Bond No. 9 New Haarlem Review – Everything You Need To Know
New Haarlem.
The best Bond No. 9 fragrance.
Bond No. 9 New Haarlem was released in 2016. It is based on coffee, spices, and vanilla. It lasts 12+ hours on the skin with above-average projection. In this review, I will describe its smell and performance and if it’s worth it.
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Table of Contents
What Does Bond No 9 New Haarlem Smell Like?
The first spray grabs attention. It is all about a sweet vanilla and amber combination with a coffee accord. Is this a sweet fragrance? Very! Yet, it never smells candy-like or immature. The rich, dark, and creamy coffee note does a great job of tempering its strength.
If you’re not a huge fan of coffee scents, that’s okay. This is not too bitter like raw coffee beans.
Within a few minutes, subtle nuances of cedar give the gourmands a warm depth. Lavender is the last opening addition. Its main job is to soothe the sweetness. As the scent progresses, it picks up herbaceous tones that are neither good nor bad additions.
The dry down retains the gourmand nature. The ambery warmth is more intense, pairing with reemerging lavender and sweet vanilla. This is what you’ll smell for the rest of the wear.
Bond No 9 New Haarlem notes:
TOP NOTES
- Lavender
- Bergamot
- Green Leaves
MID NOTES
- Coffee
- Cedar
BASE NOTES
- Vanilla
- Patchouli
- Tonka Bean
- Amber
Performance
New Haarlem lasts 12+ hours on the skin with excellent projection. For the opening, mid, and large portion of the dry-down, the projection fills a room with a six-foot projection. The scent trail is as good. The more you move around, the more this pushes out, the better it smells. This performance is with three sprays.
This is exclusively late fall and winter wear when cooler temperatures can temper its strength. I haven’t tried this in the spring or summer, but I know this becomes too overwhelming, even in the mild temperatures of the fall. So, I doubt it would fair well. You’ll get three months of wear in a four-season climate.
As for occasions, it is all but office and other close-quarter settings. This is solely because the projection is too loud.
Lastly, mass appeal and likability are excellent. In the fragrance community, it’s commonly called “sexy pancakes.” It’s not the best analogy, but it speaks to its delicious gourmand nature. This “tasteful” aroma makes it adored by many.
With this said, this has an authentic coffee note. If you or someone around you doesn’t like the smell of coffee beans, this will come as off-putting.
Bond No 9 New Haarlem Clones
Rochas Man Rochas is the most similar fragrance. The biggest difference is that Man Rochas is significantly sweeter and lacks an as prominent spice accord. The versatility and wearability are similar, but New Haarlem is more expensive.
Final Words
Bond No 9 New Haarlem is worth it as it is the best from the brand, but I don’t recommend it. This is a great choice if you’re looking for a coffee-focused fragrance. But more generally, there are better gourmand fragrances at the same price. By Kilian Angels Share and Black Phantom are higher-quality gourmand scents at the same price.
The uniqueness and performance are there, but there may be better choices. Try a sample or decant before blind buying a bottle.
Do you like the idea of owning a Bond No. 9 fragrance? Well, don’t limit yourself to New Haarlem. Check out my review of the best Bond No. 9 colognes; you might just find your signature scent.