Fire Island

I've generally been kinda harsh in my criticism of Bond fragrances - I find that most of them are uninspired and overpriced. They tend to be quite assertive and long lasting, but that reflects the use of strong chemical fixatives more so than quality ingredients. All that said, I really like Fire Island. It seems to be one of the few Bonds in which the final product actually matches the underlying concept. This fragrance really does resemble the scent of high-end sunscreen, but it is so subtle and charming that you can't help but smile. Who wants to smell like sunscreen, right? It's true that Fire Island isn't all that versatile, but it works very well in the warmer months of the year. It's a very floral scent, being almost at the meeting point between a creamy tuberose and a breezy jasmine. Despite its floral nature, it can be worn by a man as easily as a woman. A little dash of cardamom keeps things interesting, though this isn't among the most nuanced fragrances around. A disclaimer - I snagged a small bottle of this at an excellent price, so my opinion may be slightly jaded. At retail price, Fire Island is a hard sell - its value is just too limited. But at the right price, this can be a great summer scent that evokes the feel of a classy beach resort.....without the fear of sunburn.

Keeps me wanting to sniff. A lovely watery fresh beachy scent. I had no idea it had patchouli in it when I first smelled it and tried it out. It is very very mild because - I cannot distinguish it as a patchouli fragrance. I probably would not have purchased this if it smelled like a "patchouli" scent. As far as the Suntan lotion debate - To me I do not smell Fire Island and think it smells of sunscreen/suntan lotion (Coppertone brand or Ban de Soleil)- no, not at all. What I do smell - is aquatic, summery, beachy fresh and is something lightly floral about it. I think maybe tuberose, or neroli? (I am sniffing on me -- as I write this) It is very well blended. As for smelling like Bobby Brown Beach - yes it does - and it is almost identical. However, that said, in a side by side Bobby Brown vs Fire Island test off -- Bobby Brown is the loser, as it is lost on Fire Island. Fire Island is stronger, longer lasting and all around smells better. Test for yourself and you will see. Edit - I have been wearing for 3 days straight now - and it has gotten 3 compliments - 1 each day by different people. Each different person was shocked that it was perfume - and all three had the same comment, "you smell very nice and fresh." Glad I purchased!

Although I've never actually been to Fire Island (I wish!); when I smell this I am immediately reminded of Euro sunscreens such as Ambre Solei: the association is undeniable. Growing up in Australia, we were always exposed to every type of sunscreen protection there was to offer, and Fire Island smells almost exactly like an expensive European sunscreen. There's nothing tropical here; no coconut or Tiare Flower, just the sense of a really lovely sunscreen. For me, this almost has too much tuberose, but thankfully, once it dries down, I'm left with very realistic representation of sun kissed skin and body lotion. Despite the above this is a wonderful fragrance, and for me, quite a departure from Bond No 9's usual fruity, patchouli/amber/oud scents. This reminds me more of what L'Artisan Parfumeur used to be about; quirky fragrances that absolutely reminded you of a particular place or thing. I really love this because of the association with my youth and growing up in Sydney. Its very tenacious though and lasts for ages; so if you want to be transported back to the beach, be prepared to stay for a while. 2 thumbs up and 5 stars!

A tonne of reviewers have said that this is all about that Sun-Tan Lotion vibe, but I respectfully disagree slightly, because it offers us quite a bit more than just that.... I find it to be an offering featuring more prominently the notes of Neroli and white musk....... While it may not be the sun-tan vibe I'm getting unlike so many others, I'm still nevertheless left with a feeling of being transported to Wasaga beach just relaxing and observing others doing their thing. The Neroli is really really well done here and not screechy or over-the-top like a couple of other Bond No 9 offerings. As a side point- if you really really wanna be blown away- just layer this in double proportion with Daniel Josier's Tubereuse {Golden Tubereuse}....... [For every 2 sprays of F.I, use 1 spray of D.J's T].......... Reflecting now, this does have very subtle DNA connections to Sun By Jil Sander [WOMEN], but SUN is far far more of the sun-tan Lotion vibe...... Do yourselves a favour, throw this little gem on, and take all your friends and those around you on a comforting afternoon by the seaside.......

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. It fights for the top spot in my all-time perfume list, along with Montale's Aoud Lagoon and JPG's Fleur Du Male. As you can see, I have a thing for beachy unisex florals, so you can take this with a grain of salt. But if your tastes are similar to mine, then this is gonna be fantastic for you! This is a summery, beachy floral that's fairly soft, gentle and watery, and yet surprisingly resilient and long-lasting. It doesn't blast through the room and smack you in the face like the other two perfumes I mentioned, but it's definitely surprisingly 'there' for such an airy, watery scent. It also lasts about 10-12 hours on clothes and even 3 hours on my skin (which is a fragrance black hole that sucks up everything immediately). It really has an 'oceanic' vibe in it, like you can smell the sea breeze...it's not just sand, sun and sunscreen lotion. Dreamy and transporting.

Got my current and 2nd bottle of this shortly before it was discontinued. While it's no longer listed, there is a slightly fleeting ozonic/ saline note in the opening that lends to the composition. This opens bright and sunscreen-y with the neroli and tuberose, but quickly morphs into the musky, spicy, skin scent drydown. The patchouli here is clean and very tolerable. The cardamom note adds a slight pine-like punch (this is Fire Island, after all), but it leans powdery like sun-dried pine needles on a trail. This remains one of the best beachy skin scents I've ever encountered. Perfectly unisex, never too sweet, nor too "Coppertone." This is high-end Mediterranean (Piz Buin-esque) lotion, but subtly warmed by a day in the sun. The lack of lime and coconut here is a win in my book. Really wish they'd bring this back - it's absolute perfection.

I tested this today with my husband and we both LOVE it. Again, this is probably an association thing, we both spent a great deal of time at the beach as children, slathered in Coppertone. I was instantly transported to that rather rocky beach on Long Island Sound where we went almost every day each summer. Throw in some seagulls screeching in the background and and a good humor man and I would have been there. As previously stated, this is not Coppertone out of the bottle, but the whole beach, the ozonic smell of the sea. It instantly lifted my spirits, as we are having almost record rainfall here in the Southeast for weeks. The sillage was rather close to the skin, and the longevity was not as long as a lot of other Bond No. 9 fragrances, which was a little disappointing. Maybe I'll layer it with Coppertone!

I love this one! I used to own it and need to repurchase. Maybe after my bottle of Tom Ford Soleil Blanc is gone. That is my go-to beach scent right now. Fire Island was one of the first Bond 9 perfumes that I tried. I wore it to the Harbor in Baltimore and I feel like this scent was perfect for that environment. This has a sunscreen/skin smell which I find very pleasant on a hot day at the beach. It smells like a sandy harbor. I love it. I'm surprised by all the floral notes because that's not what I get from it. But like most Bond 9 its very well blended. It has good lasting power which is also super important to me. Bond 9 just might be my fav perfume house. It's definitely unisex. A man could definitely wear this on a summer day and it would smell amazing.

I buy very few of these Bond fragrances because they are so expensive, but on eBay, there is always someone who has grown tired of their 3.3 ounce bottle and is willing to part with it for $75. That's how I got Fire Island. It tends to smell just like any "beach smells" fragrance, but the quality of the ingredients puts it over the top. The "fresh air accord" or ozone as some of you call it, is usually achieved with a combo of white flowers. They look for what will go straight up your nose to your brain. They don't use a lot, but it seems to work. I'm not a big fan of the ones that are JUST OZONE and do not include the Coppertone Suntan lotion accord. This one has that, it's not overly sweet and you will get compliments wherever you go.

My daughter bought this for me at the Bond Store in NY. I was rather overwhelmed with all the perfumes and had a hard time separating them after I smelt so many. I do like powdery fragrances and I love Tuberose so I decided on Fire Island. It stayed unused for over a year in my collection. Yesterday was my husband's birthday and I gave him the box. He absolutely went crazy over this perfume. I like smelling it on him. It has enough authority for a man but doesn't need louder sharp notes which are often more prominent in men's fragrances. The neroli is just perfect. He wears Creed's Green Irish Tweed often but it is sharper and projects more. This is a great perfume and now is my favorite on Him.

I have no idea why someone thought this smells at all like herrods royal rose. NO WAY. Royal rose is indeed a rose bomb and I don't mean that in a complimentary way. This fragrance however is so beautiful. Reminds me of summers relaxing at the beach wearing Bain de Soleil. Can't get any better than this. This is one of my favorite bond fragrances. It make me feel so clean and fresh. And it calms me because when I close my eyes I picture myself at the beach. This is a must buy. It's an amazing mood lifter. If You're feeling down I find this to be great aromatherapy for depression.

This stuff is bomb, chics dig this stuff.Smells like the bathroom when your girlfriend just finished getting ready to go out. Got makeup, chic perfume, flowers, femine kind of opening. just stick with it, The dry down is nice!!! Its a nice tan oil scent that smells like you walked off the beach. This girl i was talking to from florida was like , you smell like being home at the beach. Great summer guy fragrance for someone who doesnt care what people think, just gotta be confident when you rock this stuff and the girls will love it.

Finally! Yes! I have found my HG sunscreen scent. This scent delivers on all of its promises. This is the smell of the Long Island beaches of my childhood in the 80’s. Salt, Coppertone, sun-baked skin. It’s all here. I can feel the wind lashing my hair and sand in my teeth and toes. Utterly transporting. Memories in a bottle. Well done. This is certainly similar to Bobbi Brown Beach but smoother, richer and much more potent. Now I feel silly for wasting my money on all those other sunscreen scents (Mancera, I’m looking at you).

One of the first Bond’s fragrances I bought, still love it, it smells like being in the beach without the aquatic notes I generally hate. It smells sexy and very clean, unlike Jones Beach -which is great too, but has a more sweaty vibe- this is just a day after the beach. No coconut or coppertone notes thank god. The tuberose is faint so don’t worry if you think that’s a strong note . Leans male IMO. And it is back in stock on the official website for the first time in months!!!

Not getting all the notes and florals but definitely worth every penny because it takes me to the beach even on a cold dreadful wintery day like today. It's definitely light and soft Yes I did just pay a bunch of money to smell like sunblock but....the big BUT is... it smells like sunblock AFTER it's been in the sun. I just wish it were a tiny bit saltier then I would literally live and bathe in this scent. It's a happy scent filled with light and beach.

A BLAST of White Florals and Sunscreen. This is not for everyone... but it does instantly transport me to a memory of landing in Tahiti, getting the white flowers from the Hotel lobby and as I was walking to my room I passed a family on their way to the beach covered in tanning oils and sunscreen - concierge still holding the flowers showing us to the room, at that moment... this is the smell that I recall.

this is one of the most unique scents i've ever smelt. it is the only unisex scent that (so far) appeals to me. it is so very long lasting and everytime i wore it someone would ask me what i was wearing. i love it and i often stole spray's of it from my mom's vanity. would really like to own a bottle but it is very difficult to find in my country.

Yes, it does smell Coppertone-y and that's amazing. It is very comfortable to wear, very flowery, long lasting but not overpowering. Unisex, no doubt. Perfect for summer, but it is winter and I'm wearing it anyway. Brings back good memories! :)

I like this scent. Good one for men or women. It made me feel as though I'm on a beach that's for sure. Good lasting power and I wore this in 30 degree weather. Nice change up from the norm.

this smells NOTHING like any of the "smells like"... above. very clean, watery, but not sterile like Bobby Brown's empty beach. fresh and beachy without any fruity libations! excellent.

love this scent. reminds me of when i lived in San Diego.

Bond no 9 FIRE ISLAND is a different sort of oriental perfume. To start with, there is no vanilla or incense. The composition does have a strong and decisive development trajectory which leads from a thick ambery opening to a clean soapy-musk drydown, with neroli as a dominant floral note to my nose. There is a spiciness here, but it is complex. This is not a perceptibly cardamom-rich frag. Nor is this composition sweet--the honey is blended in so as to camouflage itself. I know of no fragrance which bears any resemblance to FIRE ISLAND. But is it, as some have suggested, essentially the same fragrance as that used to scent Bain de soleil? I recall having used a few tubes of that glistening orange substance back in the twentieth century, before mass SPF hysteria arrived on the scene, but I am not sure that it smelled exactly like this edp. I will say that the texture seems similar to me: viscous, warm and sensual. If FIRE ISLAND does indeed smell exactly like Bain de soleil, then perhaps I should buy some of that gooey substance again! Because of its strength and sillage, FIRE ISLAND seems best suited for walks on the beach in cooler weather, wearing sweaters and scarves to minimize the suffocation potential of this rich elixir. For some reason, FIRE ISLAND reminds me of when I went to Mallorca for Christmas a few years back. It was very odd: everyone was speaking German and wearing earmuffs at the beach!

Just received a 'bon bon' sample of Fire Island today.Upon unwraping the packaging, its smell immediately struck me, and I thought 'this is it!' Having looked everywhere for a beach scent (my reviews say it all!) I figured I found what I've been searching for: the rich, high society sister of the low key, nature lover At the beach 1966 and Bobbi Brown's girl next door Beach. I dabbed it on and waited for the teletransportation to the beach to start. It opens as a bold floral, thankfully without jasmine, and almost after that the cardamom kicks in. It gave me the impression of a scent that's just about to turn aquatic, but never really does. The base notes are unisex and the cardamom is still present at the drydown. It did have a beachy effect on me, but not what I was hoping for. But then again, the smell of summer very much depends on where you spent your summers, and I never did spent mine in the US... I should have listened to Elena Vosnaki from the Perfume Shrine when she said that the smell of sunscreen and the beach is a cultural thing, and very different between Europe and the US. Apparently Europeans used Piz Buin, Ambre Solaire and Nivea whereas Americans preferred Coppertone, and the smell is very different between all of these! Hence my search for the bottled mediterranean summer scent is still on...

Bond No.9 Fire Island:Bobbi Brown Beach Comparison Chandler Burr famously described BBB as an olfactory replica of the Coppertone scent. Fresh and spritely, dominant jasmine and mandarin orange. This fragrance brings back all the feels. Memories of carefree childhood parties held poolside. Mum holding me down and applying a thick layer of sunscreen to my shoulders, preaching to deaf ears the importance of waiting twenty minutes before swimming. No amount of sense could keep me out of that water. Now imagine you are with me in that memory, and hours later you emerge from the pool, waterlogged and a bit burnt, and her arms wrap you in the warmest, fluffiest towel fresh from the dryer. That is the experience of Fire Island. A white flower and neroli core reminiscent of BBB, but diluted and cloaked in cozy, powdery cardamom. The happy end of a day spent swimming, when everything is right with the world.

Fire Island is strangely comforting to me. At first it's almost so strong it gives me a headache, but not quite, and I like it so I can't bring myself to wash it off. After a bit it tones down. Indeed it makes you think of beaches but not in the tropical/fruity/floral way. In the way a beach really smells if surrounded by palm trees, maybe some Hala, but a lush green backdrop. Peaceful and muggy, just enough of a breeze, sitting in the shade, low waves crashing on a sandy shore gently broken by rocks. This is my first Bond perfume, now I have to search out the others!

This is a beautiful spicy tuberose with floral accents which are present, even before the dry down. After the dry down, Fire Island maintains a consistent balance between the two competing aromas. This is a unisex fragrance which actually (IMO) favors both men and women. I gave my sample to my husband and I would actually like this for myself. After sampling the Grand Bon Bon coffret for my birthday, I was beginning to lose hope of finding anything else in the collection which smells as good as Chinatown. For me, this is a very close second.

I used a sample to dab this on, not spray. I immediately loved it and decided to re dab so that I could get a really good sense of all the notes! First impression was of sun tan lotion with a slight whiff of the incense that they used to burn in Izumi's on 86th street in NYC. After a half hour the impression has softened, but the heart is still there. I would definitely wear this at the end of winter when I am ready for summer to be here. Very work friendly if worn lightly. A less expensive alternative for me might be Jennifer Aniston.

I tried Fire Island because I am always looking for both good tuberose and good sunscreen scents. Fire Island isn't bad, per se, but it doesn't really smell like either tuberose or sunscreen to me. It's a light, inoffensive scent that I guess vaguely smells like sunscreen (though it's more soapy than anything), but I'm not really picking up any tuberose and on me it's immediately a skin scent. I incidentally tried DSH Beach Blanket at about the same time and it's everything I thought Fire Island would be.

Fire Island smells like a perfume from the Estee Lauder House, it belongs to the same family like Estee, Knowing, Azuree, Beautiful... etc. Strong aldehydic, clear, fresh scent, I find it completely unsexy, which is fine, some times you don ́t like smell sexy or too fine. Nothing smells here like sun tan lotion, and actually I don ́t know, how french sun tans lotions smells and don ́t care about them. I am in love with the smell, it is very US-like smell, clean and strong. Smells all the time good.

Neroli, waves and sunshine. I spent a few summers on Fire Island when I was little, the volleyball net at the Pines marking the nude beach--suits vs. skins games all day except high tide--and I'd come home with a pail full of seashells, a permanent sunburn and sand everywhere. This scent has that freedom, wind and ocean spray and surf and naked skin, with a lovely base of top shelf zinc tanning lotion. Projects two beach blankets over, and lasts til the sun goes down and the disco starts.

I agree with netosan's description below me and comparison to Jones Beach perfectly. However, I think it does lean slightly feminine and I slightly prefer Jones Beach over this because of the aquatic touches. Also, Bond must have reformulated this because on their website there is no longer any mention of honey or leather, and my nose does not detect those notes either. This works very well in the heat (obviously) and performance is strong. Scent 6/10 Performance 7.5/10

Fire Island smells like suntan lotion, but not like suntan lotion straight from the bottle. It has this brilliant quality where it smells like suntan lotion that's heated up by the sun and absorbed into your skin, which I find to be pretty impressive. As a pale, freckled woman who gets queasy when she hears the words "cruise" or "tanning", I am so far from being a beach babe... in other words, this is a nice fragrance but I won't be getting a bottle.

At first spritz, the very beach-y suntan lotion scent instantly puts a smile on your face. It starts exactly like how you want a beach type fragrance to be. I just wish it stayed that way. As it warms, while remaining fairly linear, it takes on this really synthetic floral note that has a bitterness to it. It matures the fragrance in a manner that takes away the sweet, creamy element much to my dismay. Too bad, I really wanted to love it.

I was testing this one today, and decided I really liked the scent....the fresh yet warm spicy/musky thing it has going for it is great. But it smelled SO familiar! Then I read the reviews and it smacked me in the face; Bain de Soleil! Yes! It isn't exact, but the effect is the same. I still like it, for the comfort of the scent and the pleasant memories of the summers of my teen years....sigh!

I just got my sample of this juice in and really wanted to love this. I do get the suntan lotion that everyone is talking about. However; I get more of a chemical smell that smells similar to the stuff my grandmother use to perm her hair with. So to me, it smells like my grandmother slathering on suntan lotion. :( I REALLY wanted to get this one too! :(

I originally got this for myself, I was on a beach/vacation fragrance kick for a little while when I purchased this. I definitely get the classic sunscreen they were going for but it leans slightly feminine for me with the tuberose. With that said I absolutely love it on my girlfriend.

I smell tons of roses. Then it gets a bit more spicy, like carnations. I think this is what smells a bit of sunscreen. Then it lingers on a fresh note that smells like really general white hand soap. It's pleasant but I don't know that it is special enough on me for a big bottle.

Scent 7/10 Projection 6/10 Longevity 4/10 Value 2/10 Overall 19/40 Nice scent, but not worth the money. Only lasts 4-5 hours on my skin. "At The Beach 1966" by CB I Hate Perfume is a better beach fragrance at half the price.

One of the most beautiful white florals out there! I don't get laundry vibes from this whatsoever. It feels classy and expensive! Performance is just okay.

The brand description lists leather and honey. Has this been reformulated or are the fragrantica notes listed incorrect?

I enjoyed this bottle, Its a shame its been discontinued. Performance was not great but the opening was spectacular.

Well, probably one of the best Bond's I tried so far. Smells like summer; yes, the beach, a salty water note but NOT aquatic. Suntan lotion, tropical flowers, Tiaré, honeysuckle (smell a lot like CCC Chèvrefeuille), it can be a tad overly flowery-sweet, though. Gardenia, some green notes come to balance that sweet creamy blast. The minus: the notes are not so well blended together, unfortunately. Dries down like a skin scent, a sunbathed, all-day-at-the-beach-skin. Has a decent staying power. But there's something "artificial" to it, I cannot explain what it is. Just sounds not "finished", not well blended or like it is missing something. After some use it becomes cloying and sickly sweet, not suitable for my little self. Not FB worthy.

On first spray, it smells like jasmine essential oil. Then after a few minutes it transforms into a plain white hard bar of soap. Then it softens and turn into something akin to a sunscreen smell. I’m revisiting old fragrances and I remember it smelling like sunscreen from the first spray. It took over 30 mins to start smelling like what I remembered. When it finally becomes sunscreen like, it smells creamy like the remnants of sunscreen on your skin after a long day. I think the fragrance will work well in high heat. I want to point out that body sunscreen with the exception of Hawaiian Tropics doesn’t often smell like suntan lotion. So it not too tropical smelling.

I see now why so many you-tube reviewers said this was polarizing. This fragrance is composed well and does give as sense of a volcano or rising heat on a beach, but for me the quality of the ingredients is designer or even poor. This fragrance for me has a sense of red clay or damp Chile powder and it is very unpleasant for me and strong component of the fragrance for 2 to 4 hours. The dry down is fairly pleasant, but is not worth the price or obnoxious first half of the fragrance. This is a long lasting fragrance and if this works for you, i bet it is a lovely fragrance. Do not blind buy this , buy a sample !

WOW! this is soooo potent, I almost got a headache just sniffing my decant. This is an atomic bomb of musk and tuberose. The heady tuberose (think about Miller Harris Tubereuse de Nuit, or Elie Saab Essence Tuberose). DO NOT BLIND BUY IT I had a conversation with a potential seller who told me MFK LA Beau is similar to this. NOT. It is not!! A light tuberose (like Carnal Flower, Datura Noir, Aerin Tuberose le jour, Nasomatto Narcotic V, etc. are all wearable). This is not. If this works for anyone of you, then I hope you use 1 spray at a time.

Suntan lotion???total dissapointment! The suntan lotions I smelt so far smell nothing like this. It is a soapy, clean musk, and floral fragrance. When I think of a suntan lotion, I look for coconut, smooth vanilla or benzoin, ginger, cacao, ambergris, or some type of gourmand note that has exotic feel, but I get none of that. It smells like a vintage 80’s women fragrance with a modern twist. I do not recommend this for men at all!

wore it to work on a hot sticky night. It smells like sun block, copper tone brand, I mean just like it, its slightly sweet. It permeates nicely. As i got to working and sweating a little bit, it smelled like sweet cinnamon buns. Very appetizing. After the dry down it smelled more floral ? i guess or like a chemical slew of sweet tinges and cream. It was okay. i gave it to my sister, but i am yet to smell her wearing it.

it has a better dry down then an opening but it's nothing to write home about i do get the relation to sun screen as many others have said but its done really nicely and a trained nose should be able to tell it's a perfume so if you're looking for something off the beaten path for summer give this a go all and all this isn't for me i'm sticking to coney island on to the next

I had been wanting to try this for years, so to say I was disappointed when I finally got a sample to test is an understatement. My immediate reaction was that it smelled like a boujee grandpa. My boyfriend got a whiff of it on me and asked why I smelled like a grandma. Needless to say I won’t be buying a full size bottle.

It smells like a nice, creamy, and expensive sun tan lotion with a trace of something like tuberose or jasmine, which I am not sure. it's definitely not something I would invest $$$ into even though the bottle is actually one of the nicest. Let's try Hampton next?