

My Full Review

Here’s how Bond describes it: quietly daring, sparkling-clean, unisex, rife with nonchalant beach-time exotica.

Shelter Island opens fresh and bright with a spiciness via the black pepper. The lemon is a light spritzing on top of the marine accord that features seaweed.

The aquatic aspect isn’t overpowering here. Sure, it’s dominant, but balanced out by its surrounding notes. I’m glad I didn’t get a massive seaweed note, that makes you smell like some sort of marine life.

The lily will come in with its waxy aroma, which pairs with the emergence of the resinous myrrh and amber notes in the base. These three, really seem to keep the seaweed in check, and don’t allow this to be just a salty oceanic fragrance.

The lemon and black pepper basically fade completely. This is an aquatic and beachy oud-floral in the middle. Starting to get musky and taking on a bit of a sun tan lotion scent. At this point, it’s more like sitting by the shore than being in the water itself.

That will continue, as this becomes woodier and muskier in the dry down.

Still somewhat aquatic, with a mix of the woodsy notes, a musky aroma, and that amber and myrrh still a bit detectable.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This Bond fragrance opens up with plenty of initial punch. It’ll leave a slight scent trail and project well enough off of the skin. It’s definitely above average in the first hour or so.

Thereafter, Shelter will be much more moderate, before lightening up in the back half of the wear.

While it isn’t a massively projecting nor heavy sitting fragrance, Shelter Island does a good job at sticking around. On my skin, I can still detect it up to about 9 hours. Which is plenty for what most people are going to use this scent for.

Seasonally, this is a spring and summer wear. Mainly, for the warmest days. A good change of pace from the pure citrus perfumes which usually inhabit those months. A solid marine and wood aquatic for something different.

This is a unisex fragrance, maybe leaning slightly masculine, in the early stages. But, that will balance out, as you move further into the wear.

It’s a niche and fairly casual fragrance for daytime wear. Shelter Island isn’t going to be one that you’re very likely to wear for dates, nightlife, or formal occasions. For those outdoor summer events, it can be a fine choice.

Overall Impressions of Shelter Island

Overall, do I like Shelter Island? It’s pretty good. I never thought that I’d be the target audience for this Bond No. 9, once I saw the seaweed and oud notes together.

However, I was sort of surprised that I wasn’t indifferent towards Shelter Island, and that it had its enjoyable moments for me.

The seaweed, really came through here. It’s front and center, but doesn’t overpower everything else. Very fresh and marine done right, where so many other scents with this note have fallen flat.

The longevity is also great, especially for a summertime scent. Sure, it’s not a massive beast of a fragrance, but this one doesn’t quit early on you either.

The downside? Well, the price for the largest bottle, is currently $300 as of writing. As such, Shelter Island probably isn’t a perfume that most are going to want to buy on a whim.

If you want a beachy aquatic with sun tan lotion vibes, this Bond does a good job at hitting the mark. Find a way to get a sample of this stuff, if that sounds like something you’re after.

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.

Broadway Nite by Bond No. 9

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This will serve as my second Bond No.9 fragrance review. Update: This is an extremely old post, I’ve reviewed a ton of them since and also have updated this page. Last time out, I took a closer look at Riverside Drive, which while being fairly masculine could also serve as a unisex fragrance.

This time around, I will review Broadway Nite, which is a wholly feminine fragrance from this New York design house. In this post, I want to give my overall impressions of Broadway Nite, describe its smell, how it performs, when it should be worn, and if its worth a purchase.

What does Broadway Nite Smell Like?

broadway nite review

Notes include: rose, honeysuckle, iris, musk, amber, vanilla, heliotrope, violet

Click here to try: Bond No. 9 Broadway Nite by Bond No. 9 For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3-Ounces

My Full Review

From the very start, Broadway Nite hits you with a bouquet of floral notes. The rose, iris, and heliotrope are definitely detectable and quite distinct.

Just to throw this out there, if you aren’t a big floral fan, stay away from this perfume, as this one isn’t a fragrance with ‘universal’ appeal.

Some folks will utterly hate this juice. Also, the vanilla and musk notes help to create a very powdery aroma, and that’s essentially what you’re going to get with Broadway Nite, a very floral/powdery perfume.

This perfume feels like a scent from a previous time period. It’s older and mature yet it can be very loud and in your face at the same time.

Those aldehydes in the opening act, are going to create that sort of vintage feel. More brands seem to be getting back to using aldehydes in their perfumes recently, but they still can throw people off.

That opening is a blast of the violet, aldehydes, and violet leaf. Sitting with a bunch of rose and the powdery aromas of iris and heliotrope.

As the scent wears on, the rose note begins to recede and the violet and powdery vibe becomes more prominent.

Broadway Nite, is more tolerable in the back half, if you enjoy the violet note. Still some rose and the aldehydes aren’t too noticeable. Basically, a powdery blend of floral notes, musk, and a bit of a fresh undertone.

It does have plenty of life and energy to it, though, I don’t think this would be the right fit for most younger women.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Broadway Nite is heavy. I think that any more than a few sprays, would be way too much to handle in an enclosed space.

Broadway Nite does tone down, obviously. Though, it still does have a pretty far reaching radius, even a few hours after spraying.

It does have very good longevity and I could still smell the perfume on my skin, from a distance, in the late evening (after a morning application). So, 10+ hours with this one, is certainly well within its abilities.

This is one of the better performing fragrances from Bond No. 9 for sure, even if its not one of my personal favorites.

This is more of a nighttime wear, I don’t think it’d be all that great for office wear, as it is a ‘beast’ so to speak in terms of its strength. It can be worn during the daytime, as well, but stick to lighter applications of it.

Overall Impressions of Broadway Nite

Is Broadway Nite, worth a buy? It is if you’re a fan of floral/powdery perfumes and want something with a lot of strength. Otherwise, I’d go with something else.

This is kind of a niche scent, in my opinion. Though, it also feels completely traditional as a floral scent.

I think it smells pretty good, it’s definitely not my favorite and I’d get a headache if someone wore too much of this stuff.

Then again, I’m not too into rose and violet notes in fragrance, but to each their own. Really, it’s the violet that bothers me more. However, this isn’t a terrible example and you do get your money’s worth out of this Bond perfume, if you’re one who likes its scent.

Astor Place by Bond No. 9

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In this incarnation of the ongoing fragrance reviews on this site, I want to turn my attention to another ladies’ perfume from Bond No. 9 entitled, Astor Place. This one came out back in 2009, so it’s an older option from this brand. I will cover what’s in it, how it smells, how it performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not it is worth a purchase.

What does Astor Place Smell Like?

Notes include: violet leaf, freesia, red poppy buds, mandarin zest, teakwood, amber, musk, orris

Click here to try: Bondno.9 New York Astor Place Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Astor Place gives off a blend of violet leaf, red poppy, and freesia with a slight mandarin zest. This isn’t a citrus takeover, as in Bond’s Little Italy. Rather, it does feel as if it’s just a bit of zest on top of the floral arrangement.

The floral notes have some sweetness to them, as well as a fine powdery feel supplied by the orris. Mainly, it feels a bit wet/dewy and greenish with the violet leaf, and layer of citrus on top.

That’s what it’s going to be for most of the wear. The light citrus will be the first to fall off and the other notes will jockey for position. Mostly, the violet leaf and freesia with red poppy being the weakest of the bunch.

As it dries down, Astor Place has its musk note emerge along with the unique teakwood note. There is usually an hour or two before the initial floral aromas give way to the clean and simple scent that follows.

The freesia becomes more dominate over the other floral notes and at this point, the perfume become much more interesting and pretty, in my mind.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection on this isn’t huge, it’s kind of a scent that sneaks up on you. Like, it’ll go unnoticed and then you’ll suddenly catch a whiff of it and be drawn in.

It’s not going to leave a huge scent trail, even during that opening hour. However, I will say that this is a bit above average with its ability to project and Astor Place does float around for a good amount of time before going into skin scent mode.

While it isn’t super strong, it is one that lasts a long time like 8+ hours, which is well above average. Depending on the climate and your skin, you might be able to get over the double digit hour mark with Astor Place.

This is a spring/early summertime fragrance for casual or other daytime wear. It fits right in at an office, as well, since it won’t be choking anybody out while one is wearing it. This is less along the lines of being a ‘sexy’ fragrance and one that is just bright and beautiful.

So, it’s a pretty versatile fragrance. Probably won’t be a go to scent for the colder months or for a night out. Though, for just about anything else, it can work. Astor Place has easy daily wear perfume, written all over it.

Overall Impressions of Astor Place

Overall, would I recommend Astor Place? I like it. Actually, the further it gets into the wear, the more I like it. The initial opening is easy to dismiss as just another floral but this one has some depth and it’s quite pleasant.

I usually like freesia, but I’m not a big fan of violet leaf. I wasn’t expecting much coming into testing this Bond No. 9 out. Though, the violet leaf really didn’t bother me and I thought that this had a good balance and charm in its simplicity.

Is it amazing? Not really. But as a casual floral, it’s good, and has great performance. Astor Place is not for everybody but there will be those who adore it. The price point could be a deciding factor for many people. Is it worth paying Bond No. 9 prices for something that isn’t all around outstanding?

I’d say no, but it has good enough performance that if you actually enjoy this sort of scent more than I do, it could be well worth grabbing a bottle. There’s nothing that it does poorly and is a solid scent all around. The question is, is that enough to warrant a purchase?

Wall Street by Bond No. 9

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I’ve got a ton of fragrance reviews that I need to finish writing up and a lot of samples that still need to be tested out. So, over the next month, there should be a whole slew of new reviews posted up on the site. Today, I’m going to delve into a unisex offering from Bond No. 9 New York, Wall Street. This scent has been a pretty popular one over the past decade plus, but is it actually worth a purchase?

What does Bond No. 9 Wall Street Smell Like?

Notes include: cucumber, seaweed, lavender, lemon, caraway, vetiver, leather, ambergris, orange, musk, and more

Click here to try: Wall Street By Bond No. 9 Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Wall Street is a heavily aquatic citrus scent that is reminiscent of one of the Bvlgari Avqa line of fragrances (I can’t remember which). It is a strong blast of cucumber and lemon mixed with that pungent and salty seaweed note that conjures up memories of the shore.

I’m not sure what any of this has to do with Wall Street, the actual location, or the investment banking style. I guess it is technically close to the water. Would’ve been much more appropriate for one of their NY beach fragrances.

This fragrance can be quite divisive. Some people really love these types of aquatics and the seaweed note is part of the appeal.  For me, while I like going to the beach, I don’t want to smell like sea life.

Apparently, other people get less of this type of aquatic smell and Wall Street comes across as fruiter and salty. I do get the saltiness, but seaweed is a massive note in this to my nose.

As it dries down, however, more of the vetiver and lavender emerge which gives Wall Street a nice undertone to it, that is somewhat enjoyable to my nose. However, that gets offset by the bitter orange note (my least favorite citrus scent).

I was expecting more leather out of this one, when I saw it in the notes list, but honestly, there’s not too much here.

Ultimately, the cucumber dominates and the seaweed note becomes less noticeable as it wears on. This mixes with the citrus notes and that is aroma that will sit on the skin for the rest of the wear.

Cucumber with citrus, lavender, vetiver, and a musky finish? That part is a lot better than the super oceanic opening act.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, I found Wall Street to be strong. It wasn’t insane or anything but it’s one that you’ll definitely notice is there throughout the day. The opening few minutes can be fairly intense, but this Bond fragrance, does settle down a bit.

With the longevity, it does last all day. So, if this is one that you enjoy the smell of, you do get great performance at this rather high price point. It can hit double digit hours, quite easily.

Due to Wall Street’s aquatic nature, I would put this down as a warm weather scent. It’s not sexy or something that would appeal in the nightlife scene.

I’d call it a casual fragrance, maybe for business wear. It is a unisex scent and as such has a bit of a feminine air to it. The cucumber note is quite like a crisp body lotion. Wall Street has a very watery and fresh vibe

Overall Impressions of Wall Street

Overall, would I recommend Wall Street? I personally don’t enjoy it. That being said, there are a lot of people that do, and this is a best seller for Bond No. 9.

I like the latter stages, more so than the early and heavy punch it can pack. Lavender and vetiver, made it more tolerable to me, when I wore it. Cucumber is a note that I can take a liking too, not my favorite but not terrible. I do mostly hate seaweed, though.

The performance aspect is great, but it’s a fragrance that definitely needs to be tried out to see, how you react to wearing it. If you’re not a fan of cucumber or seaweed, I’d say stay far away from this. If you like oceanic scents, this might be one for you.

It’s really a niche perfume for the warmer months. If the idea of seaweed doesn’t sound appealing to you, I would for sure go with something else, from this designer. This is a very unique take on this style of fragrance, as I can’t think of another one that smells quite like Wall Street.