The Smell Of Adventure: James Bond's Cologne Choice

James Bond is a fictional character known for his charm, style, and sophistication. So, what does the world's most famous spy smell like?

Interestingly, in the Ian Fleming novels, Bond never wears a fragrance. This makes sense, given his need for stealth as a secret agent. However, this hasn't stopped fans and fragrance companies from speculating and creating scents inspired by his world.

One fragrance often associated with Bond is Floris No. 89 Eau de Toilette, a favourite of Fleming himself. With notes of orange, bergamot, lavender, neroli, nutmeg, sandalwood, cedarwood, and vetiver, it's an old-school and dandyish scent.

Another option is the James Bond 007 fragrance by Eon Productions, launched in 2012. This aromatic fougère 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. It's described as a simple and typical 'out-of-the-shower' scent.

Other scents that have been linked to Bond include Tom Ford's Tobacco Vanille, Bleu de Chanel Eau de Parfum, and Guerlain Jicky, worn by Sean Connery and Roger Moore during filming.

So, while we may never know exactly what Bond himself smelled like, these fragrances capture the essence of his world, combining style, charm, and a hint of danger.

James Bond's signature scent

James Bond is a fictional character created by British author Ian Fleming in the 1950s. Over the years, the character has been portrayed by several actors in a long-running series of films, with the latest being No Time To Die, released in 2021. The character's signature scent has been a topic of interest and debate among fans, with some speculating on what cologne he might wear, given his suave and sophisticated persona. While Bond's preferred fragrance is never explicitly mentioned in the films or books, some clues and indirect references provide insight into what he might favour.

Floris No.89 Eau De Toilette

Floris No.89 is a fragrance with a strong connection to Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond. Launched in 1951, a year before Fleming's first Bond novel, Casino Royale, was published, it became an instant bestseller. As a resident of Jermyn Street, Fleming was a regular customer at Floris, a London-based perfumery located nearby. Floris No.89 is believed to have been his favourite fragrance, and he even mentioned the brand Floris in multiple Bond books, adding to the speculation that Bond might favour this scent.

No.89 is described as a "quintessentially English gentleman's fragrance." It combines notes of orange, bergamot, lavender, neroli, nutmeg, sandalwood, cedarwood, and vetiver to create a classic and sophisticated aroma. The scent exudes elegance and refinement, making it a fitting choice for Bond, who is known for his impeccable taste and sense of style.

Floris Limes Bath Essence

In the novel Dr. No, James Bond and Honeychile Rider find Floris Lime bath essence in their luxurious prison room. Floris has been creating this scent since the late 18th century, and it leaves the skin softly scented with a refreshing blend of lime blossom, neroli, and lily of the valley, complemented by a musky base. While not a traditional cologne, using this bath essence could be another way to emulate Bond's scent, or at least get a step closer to it.

Tom Ford's Tobacco Vanille

Bond is often associated with casinos and elegant nightlife, and Tom Ford's Tobacco Vanille captures this essence. With its opening notes of tobacco, smooth vanilla, tonka bean, and cacao, it sets the tone for a sophisticated evening. As the fragrance dries down, it reveals a confident and alluring blend of woody and berry notes. This scent embodies the charisma and charm that Bond exudes, making it a fitting choice for those seeking to capture his essence.

While there is no definitive answer to what James Bond's signature scent might be, the options presented here draw from the character's literary and cinematic references, as well as the psychological traits that define him. These fragrances embody the sophistication, charm, and sense of style associated with the iconic spy, allowing fans to embrace the essence of Bond, even if they can't live his life of excitement and danger.

Bond-approved fragrances for men

Although James Bond reportedly never wore a fragrance in the Ian Fleming novels, there are several fragrances that he would approve of. Here are some scents that will make you feel like 007:

Floris No.89 Eau De Toilette

This fragrance is as close as you will get to a "Bond fragrance". Floris was a favourite brand of Fleming, and although Bond never endorses a specific Floris fragrance, he clearly approves of the brand. Floris No.89 was a personal favourite of Fleming himself and was created in 1951, a year before his first novel, Casino Royale, was published. The scent is described as old-school and dandyish, with top notes of orange and bergamot blended with lavender and neroli, and base notes of sandalwood, cedarwood and vetiver.

Tom Ford's Tobacco Vanille

This fragrance is perfect for a night to be remembered. Opening with the tobacco you would expect in a casino or club, it then develops into a smooth vanilla, tonka bean, and cacao blend before settling on a woody and berry mix. This fragrance is for the man who has all the confidence in the world, just like Bond.

L'Homme Parfum Intense by Yves Saint Laurent

The first spray of this fragrance will make you feel like you've stepped out of the ocean, with its bergamot, lemon, and black pepper notes. But it's the base notes of ambergris that will transform you into the man that fights for what's right – just like Bond.

Bleu de Chanel Eau de Parfum by Chanel

This fragrance is for the natural charmer – the man who doesn't have to try to impress women, just like Bond. It's a woody-aromatic fragrance with prominent notes of grapefruit, incense, and vetiver, creating a classy, sweet scent. Bleu de Chanel will show your bold attitude and mark you as a man who knows what he wants and isn't afraid to pursue it.

Floris Limes Bath Essence

If you want to smell like Bond, you could also try Floris Limes Bath Essence. In the novel Dr. No, Bond and Honeychile Rider use this essence to improve their bathing experience. It's a lemony, limey, petitgrain scent that will leave your skin soft and your scent inflected with the refreshing heart of lime blossom, neroli, and lily of the valley.

Bond-approved fragrances for women

While Bond's cologne is a masculine fragrance with a sophisticated feel, there are several Bond-approved fragrances for women.

The 007 For Women range includes perfumes, shower gels, and body lotions. The perfumes come in three editions: 007 For Women III, 007 For Women II, and 007 For Women. All three are available in 15 ml, 30 ml, and 50 ml bottles.

In addition to the 007 For Women range, Bond No. 9, an American fragrance company, offers a variety of perfumes. The company's fragrances pay tribute to the city of New York through innovative scents and colourful packaging. Some of their perfumes include I Love New York for Her, New York Flowers Bejeweled, and New York Nights Made With Swarovski.

Bond's bathing products

Bonds Bathing Products

Floris No.89 Eau De Toilette

A sophisticated and dandyish fragrance, Floris No.89 is an old-school scent that takes its name from the number of the Floris shop on Jermyn Street in London. With top notes of orange and bergamot, heart notes of lavender and neroli, and base notes of sandalwood, cedarwood and vetiver, this is a quintessential English gentleman's fragrance. Created in 1951 by Michael Bodenham, Floris No.89 was a favourite of Ian Fleming himself and is mentioned in the Bond books on multiple occasions. It is available as a 100ml Eau De Toilette for £80.

Floris Limes Bath Essence

Floris Limes is a lemony, limey, petitgrain scent that was originally created in the late 18th century. The bath essence version is designed to perfume the water, with just a few drops needed to create a luxurious bathing experience. After your bath, your skin will be soft and scented with the refreshing heart of lime blossom, neroli and lily of the valley, sustained by a musky base. This bath essence is available for £55 for 50ml.

E.d. Pinaud Elixer Shampoo

For the full Bond bathing experience, you may also want to try the E.d. Pinaud Elixer Shampoo, which Bond uses in the novel On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Described as "that Prince among shampoos", this shampoo is sure to leave your hair feeling clean and refreshed.

Santa Maria Novella Melograno (Pomegranate)

Featured in the James Bond film Casino Royale, the Santa Maria Novella Melograno aqua di colonia is used by Vesper (Eva Green) in the film. This classic fragrance has a tart pomegranate taste with an insistent powdery undertone. Although it is not specifically a bathing product, it could be used to create a scented bathing experience.

Floris No. 007 Eau de Parfum

In 2022, Floris launched a new 007 fragrance to celebrate 60 years of the James Bond film franchise. This exclusive fragrance draws inspiration from the effortless style and substance of James Bond. Although it is not specifically a bathing product, it could be used to add a touch of Bond's signature style to your bathing routine.

Bond's shaving products

Shaving is an important part of James Bond's grooming routine. In the novels, Bond tends to use a heavy, double-sided safety razor, but in the films, he has been seen using a variety of razors, including a sleek Schick razor in Live and Let Die and a Dovo 41 Stainless Steel Straight Razor with Buffalo Horn in Skyfall.

In terms of shaving products, Bond is known to use a wooden shaving bowl and brush, with the soap in the bowl coming from a tube of Palmolive shaving cream, as seen in From Russia, With Love. In Skyfall, the wooden shaving bowl is revealed to be a black Geo. F. Trumper bowl with the Eucris scent, but with the top label removed. The brush is a badger hair brush, also from Geo. F. Trumper, with a black handle and the brand name in large letters.

In addition to the shaving cream, Bond uses a variety of other products to achieve a smooth shave. In Skyfall, he is seen using a styptic pencil from Taylor of Old Bond Street to stop bleeding from any nicks or cuts. He also uses pre-shave gel and sandalwood shave cream from the same brand.

Overall, Bond's shaving routine reflects his preference for trusted, heritage brands and a simple, effective approach to grooming.

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