Bond No. 9 Great Jones: Review
I decided to take a trip down memory lane and visit a fragrance out of Bond No. 9′s first renditions that receives very little attention despite being very worthy. Great Jones is a woody aromatic scent that is simple yet still interesting in its overall composition. Released in 2003, it was also among the first fragrances that Bond commissioned, so it’s also among the first fragrances in the line that people tend to forget. To that end, acquiring samples and even a bottle through my usual channels (Saks Fifth Avenue) proved a little challenging, which is unfortunate but typical for the cycle.
Bond No. 9 Great Jones (2003)
Bond No. 9 Great Jones (2003): As part of the original line, along with scents such as West Broadway and Madison Soiree, Great Jones seems destined to be only an unfortunate footnote and difficult to find other than in Bond’s own boutiques. Unfortunate since it’s a well-composed yet very elemental scent, much like the other two mentions above — it relies on 3 or 4 major notes to achieve its impact.
In Great Jones’ case, it’s orange, cedar and oakmoss. Ergo, it’s a somewhat linear EDP that exudes a simply woody and citrus projection, augmented by the undertone of oakmoss. It remains masculine, not exceptionally sweet (even with the citrus opening), and altogether refreshing with what seems to be the right amount of depth for a year-round scent. The elements aren’t cloying, and provide a moderate projection with terrific sillage. I dare say that it’s youthful, and the broader appeal of the scent is an alternative to the 20-somethings that are tired of overly-sharp/overly-sweet/overly-aquatic fragrances that are otherwise common.
Longevity is excellent, and lasted for an entire day on skin without fading. Transformation away from the initial orange blast happens within the first 2 hours, by which time it does dry-down into a more elemental cedar/oakmoss combination that becomes comfortable for both a casual wear and potentially formal enough for a business setting. I’ll stop short of saying this is ‘romantic’ in nature, as it truly isn’t. Unless the woman you’re seeking to please has a fetish for cedar chests and shoe trees, this is probably not going to make an impression other than being a unique and very fresh though not ‘light’ fragrance. That said, it might just prove to be attractive to a significant other since it’s a bit out of the ordinary and lacks the fresh sharpness that tends to be somewhat pungent. Great Jones does make a statement, and a very nice one at that.
Rating: 4/5. Recommended. Great Jones is one of those unique treasures that people forget to try because of the clamor and marketing of other and newer products, and it’s unfortunate as it relegates very good fragrances to a relative obscurity in the line. In an earlier review, I made similar mention of West Broadway. Either it was purely luck or extensive sampling that got me to notice Great Jones — I honestly forget which — and I’m happy I did. This is simply a nice, versatile, and very clean fragrance that maintains a youthful profile and appeal, even if it’s been missed by recent marketing.
Bottom-Line: A great woody and green scent that plays very well on the skin, has great durability, very classic yet rugged. A great fragrance to add to your wish list, and hopefully it isn’t as quickly forgotten.
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. This site is dedicated not only to fragrance, but also to the notion that quality matters now more than ever. 
