I am not generally a huge fan of action movies, but I've always loved James Bond. Today's challenge: name your favorite James Bond actor (the choices, for anyone who can't remember the entire line-up: Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig) and what fragrance you think their version of Bond would wear.
My Bond of choice is Roger Moore. I know you're supposed to prefer Sean Connery, but as I've said before, Moore is the Bond I "grew up with". Daniel Craig, however, might be giving Moore a run for his money. I'm really looking forward to Quantum of Solace.
According to Celebrity Fragrance Guide, Roger Moore wears Guerlain Jicky. That might work for Moore, but for some reason I can't picture his James wearing Jicky, can you? He still strikes me as the most British of all the Bonds, so I'm going to put him in something home-grown: Geo. F Trumper's Eucris, which according to Marlen's review is mentioned in Diamonds are Forever (I don't know if it's mentioned in the movie as well, but that one was Connery anyway).
Your pick? And extra points for anyone who knows of other Bond-related fragrance mentions (movie or book).
Sean Connery, period.
Ack, left off the fragrance. I'd say Guerlain Vetiver for the film Bond. It didn;t release 'til 1961so could not have been worn by the literary Bond, at least until Thunderball.
Daniel Craig over a very slim margin from Pierce Brosnan. The gorgeous DC, on days he was slumming it in the tropics, would VERY LIGHTLY splash on Tommy Bahama, but then leave it behind for the housekeeper when he left.
But perhaps my suggestion is slightly influenced by how much I love this on my husband, who has bought outfits based on what DC wore in the movie…
I'm guessing you're in the majority — most people seem to prefer Connery. And G. Vetiver seems perfect!
LOL at “leave it behind for the housekeeper” — you must tell me the reasoning behind this, it is both funny and interesting but I have a feeling I'm missing the point?
In the new Casino Royale there is a Santa Maria Novella bottle among the things that fall from 007's toiletry case…
Ah, I'd forgotten that entirely, thanks!
I have been reading this blog for at least a year now (it's fantastic) and never posted, but I have just been going through a phase of reading Bond novels and thought someone (besides myself) may be interested in the following. In one book, Fleming mentions that Bond's female love interest wears Ode de Guerlain (Tracy, in 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service). In the same book, Fleming also mentions Pears soap and Mennen (deodorant? aftershave?), as being the toiletries in a guest room provided for Bond's use. Oh, and in 'Dr No,' Bond and Honey Rider are imprisoned in luxe rooms that are stocked with “Floris Lime bath essence for men and Guerlain bath cubes for women” (p. 141, Penguin ed. – yes, I was inspired to look it up); it is also mentioned that the soap is 'Guerlain's Sapoceti, Fleurs des Alpes.' Okay, I am feeling pretty nerdy by this point, but I am on a roll (I hit the jackpot): the bathroom also contains Rose mouthwash (a brand, I presume), and Lentheric aftershave lotion.
you're welcome, but where're my extra points???
Wow, that's a lot of brand-name-dropping, isn't it? Thanks a bunch, for some reason I'm thrilled to hear he mentions Guerlain, and more than once.
How have you liked the books? Casino Royale was the first Bond movie that actually made me curious about the books. The rest of the movies are so silly (in a perfectly good way, mind you) that it never would have occurred to me to read the source.
Oh trust me, we are keeping track. Your points are stored in a safety deposit box in a Swiss bank; you can read more about the security procedures here:
http://tinyurl.com/5k5r7e
It is a lot of name-dropping! I wish I could smell Guerlain's Ode.
To be honest, I really haven't seen much of the Bond films, except Casino Royale. I had a friend who read all the Bond novels way back in high school and was looking for a Bond-type as her perfect man. While I can't quite agree, it always made me curious and then a few months ago a book cover caught my eye… that was 4 or 5 books ago.
I like the books – they are light entertainment. I enjoy reading about jetsetters and European travel in the '50s and '60s, so it may be the settings (and a peak at the culture) that keeps me reading them, more than anything. Now the books have peaked my curiosity about the films – I am guessing that if you like the books, you'd like the movies and vice versa.
Daniel Craig. In Ralph Lauren Romance Silver. Dry, synthetic, light woods would suit today's Bond, the contemporay Bond. (And his star sign would be either libra or twins.)
I choose Daniel Craig as Bond wearing John Varvatos Vintage. To me the aroma is rugged and sensual … a classic older spicy fragrance combination that somehow transcends into something new and fresh…sort of like the way Daniel Craig added something new yet classic to his role as Bond. Needless to say I enjoy both John Varvatos Vintage and Daniel Craig immensely. I could smell the later and stare at the former all day long
I think it's actually Vesper's toiletries–the love interest in Casino Royale–because I remember looking it up after seeing to movie to find out which SMN it was–Melgrano, I think. Whichever one has the green label & is supposed to be pomegranate-scented.
For me, it's a tie between Daniel Craig & Pierce Brosnan. Brosnan's a classic Guerlain Vetiver guy, where I think Craig would wear something a bit weirder–Dzing! or Musc Ravageur.
Ooops. Should read “after seeing *the* movie..”
Sean Connery, in Guerlain Vetiver.
Hey, I think that's right. Remembering some discussion now about this at MUA. Melograno, I think it is.
And I like Craig in Dzing!
I'd like to smell *any* old Guerlains!
Do watch the movies, although Casino Royale is very different from the earlier ones. Much more “serious”.
Have not smelled Romance Silver, but the description sure sounds like it fits.
MiKailing, good call!
It is funny — I don't find Craig all that attractive (no desire to stare at him all day) — but really think he's a great fit with the role, despite being quite disgusted when I first heard he'd been selected.
Can't argue with that!
Sean Connery wearing Guerlain Vetiver and Daniel Craig wearing Chanel Egoiste.
Sean Connery is a great Bond but I do think this new Daniel Craig is giving him a run for his money-He is just too damned breath-catchingly handsome…
Connery – Guerlain Vetiver (even though Kevin says he wears Jicky and this would be interesting…)
Craig- Equipage
Well, now that you've got me thinking about how good Daniel Craig as James Bond would smell, I'm going to be totally useless for the rest of the day. Totally. Useless.
Sean Connery is known to wear Jicky as his signature fragrance. So if Roger does too, that makes it the scent of *two* James Bonds — wow!
I picture Daniel Craig in something more roughly masculine … perhaps Cumming, with those whiskey and peat notes (and it's Scottish like him, too).
Robin – I am a HUGE Bond fan, even when I was a child. How glamorous! I even threw a JB cocktail party for my 30th…lots of fun! Anyway….
Sean Connery always….Don't you think he would just expect us to dazzle and swoon in the wake of his own manly musk and the smell of gunpowder? Just kidding – How about Chanel Pour Monsieur because it is an unflappable classic just like the man himself. So smooth, so sophisticated, so understated. Chanel always goes well with cards, vodka martinis and naked women….
I did have a huge crush on Roger Moore for a while as a kid, but then I watched Moonraker
Talk about product placement! I drink Smirnoff Silver because it's in his room on the drink tray in “Dr. No”.
Pierce Brosnan, because not only was he just like honey melting, but because he reprised the role in “Thomas Crown Affair”.
I think the earliest fragrances might be Bay Rum or Lime – the brand that used to come in straw covered bottles.
Time to go to Crab Key!
Moonraker! Yep, that would do it.
My favorite is still Live & Let Die, which was the first one I ever saw.
Yes, the Chanel fits too, good call.
Everyone thinks so! But I think Connery, Moore & Brosnan all beat him on looks. But he is sexy. Equipage would work
Ah well, it's Friday.
Assuming any of these celebrity scent things are accurate…and who knows. Maybe they are, maybe they aren't.
Hey, Cumming would be perfect, really. I can see Connery in that too.
Hey, I'll bet that was a great party! And Chanel Pour Monsieur is perfect.
Oh, I know that Bay Rum — can't place the brand name right now, but it will come to me.
What a fun post! I was in on that conversation at MUA about Vesper Lynd, and I still am looking forward to sniffing her SMN scent.
I'd like to hear how everyone would scent the other bond girls, too! Pussy Galore? Xenia Onatop?
As for the Bond men, my fave is definitely Daniel Craig, and I don't know that I would scent him in much of anything. He seems like he'd be all pheromones, with maybe just a bit of some old-school aftershave.
Funny, I have to confess I don't know that I've seen an entire Bond flick all the way through, but Dzing came to mind for the “new” Bonds as I was reading your post as well. I can imagine that scent going very well with a dangerous, destructive vehicle/helicopter/bulletrain crash and narrow escape, somehow.
Pia suggested a “Bond Girls” poll, and perhaps I'll do one later — I'm terrible, I mostly remember the men & the Bond Girls are all a blur. In my defense, they're pretty interchangeable, aren't they? Vesper had more personality than most.
Yes, largely interchangeable, and based on some of the more choice character names, I'd say we need to enter the Skank Zone.
Hmmm…guess I'm the first to go for Timothy Dalton. Of course, he seemed to Totally Not Care, but he looked all serious and seriously good and arched brow on the giant old screen at the old Esquire theater. What to put him in? Scentwise, that is? Erm…well, in some ways, you've got to have Geo.Trumpeter involved, but I want to get some attitude and say he picks according to the day. Grey Flannel, Bulgari Black…it's all about the job.
St Johns Bay Rum I think is the straw covered one. I used to be a big Connery fan until Daniel Craig…. oh… what's that gurgling noise Homer Simpson makes when he is contemplating beer?! Given Bond's Carribean connections, I thought of Jo Malone Lime, Basil and Mandarin, but Craig has such a flinty look about it, maybe perhaps Terre d'Hermes?
And here I thought I was the only person ON EARTH whose favourite Bond was Timothy Dalton.
He would wear Boucheron Pour Homme, the oakmoss-heavy eau de parfum version, which is dark and thoroughly dangerous compared to the fresh citrusy EDT.
Of course, that could be fun too, LOL…
Nary a one, eh? That's impressive, actually!
Oh! I like that.
Wow, there are 2 of you! Poor Lazenby, he gets nada.
I didn't like the 2 Dalton movies, but I blamed it on the writing & direction. It seemed like they were trying to “change” Bond & I didn't like it — they struck me as sort of humorless, maybe? Although the 1st Craig movie was also a huge change, and I liked it anyway.
He does look flinty, doesn't he? Terre d'Hermes works.
Because it's not very sophisticated, but something easy to toss in a bag without worrying about it. And he's be bored with it by the time his vacation ended, and just leave it in his room. Perhaps she commented on how nice he smelled one time…
Oooh, cool! I've recently been turned on to Pears soap via my mother-in-law, who will use nothing else. It has a great clean rosemary/pine scent…. I LOVE perfume shout-outs in books! I've been reading Barbara Pym and there's a novel of hers (“The Sweet Dove Died”, 1978) whose heroine wears Guerlain's L'Heure Bleu and whose boyfriend wears Mitsuoko and she describes the scents intermingling as they embrace…
Snead & Sons makes the ones from Jamaica – Bay Rum, Island Lyme, Spyce, etc.
Royall makes the ones from Bermuda – Royall Lyme Bermuda, Royall Mandarin, Royall Bay Rhum, etc.
I second the nomination for Cumming.
So far nobody's mentioned Woody Allen, although he only played the evil nephew Jimmy Bond in 1967's Casino Royale.
The scent? The late 60's version of English Leather, half a bottle at a time (I remember it well).
My fave Bond actor is now (blasphemy!) – Daniel Craig. I imagine him smelling faintly of Gaultier Fleur de Male, Prada pour Homme, or a trail of the original Chanel p.h. following behind him. Mmmmm…good!
oops, I meant Chanel pour Monsier. (and I didn't read the other comments before adding my own- bad blog manners!)
Yes, I know what you mean by humorless, and I agree both that set and the Craig versions are attempting a change. In my hazy recollections, I am not sure if it was script or Dalton's acting, but I know at the time I bought into it and appreciated the change. Preferred that to gizmos which helped transport hapless girls to their ravishment and abandonment.
(Hmm…that makes my reaction sound awfully cerebral…gotta admit, I also thought Vanessa Redgrave was one lucky cookie…
)
LOL — perfect!
Oh, thanks — read The Sweet Dove Died years ago, long before I was interested in perfume.
Ah, Royall is the one I was thinking of — thanks!
I liked the gizmos, LOL…to me, they were kind of the point. Understand what they're trying to do with the Craig movies, but a few gizmos here & there would make me happy.
I'll give on the gizmos…but they have to have a good digestible edge to them. I'm gonna bring up Moonraker again as an example of campy excess… I can take arch, or serious, or a combination thereof, but not ridiculous.
Yeah, another Pour Monsieur fan!
My second fav Bond was actually Lazenby – I love Her Majesty's Secret Service. I can't even imagine what he could wear since he was such a beef-cake (and I mean that with all due respect), except maybe something like Jovan Musk. Snicker. Or maybe Lorenzo Villoresi Alamut – goes on strong and stays that way.
I never saw the first Casino Royale — sort of never got the point of doing a spoof since the “regular” films already play like spoofs, LOL…but also didn't know Woody Allen was in it. And in half a bottle of English leather, no less
See, I can eat up campy excess no problem. Live & Let Die, IMHO, is a masterpiece of campy excess. Moonraker, I'll admit, was just missing something.
Oops…that was not Pia, it was SFElizabeth. Pia suggested a Lord of the Rings poll.
Misha, I like the idea of Prada Pour Homme especially.
Ginny,
I have some vintage Guerlain Ode parfum. If you would like me to send you some….email me at makeupalley.com w/your address. I'm tussah on MUA. It's a “big” floral, in the style of Joy, but much better.
My fave is Moore as I actually grew up watching him, and for me he is the TRUE Bond: Still I like Connery and Brosnan.
Dalton was promising and I remember going to the premiere here in BA of The Living Daylights with my parents. I loved the A-Ha song and video.
Ok the rundown
Sean Connery: I imagine him wearing a dry scent like Egoiste or Insensé
George Lazenby: Pass
Roger Moore: Jules by Dior or Pour Lui by De La Renta.
Timothy Dalton: Pass
Pierce Brosnan: Jil Sander Feeling Man or Eau sauvage Extreme.
Daniel Craig: Boss Selection or some other Zegna or Boss scent.
I loved this Lazy Friday's poll!
I just finished a book with a Mitsouko wearing heroine also! Wise Children by Angela Cather has a pair of twins (identical and the only way to tell them apart was by their perfume-Shalimar and Mitsouko)…fun book
Okay, we'll strike Moonraker, and make it a double feature. One campy gizmo, one brooding Bond.
I haven't smelled Pears soap since I was a little girl, but you have inspired me to go out and get a bar – rosemary/pine sounds great (especially with fall just around the corner). I'd heard of Barbara Pym, but I haven't read any of her novels – I'll have to add that one to my wishlist.
I should have added that I'll have to add 'Wise Children' to my list, too.
Poor George Lazenby got no attention here, LOL…but thanks for scenting all the rest! Jules for RM is just perfect.
Nice!
Done!
Oh I love that book and the Chance sisters! It is the best Angela Carter that I have read so far.
My favourite Bond is definitely Roger Moore as I grew up with him and he is by far the funniest. I can't think what to put Bond in as my knowledge of male scents is very limited – sorry!
James Blond. Naked.
LOL
I'm way late to the post but here goes… Sean Connery and Daniel Craig are tied as my favorite 007's.
Sean C. would wear Anteus by Chanel or Private Collection L'Oiseau de Nuit Eau de Parfum by Parfumerie Generale
Daniel C. would wear Xeryus by Givenchy, YSL L' Homme, or Jubilation XXV Eau de Parfum by Amouage
ps-read the books if you get the chance, they're great.
Better late than never! And LOVE the idea of Jubilation on Daniel Craig — perfect.
Ditto.
Handsome and he also has that intense dangerous edge.
Does anyone remember 007 cologne from the mid 60s? It was my first purchase as a young man and I still get it when I am lucky on ebay….anyone else remember it?
No, didn't know there was one!