Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol Silver Factory was the first of a bespoke line of fragrances created by Bond No. 9 using Andy Warhol’s art and vision as the inspiration to each of the scents. With the newest fragrance – Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol for men – just being released, I felt it was time to review the first element of the collection to gain a proper perspective before diving in to the newest scent.
Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol Silver Factory (2007)
Andy Warhol Silver Factory by Bond No. 9 (2007): While this is technically termed as a “universal fragrance” (the marketing is toward both men and women), my personal feeling is that the notes in this are slightly more masculine than in other Andy Warhol named fragrances in the line, and it perhaps would be a challenge for many women to wear as it comes across somewhat more woody and incensed despite the floral presence. That said, let’s review the core elements of the piece.
Top notes are defined by lavender, grapefruit and bergamot. These blend into the heart of orris, violet, jasmine and incense, and eventually dry into a base of wood resins, Virginia Cedar, amber and vanilla. The bottle recollects Warhol’s iconic Campbell’s Soup Cans, using a different color palette and replacing the Campbell’s logo with the Bond NYC Subway Token. The remainder shows off the general theme of Warhol’s 50′s and 60′s commercial art or “pop-art” movement work.
It’s very easy to qualify the main theme of this as a smoky wood and incense fragrance, though the incense is a slight nod throughout and far from the strength of an oriental or Arabian composition. The wood is mellow but has that freshly cut quality throughout. The citrus opening is neither sharp nor reminiscent of too many other citrus-note fragrances; it’s very balanced providing a hint of sweetness in the grapefruit and bergamot. Pleasant is an aptly descriptive term.
The heart and base levels are remarkably fragrant for those who want a woody oriental that oozes of resin, yet doesn’t leave the wearer feeling as if they’ve bathed in black tar. It’s not a syrupy composition, it’s not heavy or cloying, it’s not loudly projecting, but it stays close to the wearer and reminds them periodically that it’s still near at hand. Longevity is best during colder wear, while silage is better during warmer weather.
I won’t qualify this as feminine since, from my wearing experiences, this has a very fresh yet wood-laden smell of a lumbered workshop or freshly cut and dried hardwoods, attributable to the cedar elements. An Oud this isn’t, and that’s just as well since it’s not cut from that cloth. This is more for a fairly youthful wearer (late 20′s or above) or someone that wants a woody spice that lacks a cloying property. The florals are more background notes that serve to enhance the overall composition, not provide a distraction from the core notes.
While there is a kitsch factor within the marketing, I’d suggest it’s a good transition for someone seeking a path out of overly sharp and bright/light scents that have been the market mainstay for the past decade or two. The overall experience is not so deep and heavy that it wouldn’t withstand year-round wear, nor would it detract from someone looking to take their selection of scents in a new direction. I can certainly imagine this being a brilliant Spring/Summer scent, the cedar and lavender giving it a very airy and fresh feel.
Rating: 4/5. Recommended. I would easily suggest this as a great “utility” fragrance that has a broader appeal than some of the niches that Bond has tried to capture in their more “neighborhood” scents, and the facets behind this make it something that would be a solid and liftable recommendation for the person (I’ll say man, I still have a concern it’s not feminine enough for unisex wear) who wants a unique fragrance that makes a statement without overpowering.
Bottom-line: This is among the pieces of the Bond line that usually doesn’t get as much attention as the more popular fragrances (New Haarlem, for instance), and not giving this a second look is truly missing out. This isn’t to say that New Haarlem or other releases aren’t also worthy of sampling or purchase, but this is catered slightly toward a neutral center. Fans of West Broadway would do well to also try this as an alternative.
I'm Andrew Buck, the man behind the words. I'm a published author, project management practitioner for over 20 years, work on Wall Street, and am a fragrance aficionado. I've had a passion for fragrance for 30+ years, and enjoy trying scents and adding to an expanding and rotating collection for some time now. 
