I Love New York for Marriage Equality

(A more thoughtful review after wearing this several times.) This scent starts off with a noticeable note of Mandarin Orange and nutmeg with the slight presence of plum. The basenote of sandalwood is apparent from the very beginning. As the orange fades the white flowers become evident but never overpowering. As for the floral notes, for the most part I smell ginger lily and jasmine but according to the published notes there is rose here too. Mostly the white flowers done in a minimal fashion that complements the sandalwood and other woody notes so well. I would swear there is a touch of cinnamon too. As the scent ages on the skin a wonderful amber accord is added to the mix. This is not a flowery scent but it is at the same time; just enough to round out the spices and amber. Mostly this is a sweet sandalwood spice mix with a bit of delicious floral added to the heart with that mandarin and plum at the beginning. One could say the floral aspect of this perfume would make it feminine but the woody and spicy nature would make it masculine. Verdict: Unisex. Can be worn by anyone. I find taht longevity is average or better for me at about 5-6 hours. I would guess that I either become immune to the scent or that the concentration in the "I Love New York" series is not as high as in Bond's regular line which would make sense given that the price point is lower. Perhaps the best in the I Love New York line from Bond so far. I have blown through two sample vials and have ordered a full bottle. I even carried a sample vial with me last night and offered a spray to those that complemented me on the fragrance and this one did garner complements from both men and women. _______ I was asked, "is this frag at all like Andy Warhol?" I wondered the same thing earlier today and since I have Andy Warhol I sprayed one arm with Andy and the other with ILNYFME about 3 hours ago. Upon first spray I thought they were indeed very similar, at least inhabiting the same fragrance "space" for lack of a better term. The main difference at the top that I could discern was the presence of mandarin in ILNYFME. But after the top notes dried off the two presented themselves quite differently. Andy had that almost sour and medicinal "band aid" note of oud which could be enhanced by the plum note. ILNYFME on the other hand evolved to a sweeter and spicier space with a more definite sweet sandalwood/amber modified with a hint of sweet white floral. So my first impression was yes, quite similar, but after a white to two evolved into quite different scents. This may sound strange, but now when I smell the two next to each other the first thing I think about with Andy is "sour milk". I never thought that before! And it really does not smell like sour milk so I can't really explain that reaction... I liked Andy enough to buy a bottle, but ILNYFME is better for me today, at least somewhat sweeter. Loving the sandalwood note quite a bit.

As with most Bond No 9s, this one took several sprays at Saks (there's some alliteration) before I took interest. Yes, the initial spritz is wood, wood, and more wood! But in the background is a floral, almost incense-y aroma that deepens with the drydown. It's the drydown that makes this scent (and most others). You have to be willing to enjoy that incense, myrrh/frankincense odor - and I do - to really love this. It is a bit quizzical to me that this was launched in the Summer. I think it's more of a wintry fragrance. It's a high of 55 degrees today and windy, and I need something strong that can stand up to that. I don't know how this would fare in the heat, but if it was released in July in New York, well, it's very hot in New York then. I feel the deep woodsy aroma with the incense complements cold weather well. If you're a fan of Cooper Square (I am, and own the bottle) then give this a try. It's a very good scent. I can see why it's unisex, but I do believe it tends to lean more masculine. Just my opinion, though. The longevity is good. Probably 4-6 hours. Sillage is decent as well. And of course the bottle has a beautiful rainbow heart on it - perfect for those who support marriage equality. =) **Update - So this cologne apparently mixes very well with other woody fragrances. So far, my favorite pairing is Marriage Equality with Great Jones, in a 2:1 fashion, respectfully. Formal, classic, yet playful!

This was recomended to me by the Perfumista at Nordstroms. He was spot on with this one!! The title had me really wondering what it was going to smell like. Its an extremely woody scent. I love sandalwood in fragrances so this one hits a homerun. The sandalwood and cashmere are the most prominent in this perfume. I love the way that the rose calms down the wood and spice in this. The plum and manderine are very mild and are almost undetectable after 2 hours or so. It all ties together very well. This is also the cheapest perfume in Bonds lineup I believe. I have gotten many compliments with this scent and will be buying a bottle soon. Longevity: 10+ hours easy Projection: 4 feet Sillage: 4 hours at least Update: I have a few samples of this and have finished my first one. The second sample smells different. It smells more Christmas like, thats the only way I can explain it. Still absolutely gorgeous! This makes me wonder if my other samples will vary slightly as well... Update: got a bottle of this as a christmas gift. Does not smell christmasy like my second sample but smells better than ever. Again, very woody and the dark fruit is more prominent. Projection and everything is great! This is a beast on me all day with 3 sprays. Love it.

So I was anxious to try this one, and the description of the notes evoked curiosity, so when it became available I sampled this. The plum notes in the top are similar to Andy as someone had mentioned, but that's where the similarity ends. Where Andy is an experienced marked in Oud (isn't everything these days?), Marriage Equality is a more subdued and subtle experience, the fruitiness at the opening not overpowering and at first I wanted to ask, "Where did it go?" The spices and plum do give way to a very rich floral that, again, is nice yet understated. It's hours later that this really opened up and revealed the power of the woods and amber base. Wow! then you realize how nice this is, it comes up by surprise. This is one of those perfumes that comes up and hits you as if to say, "Hey, this is really good and not challenging me to find something likable about it." It's a very easy scent. When I compare it to Andy, it's a much more challenging experience with the Oud and plum along with the other notes competing for attention. Marriage Equality doesn't have quite the pedigree or high-end ingredients, but it winds up better than the sum of the parts. Of all the I Love NY line, this is easily my favorite.

I received samples last Saturday, but have yet to do a full wearing. On paper this is definitely unisex with the spiciness echoing things like La Mome and Sira des Indes, etc. only more modern and "metro" feeling... I find it a delightfully fruity (those of you who avoid the plum note in perfumes need not fear) balance of spices, flowers and it has an almost oriental incense/resin like quality! I would be honored to wear something like this to walk down the aisle, and I love how the bottle has the rainbow heart and celebrates same sex marriage becoming legal in New York state. Also wonderful was the very first 100 same sex couples who presented their marriage licenses at the flagship store at 9 Bond St. will receive a 100 ml bottle of this (or so I have heard)!! KUDOS ALL AROUND!! Edit-23 June 2012: After talking with the Bond marketing department, a couple weeks ago, I learned it was actually I Love NY for ALL that was given away to the first 100 same sex couples last year (2011) and not THIS. Sorry!

Initially, this reminds me of a more potent version of Dirty English. When I wear this I get a nice comfortable campfire / incense vibe from it (is it the plum + nutmeg that is registering as incense to me?). This has very good longevity, and would be great for a nice fall evening. If you can still find a bottle of Dirty Engligh, I would recommend you grab a bottle of that and save your money for one of the other amazing scents Bond No. 9 has in their lineup. Bond No. 9 products are very expensive. Oftentimes, they are worth the extra price - this is one of those times. Follow-up: I still find a lot of similarities to Dirty English during the first 30 - 60 minutes, after that, this really becomes a deep and rich plum / wood fragrance that lingers on and on... I have recently purchased a bottle of this and I am sure it is going to be one of my most worn fragrances that I own.

I quite know the Bond N9 line and this is among the least known bottles. What a shame it is a real gem! sexy and unisex. I got for my husband and I secretly indulge with this perfume... It is a perfectly balanced opened with dry wood and incense, at the base notes of amber cashmere and sandalwood to warm and round it, not alcoholic or rough and super addictive. it deserves a space in the collection and it has already been purchased twice. But I believe the name and packaging are misleading. Not sure if will be discontinued or what the marketing was trying to achieve (sexual orientation is still something in this century? we really want to label perfume with sexual orientation?) I am supportive of marriage for all and I love New York, but this bottle could potentially reject a clientele that actually only care for what is inside the bottle... 4/5

My goodness, now this was a surprise hit!!! Not because I don't care for the note profile, it is totally in my wheelhouse, but because of the plum and the cinnamon opening, and the fact it just stands head and shoulders above so many of this type. Similar to @Wolf's incense comment, for me when this one dries down it opens up to a cosy almost pot pourri hug that is woody, a little spicy, a tiny touch of green in there (though where from I don't know). I also pick up no rose, which is honestly a godsend because that kills so many for me. I truly LOVE this fragrance, and although there is a bit of DNA share with other woodies, this is different enough that I will buy a full bottle... IF I can ever find one. In the meantime I'm just going to have to stock up on samples...

First Impression: I'm surprised nobody picks up incense? Kilian Incense Oud, are you back from the dead? Well, not quite, but they smell like cousins. They're about 60% similar except the Kilian contains a radioactive potent oud, patchouli, and announces it's presence immediately. Bond is a much more laid back but certainly not a slouch. Has a buzzy almost camphoric green feeling (like Kilian IO) along with plum, cashmeran, cinnamon, orange, and rose 🌹 Feels like a night out on the town scent that is more masculine. This may not appeal to the masses, but so far I like it and look forward to testing it further.

Lovely sweet, spicy floral bomb. Perfectly unisex with good projection & great longevity...8+ hours. On me, I get mostly cinnamon & nutmeg. Everything else remains soft but very present in the background. Linear but very well blended. Perfect cozy autumn scent. Evokes memories/feelings of multi-colored leaves falling to the ground, anticipation of Halloween, hot spiced cider, cool days & even cooler nights, snuggling with the one you love to keep warm. Too bad Bond No 9 stopped making this. It was one of their best to date.

Wonderful Fragrance. cashmere wood is sooooo good here. a combination of cashmere wood , amber and nutmeg gives an incensy vibe in a good way. there is a little plum roaming around it but not as fruity. sandlewood comes in the dry down and makes it more amazing. its a perfect woodsy fragrance for me. Gets compliments and lasts forever. A must buy in my list.

A new obsession. Gorgeous! This has an opening blast of Incense and Cedar to me. I find it odd these are not in the ingredients list but, hey! that's my take... The plum here is gorgeous but not a syrupy one - it's a beautiful snappy sour and bright plum. Definitely a year round wear which is nice - and unisex perfection. Really happy with this buy.

i love this so much. its been my signature scent for almost a decade. i have finally retired this to move on to different scents at the request of my husband, but it will always be my favorite, perfectly unisex. its spicy and woody with amber and so comforting like a camping trip.

I just love this woody unisex bomb! sexy an dry, great blend, where single notes are perfectly balanced and unrecognisable by themselves I see the hate of the house in fragrantica, probably for the price tag, but if you can get this for a good price, this is a gem.

I don't know if people are very familiar with Labdanum Absolute on here, but that's what I smell. It is the single most overpowering note in this frag, and everything else is built around it. Gorgeous, my favorite labdanum scent!

This is my favorite Bond No 9 so far. I love the incense that is very prominent and just overall smells great. Longevity is good too, about 6 hours, great projection. I spray my clothes for even longer projection.

Mans perspective, Blind bought this. OPENING: The opening for me, is straight forward super nutmeg with a touch of sweet plum. It’s a very daring and unique opening. DRYDOWN: Fast forward to the 1 hour mark.....is where it now becomes pillowy woody, ambery, still has a small touch of soft sweetness....and is more a tolerable and wearable scent. It softens up nicely, the dry nutmeg isn’t slapping you in the face anymore and the blend becomes more uniform and rounded. It really is quite a unique scent, but it’s surely isn’t a crowd pleaser. I wouldn’t expect anyone to stop me to say “hey, you smell great!”. But instead, they will certainly smell you are wearing something.....but it’s neither good, nor bad and not worth saying anything about it. I wouldn’t wear this in summer, it’s to spicy, warm and daring. But this is a great frag to smell unique and vastly different in fall or winter. This is a hard frag to determine what setting and occasion this would suit best, for it doesn’t fall into any typical scent occasion categories. It doesn’t fit in the clean summery fresh scent, it is not sexy or sensual enough for dates or nightlife wear, it’s not a typical generic crowd pleaser. No one will love, nor hate this scent. It’s just in a weird niche random place.......the only word I can think of is “different”.

Hmmm...I'm flooded with pine or fir needles in the opening, and I'm thoroughly shocked that a coniferous ingredient isn't listed here. It's strikingly reminiscent of warm sun on fallen needles. Awesome! The drydown is warm and resinous. My husband thinks it's too sweet...but he's kind of a men's man with fragrances. *I* like it on him, which is much more important, obviously 🙃😉 I don't get a lot of the alleged notes, but "cashmere woods" is a vague catch-all, so it's still fitting and I think it's not quite false marketing. This is warm, bohemian and truly unisex IMO (which is totally not even the most important thing with scent, wear what you like). There's spice and a bit of edge, and I like it a lot. Oddly, an easy-reach. But, I'm someone who wears this type of androgynous, warm stuff without an issue. You decide if it suits you! A solid release from Bond#9! *ETA - As I wear this more and more, I realize what I'm of...SLEEPING BAGS! It smells like that cozy, slightly earthy, warm scent that sleeping bags adopt after being left in the sun-baked tent for a couple of days. It's SUPER nostalgic to me, and smells like the tent/bags were on a campsite strewn with pine needles. 🏕🌞

I own this now and wanted to write a second review. Now that I can take liberty in spraying all over, I must say that this is a marvelous woody perfume. I just adore it! I get very little in the way of plummy fruit or spice. I have to try really hard to smell cinnamon. I think it's there, but it's so subtle no one would ever know if they didn't see the notes. I have never smelled a single flower on my skin either. It's wood, wood, and more wood with a touch of orange and a lil' amber in the drydown. And it's quality wood, no particle board here! Sillage and longevity are excellent--it radiates from my body all day long. If you are looking for a natural-smelling, medium bodied wood fragrance that's not so dark and brooding like oud perfumes, Marriage for All should be on your test list. It's mellow and smooth; perfect for all year long, day or night. Being San Franciscan, I fully support gay marriage, so I like the bottle.

Bond No. 9 I Love New York for Marriage Equality is, for me, primarily an amber scent, with plum adding to the sweeter side of amber, and ginger and nutmeg adding to the spicy, animalic side of amber, It opens up sweeter, brighter with more of the plum taking center stage before the spicier, animalic elements open up in the dry down, and while I still find the dry down balance to be pleasant, I can see how, relative the opening, the dry down could turn some people off, hence the mixed reception the fragrance seems to have seen. Still, it's a very good performer, quite versatile (cold-weather leaning but still year-round friendly, and of course, unisex), an interesting amber fragrance, and significantly discounted on FragranceNet, at $91 for 100ml / $63 for 50ml. 7 out of 10