Reviews of Fire Island by Bond No. 9

The beach is crowded. The holiday weekend has reigned in people from all over the state. Heavy in the air are the scents of sun-warmed skin, suntan lotion, and briny ocean air.

A lady's perfume
With a brash pair of beach boobs
That just makes one smile.

This very nicely channels the scent of high end tanning oils.

Be clear there is no coconut aspect to this if that's what you expect in "tanning oil" scent. If you're used to creams/oils with a coconut base, this may not strike you as "tanning lotion."

I cannot detail the notes. Some white florals I guess. A bit of musk.

Smells to me just like laying on a sandy beach with hot summer sun while slathered with tanning cream.

Haven't layed in the sun in over 20 years and won't wear this much but is a scent I really enjoy.

A successful attempt to create an elevated impression of fine 'euro' tanning oil. I think it succeeds at that. Does that make this more or less a 'novelty' scent? I would answer, yes. Still it is wonderfully done, and I give solid thumbs up with caveats. I could never wear this enough to be bottle worthy, and would not generally impose this on nor want to smell this on coworkers. However for me this is a fragrance absolutely worthy of a decant. I did happen to go to high school across from a beach. This was in the 1980's and there was plenty of tanning oil and lots of different 'baking' in the sun(maybe layer this with Black Afghano for true accuracy). In very small, very occasional, and very appropriately timed doses the smell of tanning oil can be transformative, almost psychedelic. I actually got both Fire Island and Jones Beach. Fire Island is high end tanning oil(pun intended) while Jones Beach is sun-kissed skin after the oil has faded(seriously, I know, weird...right? But that's a different review).

During one of the early sunny warm days of the year I worked in the yard and got some fresh air and sunshine(responsibly). Afterwards I took a shower, using some Seagrass and Driftwood body wash then applied a few sprays of Fire Island. Relaxing that evening in my chair this fragrance was so perfect, so amazing for that moment of zen. Clean, refreshed, content...and beachy! In my living room. In my recliner. At night. I never would have worn actual tanning oil in that situation, or actually any situation anymore for that matter. Being able to capture it like this is art in perfumery.

My plan is to enjoy this just a few times after similar sun drenched days through the summer which will create a 'scent imprint' saving enough for a few strategic 'therapy' wears during the winter. Helluva lot cheaper than airfare and accommodations!
Update: I found a discounter offering testers at $95 and I just had to go for it. Now counting my original 15ml decant I am flush with Fire Island even with it's limited practicality and wearability. Considering I'm typing this after several weeks of rainy gloom at 159% of the average for the entire season in already rainy Puget Sound, having a full bottle plus of summer-beachy-tanning oil without the oilyness seems very appealing while watching gutters overflow, lakes appear in parking lots, and driving through water over roadways.

This is one of the fragrances I test drove in the search for a great tropical/beachy scent to add to my collection. Unfortunately, it's a no-go for me. I'm a bit disappointed as I expected a big tuberose note and really don't get any tuberose. There is a faint neroli, but really all I get from this fragrance is the smell of salty skin. It's not a bad fragrance for what it is, and it definitely conjures up images of the beach on a hot summer day. But I need something more in a beach scent - either more ylang ylang, more coconut, more of something to add a bit more complexity - I don't want to just smell like salty skin.

Sillage is quite powerful - one squirt and my spouse smelled it on the other side of the room.

Big white florals and suntan lotion scent. Fire Island is pleasant but leans feminine to me. Also, the scent remains fairly liner throughout.

Projection and longevity are both good. Nothing beastly but overspraying will get cloying.

Although I've never actually been to Fire Island (I wish!); when I smell this I am immediately reminded of Euro sunscreens such as Ambre Solei: the association is undeniable.

Growing up in Australia, we were always exposed to every type of sunscreen protection there was to offer, and Fire Island smells almost exactly like an expensive European sunscreen. There's nothing tropical here; no coconut or Tiare Flower, just the sense of a really lovely sunscreen.

For me, this almost has too much tuberose, but thankfully, once it dries down, I'm left with very realistic representation of sun kissed skin and body lotion.

Despite the above this is a wonderful fragrance, and for me, quite a departure from Bond No 9's usual fruity, patchouli/amber/oud scents. This reminds me more of what L'Artisan Parfumeur used to be about; quirky fragrances that absolutely reminded you of a particular place or thing.

I really love this because of the association with my youth and growing up in Sydney. Its very tenacious though and lasts for ages; so if you want to be transported back to the beach, be prepared to stay for a while. 2 thumbs up and 5 stars!

The beach years of my youth transpired in the 80's on Southern California beaches. Therefore, the memories Fire Island revives are completely lost on me. The sweet coconut of Hawaiian Tropic suntan oil is what takes me back to that time. Zero SPF, its only job was to fry your skin a crispy brown (I have the battle scars to prove it).

Unburdened by any past association, Fire Island is to me synthetic, clean, and completely inoffensive. Not bad, not good. Balanced. Boring. But I like it.

My aunt used to own a tanning salon and I would love the aroma of the tanning lotions, but Fire Island was not that. It just feels like a plastic synthetic fragrance that didn't really smell like anything. It's kinda different, but not really innovative. Save your money.

1/5

Yes, from the beginning this is suntan-lotion-laden summer beach atmosphere. At some stages the neroli gives some freshness, and in the base a tuberose hint with light white musk is present, but overall there is not much major development in my skin. The whole idea and concept of reflecting the pre-melanoma-scare beach atmosphere is truly original and a great idea. Silage and projection are adequate, but the longevity is a brilliant sunstroke-inducing ten hours. One of the most original Bonds and one of the most original concept fragrances of the mid-2000s I know.

Almost a thumbs down...this is powerful juice...and a little odd. Presents a crisp darkly concentrated rose and spice accord that trumpets loudly...too loudly. Then, there is a vague incense note that is sweet, more naga champa than patchouli unfortunately. Throughout wear, there is a grease smell like rendered animal fat...LARD. This quality is pervasive throughout, but really comes forward after about 3 hours when the sweeter notes fade. I have a feeling none of this is a mistake. I guess if the concept is to evoke a sense of European sun lotion, then perhaps this hits the mark. I'm ambivalent at best and certainly wouldn't pay the premium price for this.

Fire Island by Bond no 9 has an implicit goal: to emulate a memory of euro-sun tan lotion. It succeeds. It's funny that this scent memory can be generalized. Fire Island doesn't smell like any particular brand of sun tan lotion, but on smelling it, I instantly recognized the qualities that make up the lotion notion.

For those too young to remember the days of fostering skin cancer skin cancer by laying in the sun and baking, Fire Island is a creamy, musky sweet floral of no particular consequence. But for us old folks, Fire Island is the second-hand smoke of the perfume industry. Aaahhhh, the good-old, bad-old days.

An interesting scent, full of allusions and triggers from a smart perfumer, Michael
Almairac.

from scenthurdle.com

Had Etat Libre d'Orange released this scent, it might have had a pair of hairy buttocks on the label and a marketing blurb blathering about the scent of nude gay male sunbathers. Coming from Bond No. 9, it's actually something far less provocative. In fact Fire Island is a very literally rendered “beach” scent, a tropical fruit and aquatic composition that knowingly evokes a high-priced suntan lotion. What elevates Fire Island beyond the merely cute is a lovely spicy/green neroli note that no suntan lotion has ever aspired to. Fire Island succeeds in its mission of smelling like a day at the beach without taking itself one bit too seriously – at least for as long as the neroli hangs around. Once the neroli's gone the remaining white “laundry” musk and aquatic-themed aromachemicals are a lot less interesting. As an echo of the shampoo you'd use to wash the brine out of your hair at day's end, this drydown is conceptually apt, but it's still anticlimactic.

Nonetheless, Fire Island is good, unpretentious fun, and belongs on the same shelf as other beach-in-a-bottle fragrances like Sugar Lychee and Jailia. Projection and sillage are both generous, and though the fruity neroli phase lasts no more than two hours, the drydown extends much longer. Like any good suntan lotion, Fire Island is pretty much gender neutral.

This is the smell of summer in a bottle for me. The memory-invoking smell of expensive suntan lotion with a bright, floral backdrop. After a few hours the musky, sun-warmed skin smell appears blending seamlessly with the Neroli which dominates this perfume. I only wear this when the sun is out as it seems odd at any other time. The usual excellent Bond longevity (12hrs+ with ease) and perfect projection are here as expected. Yes, it is expensive but one or two sprays last forever. Some things are just worth the money.

Summer days at the beach in a bottle...!

I was hoping this would smell like coppertone sunscreen, which I love the smell of. Nope. This smells different to me, and not at all good. Bond no 9 are too expensive and I also do not care for the bottles. No thanks.

An initial burst of sunny pure jasmine is followed for me by the reedy dryness of artemesia. And that's it.

Oddly enough, neither of these notes are in their profile.

This has been done before, so no points for originality.

The prices continue to be stupidly off the charts for this company and not worth the investment.

Suntan lotion and tuberoseSmells wonderful, Suntan lotion on steroids, Great projection, smells just like several brands of sunscreen. my thought is that with $4 for a bottle of coppertone, people won't know the difference.Pros: Smells like summer at the beach...with some flowersCons: A $4 bottle of Coppertone suntan lotion and you won't have to spend $300"

I'm happy that this at least smells like quality sun tan lotion as opposed to High Line which is based on a similar concept smelling like cheap shampoo

This is a get what you pay for fragrance and your enjoyment will be mostly based on whether or not you are inclined to enjoy this type of fragrance to begin with

Some people have said this opening is harsh but all I get is a pleasant complex floral from start to finish

Another one I wanted to like just so bad but in the end I just can't get myself to fork over the cash for something I think I'm only going to use very sparingly in the summer. I've said the same thing about Coney but I can see using Coney in Spring & even on certain winter days especially in California, where we really don't get a true winter.

I played it smart and got a few samples first, put it on just to test it at night & it was fine. it does lean in my opinion towards a more feminine scent but still wearable for men. The very next morning I put it on & within 2hrs, migraine!!!

I am a migraine sufferer but interestingly enough scents don't normally trigger my migraines. It's food. But I know for sure it was the Fire Island because I had nothing out of the ordinary to eat or drink in the past 3 days. I really don't know what the main note is whether its the patchouli or tuberose but it clearly caused my migraine because it stands out very strongly on my skin.

Also, I didn't get the suntan lotion either. I get a fresh "soapy" overtone like Manderova stated. I'm so glad I went with the samples first but I truly wanted to love this one. Too bad, maybe I'll try it again in a week & see if it triggers a migraine again. If it does then I know for sure it's 1 of my many triggers.

2 heavy and thick on the tuberose and patchouli. very elegantly done but not my fav notes. very old smelling imo not for theyoung urban type..

When everyone speaks of sunscreen, my nose expects coppertone and bad imitation piña colada. That's not what I'm getting from this, and I'm not sure that my nose would have decided on a similarity to sunscreen if I hadn't read that first. But Bond 9 themselves intended for this to smell like a kind of high end vintage European sun tanning oil so I suppose that I can imagine that and that some people's noses would recognize the brand that they're echoing here.

I'm personally getting some honey and sunshine and very soft soap. It's actually quite pleasant. Not something that I can relate to and would choose to wear regularly, but I like it. And for once, this one could indeed be unisex unlike so many others which I would say are only masculine.

To summarize my review: Sunscreen.

Ok, now that that's out of the way here's my main problem with it.

When are you supposed to wear this?? This is one of the few that I feel is too cloying in the heat, but that's the only time I would ever wear this! It doesn't fit sitting in the air conditioning...you won't wear it in the winter...

I guess the only thing I could find a use for would be reminding you of a summery day, maybe brighten up a cold one.

It's just so limited on it's uses I couldn't recommend it. Unless you really love sunscreen. You better really LOVE sunscreen.

So good. Most of the positive reviews nail it. Sweat, skin, and the beach in the best ways. Man, it is good.

At the risk of being redundant, I must say this does recall those hot summer days spent lounging on a chaise on Sanibel Island listening to the waves and the gulls. BUT, if this is indeed going to be likened to suntan lotion, then it must also be noted that it would be suntan lotion of the highest quality ingredients, and it would have baked on your hot sweaty body all day mingling with sea air and salt water giving you an over the top sexy scent. This is fresh tanned skin at sunset on a balmy july evening. SCREAMS sexy to me. LOVE!!!!!