I realized it only today. I know that the Chicken Freak wrote some posts about de-cluttering and how to get rid of stuff, and now it seems I will have to give this some thought. As in how to apply it in my own life. I've been swapping for over a year now and I have so many samples and quite a lot of decants. That wouldn't be a problem usually, but since I really like most of the decants I have, I tend not to use them. Which kind of makes no sense because what's the point in liking them and keeping them on the shelf?! The problem is what if I use them up and decide I need a bottle? I can't buy so many and I like having such a wide choice swapped decants give me. Anyway, today I decided I will no longer keep them so I wore my New Harleem decant 2 days in a row. It is one of my favorite Bond No. 9 scents (along with Chinatown and Lexington avenue).
So I'm going to talk about it today.
Notes: bergamot, cedarwood, coffee, vanilla, patchouli, lavender.
The notes really cannot prepare you for what you smell when you spray New Harleem on. To me, it starts with slightly citrusy burnt coffee caramel feel. I mean that in the best possible way, it does smell like coffee caramel but like the caramel was slightly burnt (I guess that comes from the patchouli). On me this caramel burnt feel is more prominent than on my boyfriend (I told him to try it since it is not listed as a feminine scent).
I'm looking at my notes now and realize that I haven't mentioned cedarwood in them. Hmm, I was focusing more on the coffee/patchouli/lavender idea, cedarwood just went past me. The thing is, whenever I real lavender as one of the notes, I get scared. Lavender is such a strong and distinct smell that I'm scared will take over everything else. It never happens here, after the initial coffe/caramel feel subsides, it takes a while for lavender to become noticeable and it is never too much. Just right to give this relatively rich and sweet concoction and interesting twist. New Harleem lasts quite long and it took some hours before I finally got vanilla (still slightly tempered by coffee). But don't let that coffee fool you - it is never too much. Now i think of it, I don't remember smelling anything similar to this. Does anyone know of anything that comes close to this - I would like to smell some more variants of these notes.
Pic by: www.punmiris.com
hello Ines - I'm going to have to try this one, though I worry that it stays too sweet like Douce Amere does. Does it?
ReplyDeleteI found this post and in the comments there is mention of a couple similar fragrances:
http://boisdejasmin.typepad.com/_/2006/05/new_haarlem_by_.html
Hey BF, you don't have to worry, it never gets too sweet. Coffee, patchouli and lavender don't let it. :) Please try and let me kknow what you think.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for the link, there are some good suggestions there. :)
ooh yes - coffee, patchouli and lavender - some of my favorites! It's on my samples-to-get list. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAnd you're welcome! :)
Early on in my sniffing career, I read a few *crushing* reviews of the whole B#9 line, and I have steered clear ever since.
ReplyDeleteNow, however, it's just starting to get silly. I have to know what I'm boycotting, right? One of these days, I'm going to screw up my courage and walk right into Sak's, and see what all the fuss is about.
Oh no, you don't have to know what you're boycotting! LOL (re: Kors for me)
ReplyDeleteI think I may have tried this one and found it a bit peculiar, but like LCN, I have had a bit of a downer on Bond No 9 generally, so I may be misremembering or simply assuming I disliked it in an unacceptably kneejerk fashion!
ReplyDeleteA retrial is called for next time I am in London...
This is one of my longest-term "bottle or no bottle?" debate scents. I love it. I'm not sure if I approve of Bond No. 9. I only love it in certain seasons. It's expensive. I'm never sure if I'll like it next time - and then I do.
ReplyDeleteIt's probably only a matter of time.
so let me in on this Bond 9 non-approval/wary-ness? Why!?
ReplyDeleteBF, here is a link to a post by Non Blonde where you have the basic idea why Bond as a company is not liked.
ReplyDeletehttp://thenonblonde.blogspot.com/2008/01/how-i-saved-230.html
LCN, I tried many Bonds and most of them are just plain awful. :) But there are some hidden gems in there - I'm so lucky there's MUA and swapping so there was yet no need to buy any.
ReplyDeleteFlittersniffer, I can understand the attitude, especially if you started with some like Little Italy, Eau de New York, Chelsea sth, etc.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what you will say when you smell it New Harleem...
ChickenFreak, for that price, I would be debating the purchase as well. For the time being, there's no need. :)
ReplyDeleteInes-- tell me your favs so I can get right to the good stuff!! ;)
ReplyDeleteMy 3 favs: Chinatown, New Harleem and Lexington avenue. I still haven't tried Andy Warhol Silver Factory and Success is a Job in NY but I have high hopes. If you do try those, let me know what they are like.
ReplyDelete