The Scent Of A Spy: Bond's Cologne Choice

James Bond's cologne has been the subject of much speculation, with sources suggesting a range of fragrances that the iconic spy might wear. Some claim that Bond would wear Floris No. 89 Eau de Toilette, a woody aromatic fragrance with notes of lavender, bergamot, and nutmeg, which was also purportedly worn by Bond's creator, Ian Fleming. Others suggest scents such as Guerlain Jicky, Polo Green, Drakkar Noir, or Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille. In 2012, Eon Productions, the company behind the Bond films, released an official James Bond 007 cologne, an aromatic fougere fragrance with notes of apple, cardamom, and sandalwood.

James Bond's signature scent

James Bond, the fictional British spy known for his charm, good looks, and style, has captivated audiences for decades. But what about his scent preferences?

Floris No. 89 Eau de Toilette:

According to GQ magazine and various sources, Bond's signature cologne is Floris No. 89 Eau de Toilette. This woody aromatic fragrance was launched in 1951 and features a unique blend of powdery, woody, and earthy accords. The top notes include lavender, bergamot, orange, neroli, petitgrain, and nutmeg, followed by middle notes of rose, geranium, and ylang-ylang. The scent's longevity is moderate, and it's recommended for those who can carry it with confidence.

Other Scents:

In the books, Bond is also associated with Geo F. Trumper Eucris, and Dunhill for Men. Additionally, Sean Connery's Bond wore Guerlain Jicky while filming.

Some fans have also suggested other fragrances that embody Bond's personality, including:

• Tom Ford's Tobacco Vanille
• Polo Green
• Creed Green Irish Tweed
• Tom Ford Tuscan Leather
• Geo. F. Trumper Eucris
• YSL Tuxedo
• Drakkar Noir
• Tom Ford Oud Wood

The Official James Bond 007 Cologne:

In 2012, Eon Productions, the company behind the Bond films, released an official James Bond 007 cologne to celebrate 50 years of the franchise. This aromatic fougere fragrance features notes of fresh apples, cardamom, sandalwood, vetiver, lavender, coumarin, and moss. The bottle design is inspired by British spy gadgets, with a dark green glass and a silver ring-shaped stopper.

While the official cologne may not represent any specific Bond actor, it offers a conceptual presentation of the iconic spy's world.

Floris No. 89 Eau de Toilette

No. 89 is a quintessential English fragrance, with a classical cologne aspect. It is a signature scent, an iconic, elegant cologne of impeccable style and provenance. The scent is a tribute to the Floris shop and perfumery in London's Jermyn Street, where it was created in the 1950s.

No. 89 is also known as the signature scent of James Bond, the fictional British spy. According to GQ magazine, Bond would wear Floris No. 89 Eau de Toilette as his signature cologne. The fragrance's creator, Ian Fleming, was also a fan of the scent. No. 89 reflects Bond's confidence and style.

However, it is important to note that No. 89 has moderate sillage and may not have a long-lasting effect due to its eau de toilette concentration.

James Bond 007 Eon Productions cologne

The James Bond 007 Eon Productions cologne is a fragrance for men. The scent is described as aromatic, woody, fruity, and chypre. The cologne was launched in 2012, with additional fragrances released in 2018 and 2020.

2012 Fragrance

The 2012 fragrance has top notes of apple, bergamot, and geranium; middle notes of lavender, cardamom, and rose; and base notes of sandalwood, patchouli, vetiver, and moss. The scent is described as aromatic-fougere, bringing to mind the 1960s, and celebrating 50 years of the James Bond film franchise. The bottle is dark green and robust, with a silver ring-shaped stopper inspired by British spy gadgets. The fragrance is available in 30, 50, 75, and 125 ml sizes.

2018 Fragrance

The 2018 edition is a Chypre Fruity fragrance with top notes of pineapple, mint, and basil; middle notes of black pepper, clary sage, and juniper berries; and base notes of patchouli, oakmoss, cedar, and amber. This fragrance is described as contemporary yet classic, bold, and sophisticated. It is available in 30 and 50 ml sizes, along with a 50 ml aftershave lotion spray, a 150 ml shower gel, and a 150 ml deodorant.

2020 Fragrance

The 2020 fragrance is a woody aromatic scent with top notes of black pepper, ice, and mint; middle notes of cedar, lavender, and rosemary; and base notes of amber, patchouli, and vetiver.

Scents worn by different Bonds

The colognes worn by James Bond, the fictional British spy, have been the subject of much speculation and debate. While there is no definitive answer, several sources suggest that Bond might wear Floris No. 89 Eau de Toilette, a woody aromatic fragrance for men with notes of lavender, bergamot, orange, neroli, petitgrain, and nutmeg, followed by rose, geranium, and ylang-ylang, and a base of oakmoss, musk, sandalwood, vetiver, and Virginia cedar. This is based on the fact that Ian Fleming, the author of the Bond series, wore this cologne himself and had a close connection to the fragrance.

However, other sources suggest that different actors who have portrayed Bond on screen may have worn different colognes. For example, Sean Connery, who played Bond in the early films, was said to wear Guerlain Jicky, while Roger Moore may have worn Polo Green. Timothy Dalton's Bond allegedly wore Burberry Brit, and Pierce Brosnan opted for Clive Christian 1872 and X. Daniel Craig, who played Bond in the most recent films, was rumoured to wear Tom Ford's Tobacco Vanille, as the fashion designer supplied his clothing for most of the movies.

In the Bond novels, the character of James Bond is described as mocking people who wore fragrance, believing it was unnecessary for those with good bathing habits. This suggests that perhaps Bond himself would not wear any cologne at all. However, in the novel The Spy Who Loved Me, Bond uses a bar of Camay soap, a brand marketed towards women, to wash away the gunpowder smell after a confrontation with some hoodlums.

What cologne does Bond author Ian Fleming use?

Ian Fleming, the creator of the James Bond series, wore Floris No.89 Eau De Toilette.

Fleming was a "devout wearer" of the fragrance, according to sources. The heritage brand was founded in 1730 by Juan Famenias Floris and has been selling its fragrant wares in St. James's, London, since before Fleming became a regular. The perfumer received its first Royal Warrant from George IV in 1820 and has produced scents for Winston Churchill and Florence Nightingale, among other notable figures.

Fleming's connection to Floris No.89 is further supported by references to the brand in his Bond books. In 'Moonraker', Bond observes that "Floris provides the soaps and lotions in the lavatories and bedrooms" of Blades Club. In 'Diamonds are Forever', the spy considers how his housekeeper should prepare his flat for his arrival: "He would have to send a cable to May to get things fixed. Let’s see – flowers, bath essence from Floris, air the sheets…" And in 'Dr No', after being captured by the titular villain, Bond freshens up in a luxurious en-suite: "There was everything in the bathroom — Floris Lime bath essence for men and Guerlain bathcubes for women."

No.89 was created just a year before Fleming published his first novel, and the author included many of the brand's products in the Bond books. Floris No.89 is described as a quintessentially English gentleman's fragrance with a woody aroma and a blend of powdery, woody, and earthy accords. The top notes include bergamot, orange, neroli, and nutmeg, followed by rose, geranium, and ylang-ylang, and ending with oakmoss, musk, sandalwood, vetiver, and Virginia cedar.

While there is no mention of Bond wearing cologne in Fleming's books, the author was known for name-dropping real-world brands, and it is speculated that if Bond had worn a cologne, it would have been Floris No.89, given Fleming's affinity for the fragrance.

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