Bond No. 9
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
The blackberry arrives first—juicy and almost jammy—before bergamot's clean citrus cuts through like morning light. Cardamom's spiced warmth immediately establishes itself as the note's emotional centre, creating a composition that feels simultaneously fresh and slightly mysterious, with none of the typical fruity-floral blandness.
Tuberose and osmanthus bloom into something creamy and nuanced, the former's honeyed intensity tempered by the latter's delicate apricot-like sweetness. Champaca flower adds a subtle herbal restraint, preventing the florals from cloying whilst the synthetic backbone maintains impressive clarity throughout the development.
Musk, sandalwood, and benzoin emerge as a soft, almost skin-like base—neither particularly robust nor fleeting. Amber adds a final whisper of warmth and gourmand sweetness, leaving behind a creamy, slightly woody whisper rather than a lasting impression.
Bond No. 9's Queens is a fragrance that wears its floral ambitions prominently, yet refuses to surrender entirely to prettiness. The blackberry-bergamot opening pairs tart brightness with a subtle peppery edge from cardamom, preventing what could have been a straightforward fruity-floral from becoming saccharine. This is crucial because what follows is decidedly lush: tuberose, champaca flower, and osmanthus converge into something approaching opulent, but the cardamom's lingering warmth keeps the composition from tipping into perfume-counter overkill.
The creamy accord—likely deriving from the osmanthus and a soft musk foundation—gives Queens an almost skin-like quality, as though the fragrance is absorbing into your epidermis rather than sitting atop it. There's something tactile about it, subtly powdery without being dated. The synthetic notes (52% of the composition) are present enough to lend clarity and structure, preventing the florals from becoming muddled or too naturalistic.
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3.5/5 (109)