NEW YORK PATCHOULI

With New York Patchouli, the focus is on one of the most coveted and sought after perfume notes of all. Dark, intense, earthy, redolent of wine and balsam, patchouli, surprisingly, is an herb - a member of the mint family, related to lavender, rosemary and sage. Its origins are the tropical zones of Far East - Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and the South Seas - where patchouli oil is distilled from the plant's distinctly dark green leaves and spiky pink-white flowers. (In Tamil, the ancient East Asian language, the word patchouli means green leaf.) Possessing a complex molecular structure marveled over by chemists, patchouli over the centuries has acquired a fabled history: As a notorious aphrodisiac...a chi balancer in Chinese medicine...a key ingredient in the original India ink and red Chinese ink...a moth repellent, protecting fine fabrics...and, due to its earthy scent, a talisman of riches and wealth.

With its mysterious, lingering depths and sliding scale of associations - from languor to opulence, from high fashion to free-being - patchouli is a perfumer's essential which comes into its own especially in warm and provocative oriental scents. Bond No. 9's New York Patchouli is one such scent. But unlike traditional orientals, this is a sexy, modern, attention-drawing gourmand that, like Bond No. 9's entire collection of eau de parfum, is inspired by the verve, the energy, the audacity and the beauty of the City of New York. It starts off with dessert, so to speak: citrusy bergamot, fresh and delicate rosewater (as used in custards and puddings), and lychee - with its gentle hint of tang. These soon segues into the heart of the scent - patchouli, aided and abetted by fresh yet intoxicating lilies and equally haunting lilacs. Then come the base notes, which will give this bouquet its staying power: resinous amber (one of patchouli's classic accomplices), smooth and creamy sandalwood, musk - for its carnal kick, and, Atlas cedar - for a contrasting dash of coolness.