Who Manufactures The Iconic James Bond Fragrances?

James Bond's cologne was launched in 2012 by Eon Productions, in charge of all James Bond movies, and Procter & Gamble Co. to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the franchise and the upcoming release of the 23rd Bond movie, Skyfall. The cologne was created in collaboration with perfumers from the house of Givaudan, with Sonia Constant as the nose behind the fragrance.

The cologne 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 fragrance is described as a masculine, aromatic Fougere, bringing users back to the 1960s. The bottle design is inspired by Bond's gadgets, with a telescopic spray nozzle and a silver ring-shaped stopper.

While James Bond is never depicted wearing cologne in the books or movies, his creator, Ian Fleming, was a fan of Floris No. 89, a fragrance with woody, musky, and floral notes.

James Bond's creator, Ian Fleming, wore Floris No. 89

Although James Bond is never described as wearing cologne, his creator, Ian Fleming, was a devotee of Floris No.89.

Fleming, a former naval intelligence officer, was a frequent visitor to the perfume parlours and barbershops of St. James's in London. It was here, in 1730, that Juan Famenias Floris set up his perfumery, which still stands at 89 Jermyn Street.

Introduced in 1951, No. 89 was created in the sub-basement of the Floris shop, which was affectionately known as 'The Mine'. The fragrance takes its name from the shop's address.

Fleming went on to include Floris products 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', Bond instructs his housekeeper to prepare his flat with "flowers, bath essence from Floris, air the sheets".

No.89 is a woody, musky fragrance with top notes of bergamot, orange, neroli and nutmeg, and heart notes of orris, geranium, rose and ylang-ylang. It has been described as a quintessential British gentleman's scent, and was also worn by Cary Grant and Sir Alec Guinness.

Although Bond is never described as wearing No.89, it is likely that Fleming, who projected so many of his own preferences onto his most famous creation, imagined him doing so.

Sean Connery wore Guerlain Jicky

Sean Connery, the ultimate "manly man," chose a "feminine" perfume as his life's fragrance. Together, they proved that greatness transcends gender labels.

Connery's choice of Guerlain Jicky may have been influenced by Ian Fleming, who created the James Bond character. While Bond is never described as wearing cologne in the novels or films, Fleming himself was a devotee of Floris No.89, a fragrance with woody, musky, and enigmatic notes.

Floris No.89 was founded in 1730 and has held a Royal Warrant since 1820, creating scents for notable figures like Winston Churchill and Florence Nightingale. The brand's products are mentioned in the Bond books, such as in "Moonraker" and "Diamonds are Forever."

Although Bond is not explicitly associated with a particular cologne, his creator, Ian Fleming, had a soft spot for perfume parlours and barbershops, particularly those found in his preferred London district, St. James's. This suggests that Bond's fragrance choices may have been inspired by his surroundings and the author's personal preferences.

Roger Moore wore Polo Green

Roger Moore, the English actor who played James Bond, was known for his suave and sophisticated style. While there is no indication that Moore wore Polo Green, his Bond outfits did solidify his image as a refined and stylish man.

Moore's Bond debut in "Live and Let Die" featured him in a navy double-breasted Chesterfield coat, a black polo neck, and a brown silk suit, all of which became iconic looks for the character. The double-breasted coat, designed by Cyril Castle, gave Moore a commanding presence with its wide peaked lapels and velvet collar. It recalled the greatcoats worn by naval officers, fitting for Bond's status as a naval officer.

Moore also introduced the cream trousers and blazer look to Bond, giving him a classic naval style. In "The Man with the Golden Gun," Moore wore a blue double-breasted blazer designed by Castle, reviving the naval button three, show three style. This blazer, paired with cream trousers, became a signature outfit for Moore's Bond.

Moore's Bond style was defined by earth tones, such as the brown silk suit he wore in "The Spy Who Loved Me." The wide lapels and flared trouser legs of this suit were typical of the late 1970s fashion, and Moore wore them impeccably.

While Moore's Bond outfits were iconic, there is no specific mention of him wearing Polo Green. However, his style choices solidified his image as a sophisticated and stylish man, which likely extended to his personal fashion choices as well.

Timothy Dalton wore Burberry Brit

Timothy Dalton, the fourth actor to portray fictional secret agent James Bond, wore Burberry Brit. Dalton played Bond in "The Living Daylights" (1987) and "Licence to Kill" (1989). His portrayal of Bond was notably darker and more serious than his predecessors, perhaps setting him up to play other brooding or villainous characters in the future.

Dalton's Bond was more faithful to the original book character, written as stoic and threatening due to the nature of his profession. Dalton's 007 came across as a reluctant agent who did not always enjoy the assignments he was given. Unlike Roger Moore's Bond, who always seemed to be in command, Dalton's Bond sometimes looked like a candidate for the psychiatrist's couch – a burned-out killer who may have just enough energy left for one final mission.

Dalton's serious interpretation was not only in portraying the character, but also in performing most of the stunts of the action scenes himself. His director, John Glen, commented, "Tim is a very convincing James Bond. When he has a gun in his hand, you believe he really could kill someone. I don't think that was ever the case with Roger Moore."

Some modern critics have compared Dalton to Daniel Craig, who played Bond in films such as "Skyfall" (2012). In 2006, Gwladys Fouché of The Guardian wrote, "while Connery was cool, and Brosnan brilliant, only Dalton could show the dark side of Fleming's fearless agent [...Bond producers] want Bond to be closer to the original Ian Fleming character. They want him to be grittier, darker and less jokey. What they really want, it seems, is to have Dalton back."

Dalton himself has claimed that the Bond films starring Daniel Craig are ""believable" in the way he wanted his Bond films to be. "I came in under certain circumstances, Dalton said. "The prevailing wisdom at the time – which I would say I shared – was that the series, whilst very entertaining, had become rather spoof-like. It was one-liners and raised eyebrows and it had become, let's say, too lighthearted."

Dalton further reflected on his time as Bond, saying, "I should be careful what I say, because, of course, everyone is interested in Bond. It's almost like a bracket or a bubble in one's life. Everybody treats the idea of a Bond film differently to anything else. I mean, journalists come knowing the story they want to write, whereas on a normal piece of work we're all discovering what to write about. It's part of the creative process. But in a Bond movie? No. People know what they want to write about. And they know, really, what they want. Everyone's got an opinion, from the top of the studio down to the guy in the street."

While Dalton's Bond may not have worn Burberry Brit in the films, fans have speculated on what cologne the character would wear, and many have landed on this scent.

Pierce Brosnan wore Clive Christian 1872 and X

Pierce Brosnan wore Clive Christian 1872, a citrus aromatic fragrance for men, and X, a woody-floral musk.

Clive Christian 1872, launched in 2001, is a complex blend of citrus and herbal notes, including petitgrain, lime, grapefruit, rosemary, lavender, and galbanum, with a woody base of Virginia cedar, musk, and patchouli. It is a sophisticated and elegant scent, reminiscent of a traditional barbershop fragrance, with excellent longevity and moderate sillage.

Clive Christian X, on the other hand, is a woody-floral musk with a unique combination of fruity, floral, and woody notes. It opens with citrus and fruity notes of bergamot, pineapple, and blueberry, followed by a heart of lily-of-the-valley, violet, and jasmine, and dries down to a warm and woody base of cedar, sandalwood, and musk. It is a versatile and long-lasting fragrance with moderate projection.

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