Bond no. 9's next fragrance release will be Coney Island, scheduled for release in June:
What is the smell of fun—and how do you bottle it? That was our mission at Bond No. 9 when we decided to capture the essence of Coney Island and turn it into an eau de parfum. Why Coney Island? We were intrigued by the vintage allure of this century-old fantasy-land with its honky-tonk chic, its Mermaid Parade, its incomparable hotdog haven (Nathan’s Famous) fronting the Atlantic Ocean along Brooklyn’s southernmost edge. But we wanted to celebrate its future, too, just as a formidable revival is getting under way.
Coney Island isn’t just any amusement park. In its early 20th century heyday, New York’s premier people’s playground was a rowdy, mind-numbing pleasure-mecca that more than matched the energies of the city that contained it. Its daredevil rides—the legendary nine-hill Cyclone roller coaster … the Wonder Wheel … the freefall Parachute Jump—set a fevered, frantic pace, while its bathing pavilions were more like phantasmagorical gilded palaces that shimmered in the air. Not to forget the raucous nightspots.
Bond no. 9 Coney Island features notes of margarita mix (with tequila), melon, guava, cinnamon, chocolate, caramel, musk, vanilla, cedar and sandalwood. The blue bottle is to represent sea and sky; the gold neck, the "the thousands of electric lights that once lit up [Coney Island's] night sky". It will be available in 50 and 100 ml, or by the ounce at the Bond boutiques. (via press release from Bond no. 9) Update: Coney Island is a unisex scent, and the perfumer was Michel Almairac. Update 2: oops, Bond no. 9 was developed by Richard Herpin. Update 3: see a review of Bond no. 9 Coney Island.
I'm actually looking forward to this. In theory, I love Bond. I even made a pilgrimage to their first store a couple of years ago. It was actually one of the coolest perfume boutiques I've been too. But… their fragrances… they leave saying, meh. I've smelled all of thier scents, I bought 3 and gave them all away eventually. The juice inside never lived up to thier outsides and I hate when I don't use something that cost me so much. I don't mind shelling out $200 bucks when it's THAT good and for me, none of them are that good. BTW, I think they got the color of that bottle all wrong. Looks too much like the Hamptons bottle, it should of been the palest of pinks like the best cotton candy. Because who doesn't think of coney Island w/o thinking of fair food?! I must say, the notes intrigue me. I am one of the few that (most of the time) likes to smell so good that they might be edible and the notes sound awfully yummy to me! I really hope to love it since I'M SO DAMN BORED OF EVERYTHING SMELLING THE SAME OUT THERE!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry for the book
I really enjoyed this scent…smelled like booze on top of cotton candy and caramel popcorn on top of marine salty notes. I found myself a few hours later going 'mmm what IS that' after having forgotten I'd sprayed it on. Coney Island might be my favorite Bond no. 9 so far, and definitely one I will purchase.
I have always had an ambivalent relationship with Bond no. 9. For a niche house, they create very mainstream scents…and yet I punish myself by coming back for more. There was a time that I was too 'snooty' for Bond no. 9's uber-trendy stylish appeal. Sadly, those times are no more. They are perhaps the most 'American'-feeling house out there, and I find that their scents are wholly un-exotic and yet appealing.
So far, NOTHING (Bond or otherwise) has convinced me as worthy of spending $200. I am cheap. I will mention that you can buy the Bond's by the ounce in their stores, and the price is not bad — $40 an ounce. You used to be able to bring in your own bottle, making it a fairly cheap proposition, but I think I've read that they don't let you do that any more.
Like the idea of the pale pink bottle!
With these notes I would like this one. But not the price tag!
I got to Coney Island as a child just once, right before they closed it. I found it rather eerie, though I'm glad I had the experience. I especially recall the Steeple Chase with it's ancient, paint peeling wooden horses that you rode as it creaked along on steel tracks. And a strange fun house affair in which you walked into an area, air shot your skirt up and suddenly you realized you were on a stage being watched by an audience.
The cotton candy/fair atmosphere I associate more with my years at the Jersey Shore and it's arcades, rides and boardwalks then with Coney Island. A scent for that would have to have a salt water taffy note in it someplace!
Interestingly that sounds kinda like Virgin Island Water-ish (- coconut + cotton candy).
Bond no. 9 seems to be intent on using the shotgun approach to finding a “hit” fragrance.
Hi Kayliana
I've only experienced one or two Bonds, and I guess you summarized it well at the end by citing boredom and sameness, but I wouldn't trash Bond for that. Thuthfullly, I can't remember them, not like I can remember some Malles and other modern niche houses.
They (Bond) are trying to infuse some excitement into the perfumery world at least visually, but many of the mainstream perfumers I speak with all say the same thing: Their hands are tied by the IFRA and EU-dictated materials. Every brief they get demands safety, no lawsuits, so they are unable to use many naturals, which have been the victim of bad science, scare tactics and bureaucratic heavyhandedness.
Oh, and economics.
Didn't smell like Virgin Island Water to me…the Virgin Island Water was definitely more distinct LIME COCONUT WATER if you know what I mean…this one is a definite 'margarita mix' booze note, and slightly more wearable on the drydown (note: the newer Creeds DO NOT dry down very nicely on me at all. The Bond did.) I do agree their scents tend to be one with the current trends, though, the way Bryant Park made its debut in a season full of other fruity/fresh roses.
Thanks for the detailed description — haven't smelled it yet, and not sure it will be my sort of thing but will certainly try it
Maybe a bottle shaped like the Parachute Jump, in 1977 designated an historical landmark by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission. There's a nice piece about it here : http://history.amusement-parks.com/parachute.htm
I was actually expecting another opaque bottle–like Bleecker Street, Chinatown and Bryant Park–and thought this was going to be the norm going forward for Bond. It is a bit of a disappointment after the fashion-statement of Bryant Park and Swarovski-encrusted Chinatown. Notice I'm not mentioning Westside, which I personally thought was a bit juvenille. I certainly don't think the star shaped bottle should be redesigned. It's a trademark of the company and I would be highly miffed if it was changed. They all look so nice grouped together on my dresser! But I just don't think enough thought was given to this particular design. It looks more like the Cote d'Azur than Coney Island.
I love you zestyfresh but you and everyone else gets this wrong… It is not a star shaped bottle at all. It is the human form, which I think makes it even MORE interesting!!
when I think of Coney Island I think of hot dogs. How does this sound? A color blend from bottom left to upper right. A bun colored beige blends into a brickish red blends into a mustard yellow.
The blue looks like someone walked by engrossed in paper work and said make it blue when the designer stopped him/her
Actually was on that ride, Fleur, as a child. As I mentioned in a previous post, it was before they closed Steeplechase Park. And it was a heart-stopping experience!
I think your idea for a bottle shaped like the Parachute Jump is excellent. It lends itself to a bottle shape.
LOL — I'll take the hot dog bottle, perfect!
Thanks for the link Fleur, love the old images!
I was surprised to see another clear glass bottle too, after they did so many opaque (and very colorful) designs in a row. I can only assume doing it this way is cheaper, but it is sort of a let down after Bryant Park especially — I adore that bottle.
Really? I'd never heard that — I thought it was a star.
Yes, Laurice has said it in many of her interviews. She says she does not mind people seeing it as a star, but that it meant to represent a human form. A fragrance for everyone… kinda cheesy but kinda interesting too! Just wish her Frags were a little more interesting.
The way you describe it, Arhianrad, makes me think of “Dior Petite Cherie”–a boozy, sweet, woody type of scent. Would you consider them comparable?
Oy vey–I meant “Miss Dior Cherie”. Poor Annick Goutal.
Who knows Coney Island might be worth trying.
I am more looking forward to the Brooklyn inspired scent (which I heard is going to be released in September). And then in December I read somewhere that another fragrance (Long Island?) might be on the cards (or maybe in January 2008)…I have lost count..
Aha! Good thing she doesn't mind, since I think most everyone thinks it is a star
The ones I've heard rumored: Astor Place, Sutton Place, Union Square, Brooklyn. I think that is from a very old interview with Laurice Rahme, so who knows if plans have changed, but I've also heard that Brooklyn is next so imagine that we'll see that one at least.