Last week, I needed to pick up a service ticket item from the Apple store, so I walked over a few blocks to stop by Hall’s at the Country Club Plaza during the wait. They were having a men’s clothing liquidation sale to get rid of the old merchandise and bring in the new season. Brioni ties for $200+ were being sold for $50, $2,000 blazers were marked down to $500, and $400 shoes were at $100. I ambled my way through the aisles, among housewares, past the patio furniture, next to the chocolatier, searching through the bargains, and ended up in my favorite department, the fragrance area.
[mainbodyad]In another life, had I not fallen in love with finance and investing, I would have been content to spend the seven years necessary to learn the art of perfuming, and opened a shop in Paris, London, or New York, focused solely on the niche market of people who really appreciated high-end scents. I wouldn’t want to be the biggest fragrance shop, the focus would be solely on quality. I’d be much more content generating a few million dollars a year in revenue, remaining debt-free, and putting out products of which I could be extremely proud than I would be pumping out trash en masse for discount drugstores. I’d want to know my clients, do custom blendings for them, and really embrace the art side of the calling.
That is one of the reasons I’m always looking for additions to the fragrance collection. The last purchases were the bottle of Creed Sublime Vanille in mid-June from Neiman Marcus in Dallas, and Bleecker Street by Bond No. 9 back at the beginning of June or end of May from Hall’s.
Bond No 9 Washington Square Box
Bottle of Bond No 9 Washington Square Fragrance
I ended up buying a 100ml bottle of Washington Square, as well as some of the Bond No. 9 soap in a different scent. It has an interesting blend of tarragon, geranium, Italian bergamont, honey, purple rose, vintage amber, leather accord, musk, and vetiver. Personally, it made me think of Christmas, only with a bit more of a heavy powder so as not to be nearly as crisp and clean as Bleecker Street.
It is certainly not my favorite Bond No. 9 fragrance – that distinction thus far has to go to either 1.) the fresh, cleanness of Bleecker Street, 2.) the scent of roasted chestnuts in the I Love New York for All, or 3.) the soft, vanilla coffee of New Haarlem – but it is good. It reminds me of the holidays for some reason. There are days I wake up and it smells delightful, and other days when it is too … thick; like baby talc tufted into the air.
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Reader Comments (5)
Comments are presented chronologically, with replies indented beneath the comments to which they respond.
art school dropout
August 7, 2012
Joshua,
How do you feel about the more accessible brands like Burberry, Hugo Boss or Thierry Mugler?
Joshua Kennon
August 7, 2012
Replying to art school dropout
Some of them are very good, others are just overpriced. The big thing you need to pay attention to is the concentration of actual fragrance in a particular product. That is what you are paying for and that is how you should value it.
Splash or Aftershave = 1-3% fragrance
Perfume mist: 3-8% fragrance
Eau de Cologne = 3-8% fragrance
Eau de Toilette = 5-15% fragrance
Eau de Parfum = 10% to 20% fragrance
Espirit de Parfum: 15% to 30% fragrance
Perfume extract = 15% to 40% fragrance
For example, an Eau de Parfum fragrance should last you roughly 4 to 6 hours from the time you spray it on your skin. That is why bottles of brands like Creed are more expensive. You can't just look at the fluid ounces you are getting. A bigger bottle does not mean more fragrance!
Brands like Chanel actually offer a choice - they have Parfum, Eau de Parfum and Eau de Toilette spray at various price points. For example, the Parfum for a bottle of 1 ounce Chanel No. 5 is $325, whereas a 3.4 ounce bottle of the Eau de Toilette is only $105. There is more fragrance in that tiny 1 ounce bottle, which is why it is 3x the price. I, personally, find the higher concentrations the better bargains. I hardly ever buy anything less than an Eau de Parfum, but that is a personal value calculation based upon the price of most major brands. My brother loves Burberry Touch for men. Personally? I like the scent but I hate that it is an Eau de Toilette. That is where the trade-offs happen.
One of my favorite resources on fragrance is Basenotes, which has a very active community forum full of knowledgable people. You should check them out and read everything you can.
The general rule is, find what you love. Following a tip on Basenotes, I was looking for a vanilla fragrance to serve as a base layer to several of the expensive high-end scents I have. Turns out the best vanilla base is a no-name $10 or $20 brand that you would find at some gas station in the middle of nowhere. Expensive often, but not always, means better.
But, personally, it comes down to quality. If I could only afford one or two bottles of fragrance a year, it would be Creed Green Irish Tweed and Creed Aventus. I'd find a way to get a bottle of Hanae Mori for Men in there, though, because it is fantastic despite a much lower price point. It is my favorite Christmas cologne in the world. I wear it every year when the snow starts falling because it blends really well with cashmere.
art school dropout
August 9, 2012
Replying to Joshua Kennon
Thank you for replying in such detail. I had no idea that words like "Eau de Cologne" and "Eau de Parfum" carried such importance. I had vague notions that it had something to do with the branding of the perfume. Now I know. I stumbled onto Basenotes before, but the level of sophistication I found there was above my actual needs. I did walk away with a few brands to try though. One of them was actually Burberry Touch. I liked it. I'll check out some of the brands you recommended when I can.
LuxuriousLifeScents
August 9, 2012
You know something Joshua! You are a freaking genius! I love this article and you know why, this is my niche. Perhaps we should get in touch because I think I may have something you want. Talk soon!
Joshua Kennon
August 16, 2012
Replying to LuxuriousLifeScents
You can use the contact form in the menu at the top of the page. I'll be looking for your message.