With notes of bergamot, cedarwood, coffee, vanilla, patchouli and lavender, Bond no. 9 enters the world of gourmand unisex fragrance with the triumphant New Haarlem. A warm, rich, intoxicating aroma by perfumer Maurice Roucel, this 2003 launch is sure to please those looking for a totally original Bond.

The scent opens with a rich, dark, and creamy blast of coffee, vanilla and cedar. As the scent relaxes on the skin, a slightly herbal and powdery, albeit very faint, lavender note begins to surface, and that's pretty much the entire story. Not as heavy or cloying as it might sound, the scent actually dries down with a very subtle sillage.

It was love at first sniff for me — a scent that calls to mind Angel for Men and Rochas Man, though New Haarlem is sweeter, fuller, and richer. As with most gourmands, this could easily be enjoyed by both men and women. When I first smelled this fragrance at the Bond no. 9 shop on Madison Avenue, the sales associate encouraged me to layer this scent with a few others, and I was surprised at how well the blends worked. New Haarlem and So New York offers an aroma along the lines of Angel. For a hint of Grand Marnier in your coffee, add Little Italy, and one of my favorite accidents was the combination of New Haarlem and the floral Park Avenue.

For buying information, see the listing for Bond no. 9 under Perfume Houses.