Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol Success is a Job in New York

Michelyn Camen wrote in a recent column, on how the scent of grapefruit seems to cause men to perceive that women are six years younger. Yet had no effect on men. When I was out to dinner with friends recently I brought this story up and asked the women at the table if there was a scent that could make a man appear younger. The response was unanimous... Money!! If that is true then Bond No. 9 has tried to help out us aging gentlemen with the release of their latest Andy Warhol themed scent Success is a Job in New York.


The perfumer, Claude Dir, used the idea of money as inspiration for this follow up to his well-received Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol Lexington Avenue. The title of the scent comes from Andy Warhol’s first assignment for Glamour magazine in the 50’s and the title of a book about Mr. Warhol’s early career.

I think the name can be read two ways. One way is if you can get a job in New York City you can consider yourself a success. The second way, and the way I think it applies to this scent, is that to maintain a level of success and notoriety in New York City is a full-time job in itself.

While the name comes from the early part of Mr. Warhol’s career I think it applies more relevantly to the latter part of his life in the 80’s. When you think of the 80’s it was the era of Gordon Gekko and “Greed is Good” from the movie “Wall Street”.

Even art was deemed a commodity to be bought and sold with Mr. Warhol the man responsible for publicizing some of the young artists of the 80’s like Julian Schnabel and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Another sign that this scent is set in the 80’s is the use of a dollar sign as the design on the bottle which is reminiscent of Mr. Warhol’s series of dollar signs from 1981.

Claude Dir has chosen to construct a spicy mix redolent of creativity, art and yes money as he successfully concocts a scent that would have felt at home on the dance floor at The Palladium in 1986 as it will be next to the marble fireplace at Tenjune in 2009. The scent on the air for many of those mid 80’s nights was Calvin Klein Obsession for Men. Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol Success is a Job in New York feels like a modern 21st century reinvention of the themes of that scent.

The top of Andy Warhol Success is a Job in New York starts with the same mandarin, bergamot combination you find in Obsession for Men but M. Dir adds in cardamom. Cardamom imparts a softness to the beginning of this scent that adds a level of sophistication to it that I found very pleasant. Coriander and nutmeg carry this scent into the heart and it is here where M. Dir creates a floral accord that is unique and compelling. It starts with tuberose followed very quickly by jasmine, rose and iris.

They combine to make a floral accord that stays just this side of being too sweet. This creates a nice contrast to the spices that linger from the beginning. The base is a vanilla, patchouli mix with an amber undertone which keeps the sweetness from spiraling out of control. The vanilla in the base really comes to the fore as this scent develops until at the end you’re left enveloped in a comfy vanilla halo.

Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol Success is a Job in New York is a long-lasting eau de parfum that has great sillage to it. This is going to be an especially good scent in cooler weather and Bond No. 9's choice to release it as we head into autumn is a perfect choice. I was a big fan of Obsession for Men in the 80’s and I have been looking for something that gives me the same vibe but appeals to my current sensibilities. Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol Success is a Job in New York has done that. I don’t know if it will make my wife believe I am any younger but I do know it will keep her sniffing my neck.
 

Images: Bond No 9, Artworld Salon, nationalgalleries

Author: Mark Behnke  (Somervill Metro Man)
Fragrantica Writer