With notes of bergamot, cedarwood, coffee, vanilla, patchouli and lavender, Bond no. 9 enters the world of gourmand unisex fragrance with the triumphant New Haarlem. A warm, rich, intoxicating aroma by perfumer Maurice Roucel, this 2003 launch is sure to please those looking for a totally original Bond.
The scent opens with a rich, dark, and creamy blast of coffee, vanilla and cedar. As the scent relaxes on the skin, a slightly herbal and powdery, albeit very faint, lavender note begins to surface, and that's pretty much the entire story. Not as heavy or cloying as it might sound, the scent actually dries down with a very subtle sillage.
It was love at first sniff for me — a scent that calls to mind Angel for Men and Rochas Man, though New Haarlem is sweeter, fuller, and richer. As with most gourmands, this could easily be enjoyed by both men and women. When I first smelled this fragrance at the Bond no. 9 shop on Madison Avenue, the sales associate encouraged me to layer this scent with a few others, and I was surprised at how well the blends worked. New Haarlem and So New York offers an aroma along the lines of Angel. For a hint of Grand Marnier in your coffee, add Little Italy, and one of my favorite accidents was the combination of New Haarlem and the floral Park Avenue.
For buying information, see the listing for Bond no. 9 under Perfume Houses.
You pointed this out really well–the sillage is much more subtle than what my expectations were. It is definitely among my favourite Bond fragrances. Great review!
Oh great – and here I was all prepared to totally not care about this one! Sounds wonderful, M.
How great is your blog.
Now I want a bottle of this as well.
Ina
http://www.inao.blogspot.com
I absolutely adore the beginning of this scent, so rich and dark. I am not so mad about the drydown, but it is still oen of my favorite Bond No 9 perfumes.
R, New Haarlem is among the Bond No. 9 scents that I don´t know yet. It isn´t that easy to test them here because there´s only one perfumery that carries the line & they don´t send samples…
Your description sounds very lovely indeed, the layering combinations seem to be great, too. As soon as I get a chance I´ll test it!
One question: I hope it isn´t gourmand in the sense of foody?
What a coincidence! I just got a sample of this and tried it for the first time yesterday. I gave it to Will to wear and by the time I left him at Union Square, where we part each morning, the coffee topnote was fading and I was wondering what the rest of it smelled like. Now you've told me. Thanks for the review!
This is my favorite Bond. A great winter scent, sweet and sexy!
Hi everyone! Sorry to be late to the party but I just woke up – it's about 7am here in Osaka…
Ok – when I say gourmand, I refer to the use of vanilla and coffee, which does reminds one ever so slightly of Starbucks, and therefore, yes – it is foody. But, the inclusion of the lavender and cedar tone it down, and it isn't as sweet as say CSP's Vanille Mokha.
The sillage is surprising, as I was expecting something along the lines of Angel, but instead got something a little more subtle.
Geeeesh! How many times did I use the word “rich” in that review? I guess it's because you have to be “rich” to afford a bottle! LOL!
Another wonderful review, R! I would never have thought to layer some of the Bonds, but your post has me longing to try!
P, that is Marlen — I've never layered them either but am going to have to try Little Italy & New Haarlem together.
Love the initial high that I get from the first spray of this lovely fragrance. It really acts as a sensual pick me upper. It is a definite arousal to the senses. The coffee in the fragrance keeps me so alert!
This fragrance reminds me of Rochas Man, but New Haarlem is richer and darker than the Rochas. Everytime I wear it (I have a little sample) I feel good. This is definitely one of the best Bond fragrances.
Not my favorite, but I know many people love it!