New Fragrance: Bond No. 9 - Harrods Oud Patchouli

Thanks for the info. Looking forward to trying this one.

Nice, I really like all the Oud scents Bond has put out so far. Really looking forward to hearing some reactions to this and getting a chance to smell it myself.

So far the Bond ouds have been great. Looking forward to trying this one also.

Sounds interesting, thanks for the heads up.

I agree!!!
Gary

I too enjoy Bond's Ouds. Will look to sample this one.

Any idea when this comes out? Did I miss that? Thanks!

This sounds great !

Hi Guys,

I have just received a sample from Harrods and have sprayed it...my initial reaction is... montale dirty start is also here...lots of medicinal oud...very strong waft slapping you on the face...

Will be back soon with a proper review...

thanks for your thoughts

Just out of curiosity, how did you come to receive samples (presumably in the post?) from Harrods?

it smells alright. i have had my nose, like many of you too, on better oud versions out there. you get the patchouli, a nice oud and i smell coconut as well.

i need to give this another full day wear to see whether i'll purchase the fb

Would love to hear more about this. Is the davana wine-like or grapey as it often is? How masculine is the scent? Is it more oud centric or patchouli centric?

Any details are appreciated!

No shit! Containing oud and patchouli I wouldn't expect less.

This sounds interesting.....Also sounds like it could be a hit or a miss.....It just depends on what one likes!!!
Gary

I'm 100% on board with this one. Bought the big bottle yesterday at one of their NYC stores. This is my favorite Bond to come along in quite some time. I posted a review...and waiting for the mods to approve, so here's what I said there:

"I was lucky enough to have a friend traveling through London and she was kind enough to visit Harrods and bring a sample back to the USA for me (although a very generous friend int the UK also offered to send me a sample ;-).)

My nose is so different so I can only chime in on my perception of this. I had no idea what to expect, but I was definitely in LOVE at first whiff. I get a burst or sharp, exotic smelling floral right away. Then smokey incense notes that take me back to my days as an altar boy at St Clements School in Florida. Maybe that's the myrrh. There is a lovely sweetness that connects with what smells like amber to me next. The oud is there too, but not as "in your face" as TF Oud Wood or Bonds Harrods Swarovski Limited Edition.

I can't really find the patchouli, which is the only thing that I am disappointed about. Maybe it's in there, and I am just so used to the street grade patchouli oil that people I work with wear every day.

I spayed on probably 10-12 spritzes from the sample on Thursday and it lasted over 12 hours on me. The next day it was still there close to the skin, and the oud was very nice at that time too. I give it a big thumbs up. I actually splurged for the 100 ml bottle, since my partner loved it too, so want to have plenty."

PS- I don't find any dirty or skanky notes at all. Maybe they are there, but my nose doesn't detect anything sweaty etc.

I am really glad you like it gatorNY!

I am not so in love with this scent if am honest after 5 full wearings...might just need longer to become enchanted; so far I have smelled more captivating and alluring ouds from other perfume houses and hand on heart, as much as I have always been a Bond lover for years I think that this Harrods scent is a bit of a flop.

I have written a full review here on Basenotes if you want to click on the scent in the directory.

I have another sample to go through which might change my mind but so far my review is already written.

I found this to be very potent, and somewhat repulsive. The sweet davana and amber accords -- along with a gourmandy sugary accord that seems lifted straight from I Love NY for All -- clash with the oud and patchouli to create a relatively synthetic fruity-sweet and bitter mishmash. Definitely leans feminine imo. Almost a scrubber for me. Ah well.

I really really love this scent. I find it leans masculine, actually. Go figure.

It starts with a strong davana (grape/wine) note, a bit of saffron, and a nice medicinal oud. There's a nice clean patchouli, a bit of geranium and rose, and the oud/myrrh smell dark and both smell as if they're burning (rather than just the smell of the oil extract of them). There's a dirty leather note in here too, and a hint of castoreum - this aspect is similar to the dark aspects of Memoir Woman.

I will write a much more detailed review in time. I will say I've worn it for the last five days straight and have not grown sick of it at all (it took a few wears before the scent really clicked with me - I'd smell certain accords in more isolation, didn't pick up fully on the civet note, smelled the oud more strongly than I did in subsequent wearings and the patchouli less strongly, etc. This happens with many scents though, where it takes awhile to see it as a whole rather than to hyper-focus on some small aspect or another).

very true bond is just amazing though overall

very true bond is just amazing though overall

I think I must persevere with this one...

Francop, I'd suggest doing so. I thought it was nice but mediocre after the first wear or two. The third wear it really clicked and I absolutely love it.

After the first hour or two the projection drops off quite a bit, which is nice as it enters the animalic/leather/patchouli phase, and I wouldn't want that to project like mad.

It shares some similarities with SoOud's Burqa, although Burqa is a bit more natural and a bit more "Angel-like." I love them both.

I should add that I like this more than NY Oud and NY/Harrods Amber, and while I like the Swarovski Oud a lot too, I find Harrods Oud Patchouli much more wearable (and it shares some of that nice leathery goodness!).

Thanks very much for your encoraugement :-)

What didn't you like about this one?

I see some people saying that it's very sweet. I do get a sweetness throughout but it is always well balanced; early on there is the spicy saffron, then the 'burning oud and myrrh' to balance it, and lastly a light sandalwood, civet, and dark leather. I wonder if some people aren't smelling a certain base note in this - especially as some seem to get only a few hours longevity! I get great longevity out of this - it's there until I shower, although the projection is moderate to low.

I thought it was far too overpriced for the quality of the juice...although the juice per se`was nice...

I agree with this, although that's true of almost every juice that costs > $200. When things like Ungaro II were selling for designer prices, there is no true justification for crazy prices for juice. I try not to factor the cost in when judging the scents merits, although of course I'm sort of forced to factor the price in when considering if it's FBW or not!

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Curious: has anyone seen the bottle in person? Is it in fact purple like the pictures seem to indicate, or instead a dark blue as the wording (cobalt blue) in the description indicates?

I just thought that Bond no 9 has taken their marketing costs too far and that they were also tagetting the rich arabs that live in London who can afford perfume at any price...

No, I have not seen the bottle yet...

NY Oud is one of the few I really like, I'll have to seek out a sample of this.

NY Oud is also my all time favourite so far...

I really LOVE NY Oud except for some particular chemical in it that is very "scratchy" to my nose. It's a shame, too, because outside of that I think it's a great great scent. It would definitely be my favorite oud if not for that scratchy (to my nose) quality.

I think that scratchy note that you mention could be the orris, which must admit I really love...