Perhaps more than any other city in the world, New York City is and has always been, at its core, a magnificent juxtaposition of timelessness and reinvention. A place wherein, despite constant evolution and change, that of great significance remains steadfast, standing the test of time.
It is apropos, then, that the ethos of luxury fragrance brand Bond No. 9—launched within, inspired by, and named after its headquarters in the city itself—reflects a similar melding of old and new; of time-tested ideals and innovative, forward thinking. At its inception, Bond No. 9 set out to restore the legendary artistry of perfumery that has waned with the passage of time: a dedication to fine craftsmanship and higher concentrations of pure eaux de parfums, both inspired by vintage Parisian perfume blending. Utilizing such legendary techniques to reimagine fragrance through a modern lens, for a modern consumer, is a guiding principle that the brand has continued to uphold through today, twenty years later.
“Celebrating our twentieth anniversary has been a full circle moment that brings back a flood of memories,” says Bond No.9 Founder Laurice Rahmé, who was originally inspired to launch the brand after personally experiencing the resilience of New York City after 9/11. “Opening Bond No. 9 was not just a business venture, it was a labor of love; a testament to my belief in the power of scent to tell a story and evoke emotions.”
In celebration of its twentieth anniversary this year, Bond No. 9 is launching a new, sure-to-be iconic scent, aptly named New York Forever. Mirroring the brand’s perennial inspiration—New York City, of course—the fragrance is at once distinctly strong and sweetly seductive, much like the city itself. When crafting the fragrance, acclaimed perfumer Domitille Michalon-Bertier drew inspiration from a variety of sources, among them travel, the joy of discovery, and humble yet luxurious Mother nature.
At its heart, the fragrance is a robust blend of Indonesian patchouli oil and vanilla, which is layered atop an aromatic base of honeyed amber, musky labdanum, and earthy moss. A top note of cinnamon bark oil fuses the blend together for a fragrance that is as bold as its namesake. Housed within a gold iteration of Bond No. 9’s classic Silhouette Bottle, the anniversary fragrance bottle design features a red heart at its center—an ode to the original homage to New York City—and a cap comprised of Bond No. 9 logo coins, inspired by vintage subway tokens.
“Subway tokens on a perfume bottle are so unexpected,” says Rahmé. “But we love the unexpected, and after all, it doesn’t get more New York than that!”