Bond no. 9 has just launched the first product in its new Bodies by Bond line of body-care products, a body cream called 24/7 Body Silk. It is currently available in seven favorite Bond fragrances: Chinatown, Eau de New York, Scent of Peace, West Side, Nuits de NoHo, Bryant Park, and Chelsea Flowers.
Fragrance aficionados will understand the apprehension that I felt as I approached the display of Body Silk jars at the Bond no. 9 boutique. Too many of us have experienced the disappointment of a lackluster lotion or shower gel that we bought to match our favorite perfume. All too often, the formula is runny in texture, packaged in a flimsy tube or skimpy plastic bottle, or — worst of all — scented with a fragrance that is only a thin, sharp shadow of the original…
Penhaligon’s is a charming buttonhole of a boutique tucked between the sleek emporia of Madison Avenue, a diminutive shop that transports its visitors back to London in the Edwardian era. Inside, its fragrances for men and women are displayed on dark-wood shelving that sets off their decorative, old-fashioned packaging. The scents themselves range from classic (Bluebell, a favorite of many “English roses”) to sweetly quirky (Artemesia), and they are all highly wearable. Matching perfumed soaps, dusting powders, or candles are also available for many of the fragrances. All of Penhaligon’s merchandise is appropriate for gift-giving, including a carefully edited selection of lacquer trinket boxes, shaving implements for the neo-traditional gentleman, and silver picture frames suitable for any lady’s dressing table…