You know, I was on this mission, a real quest, to find a new scent. I was just so tired of smelling the same stuff on everyone. Walk into a room, and it’s like, “Yep, he’s wearing that one, and he’s wearing that other popular one.” It all just blended into a big, boring cloud of sameness. I wanted something, well, different. Something that felt a bit more like me, if that makes any sense.
So, I started digging around. Heard folks talking about Bond No. 9. Fancy name, fancy bottles, and definitely fancy prices, let me tell you. They do this whole thing where each perfume is supposed to be like a different neighborhood in New York. Kinda cool idea, I guess. My eyes landed on one called “Brooklyn.” Now, Brooklyn – that name just clicks with me. Never lived there, but it always seemed to have this cool, artsy, a little gritty but real vibe. So, I thought, “Hmm, Brooklyn, let’s see what that’s all about.”
Getting my hands on it wasn’t like just walking into any old store. This stuff is a bit more exclusive. I wasn’t about to drop a couple hundred bucks on a full bottle without trying it. No way. Learned that lesson the hard way before. So, I managed to snag a little sample. That’s the only way to do it, really. You gotta live with a scent for a day or two.
Alright, so the day comes. I’ve got my little vial of Brooklyn. The “practice” part, as I call it. I gave my wrist a little spritz. My first thought? Whoa, that’s zesty! Like a burst of something bright and sharp. Grapefruit, someone mentioned later. To me, it was just pure, wake-you-up citrus. Not bad, definitely got my attention. It wasn’t one of those heavy, knock-you-over-the-head colognes right off the bat.
So, I went about my day, letting it do its thing. This is the “record” part, where I really pay attention. That initial citrus blast didn’t just disappear, but it kinda mellowed out. It didn’t just vanish like some cheap stuff. Then other things started to creep in. A bit of spice, maybe? Not like Christmas spice, but something a little warm, a little edgy. And then some woodsy notes, but light, not like an old library. It kept changing, which was interesting. It wasn’t a one-trick pony.
I kept sniffing my wrist throughout the day. It’s funny, you do that when you’re testing a new fragrance. It lasted a good while, not forever, but I got a solid few hours where I could distinctly smell it. And it wasn’t like I was gassing out the room. My wife even said, “Oh, that’s nice. What is it?” Which is high praise, believe me. She usually just says “you smell like… something.”
Now, does it actually smell like Brooklyn, the place? Honestly, who knows what Brooklyn is supposed to smell like? Pizza? The East River? Hipsters? I think it’s more about the idea of Brooklyn. And for me, this scent kinda fit. It’s a bit urban, a bit creative, definitely not boring. It’s got that energetic opening, then it settles into something more laid-back but still with a bit of an edge. It’s not trying too hard to be tough or overly sophisticated. It just is.
So, the big question: did I go out and buy a full bottle? I’m still on the fence, mainly ’cause of the price tag. It’s a serious investment for a bottle of smelly water, right? But I keep thinking about it. It’s definitely unique. It stands out from the crowd without shouting. I actually enjoyed the whole process of trying it out, seeing how it worked on me. It’s a good scent, no doubt about it. If you’re looking for something that’s not your average department store fragrance, and you like things that are a bit bright, a bit spicy, and have a modern feel, maybe give Bond No. 9 Brooklyn a shot. But do yourself a favor: get a sample first. Always. Don’t be like those people who just buy things based on a fancy description. You gotta wear it to know it.
