Girl Talk Reviews: Bond No. 9 Saks Fifth Avenue for Him

We tend to get a little obsessed with fragrance here at Stiletto Jungle. Some are in a deeply committed relationship with their signature scent; others are always on the lookout for the next best thing. Any way you slice it, feelings run deep.

When our super committed Girl Talk Panel took on the task of reviewing the brand new Saks Fifth Avenue for Her scent from famed New York fragrance house Bond No. 9 they didn't stop at sniffing their own wrist. Nope, the Stiletto Jungle girls also vowed to take a sample of the new Saks Fifth Avenue for Him and find a willing male guinea pig to test it out. One Girl Talker, Pearl, even took a Saks for Him sample on a 3000-mile, cross-country plane trip to test it out on an East Coast friend. That's dedication... all in the name of shopping journalism! So Pearl, was the mileage worth it?

Bond No. 9 Saks Fifth Avenue
$125.00 - $185.00
Available at: SaksFifthAvenue.com

"The men's cologne was amazing. I really liked it," offers Pearl, a 29-year-old LA-based music industry diva. "I kept wanting to smell it. It reminded me of a time when I went grocery shopping and thought the guy next to me smelled so good that I followed him around the store to smell him more. He wasn't hot, but damn did he smell good. I could totally follow another guy around trying to smell this scent. I convinced a guy friend of mine to try it, but he didn't love it as much as I did for some reason. But, I also had other female friends smell it and they all agreed that it smelled really good. So whatever, maybe it's like those Axe commercials where the women love the smell more than the men do! It reminded me of successful, hot men. I'd definitely buy this for a significant other, simply for selfish reasons!"

"I had one of my fraternity boys from college try the Saks for Him," explains Hannah, a 31-year-old freelance writer. "He is a graphic/ web designer who was born and raised in LA. He's traveled the globe, has some of the best fashion sense of any of the guys I know, and he never wears cologne. He liked it, I liked it, and more importantly we both liked it on him. He also spilled it on his desk... it took the finish off, but I digress. It's patently masculine, appropriate for any occasion, and noticeable without being overwhelming. I also thought it was unique, but would still appeal to almost any guy. I definitely consider it gift-able...'Note to Self.'"

I hear that you also wrangled a friend into giving Bond No. 9 a try, Tina. What was the verdict?

"Bond No. 9 Saks Fifth Avenue for him was tried by a friend of mine and he smelled amazing. It has enough spice and flavor to be great for men," offers 34-year-old Tina, a SoCal attorney. "He enjoyed it a lot and said he received compliments on the smell. Overall a good one. It is harder to review the one you don't wear yourself. I think he really liked it and would wear it again. He is a young professional, so it fit in with his business suit and tie."

I'm seeing a trend here with the description of a "successful" man, who has "travelled the globe," and is often caught wearing a "business suit and tie" being the Bond No. 9 type. Did you get the same vibe Po?

Bond No. 9 Saks Fifth Avenue
Swarovski Crystal Edition
$550.00
Available at: SaksFifthAvenue.com

"I picture a mature, professional young male wearing this scent, although it would be great on any guy! He is not ostentatious or pretentious, but rather, very self-assured and polite," describes Po, a 28-year-old attorney. "I smelled it in the vial and instantly liked the clean scent. It had a masculine, fresh and clean feeling to it. I put it on a friend and he loved it. I asked if he would pay $185 for it, and he instantly said YES. Another guy friend agreed that it was very nice. I myself wouldn't mind wearing it, even though it is supposed to be for men."

Ok, we've got the guinea pig guy friends covered. So, what say you ladies with significant others? Did Saks Fifth Avenue for Him make you swoon?

"I put my boyfriends body up for the test when it came to the Saks fragrance for him," explains Kim, a 23-year-old recent college graduate. "He liked it but, not to the point where he was going to switch up from his personal fragrance. I liked the way the fragrance had a little spicy kick to it. It lasted a long time. The smell was lingering in my car for days! I could see a businessman wearing this cologne, someone that wants to make a statement, or a guy who's going out for the night and wants a lady to remember his scent. It isn't very light, so it will be recognized. The scent is bold scent, with a hint of eucalyptus."

"My husband and I went out on the town last Saturday night wearing our new fragrances and we loved them!" starts Michelle, a 41-year-old nurse from Orange County, California. "Shawn liked Saks for Him, but I think mine [Saks for Her] won in votes. No one disliked his, it just wasn't as nose catching as mine. It is a for sure a 'must-buy' on both!"

Looks like it's two... or, er, twenty-four or so... thumbs up for Bond No. 9 Saks Fifth Avenue for Him. Do you have a man in your life that you'll be gifting during the holiday season? I'd keep this little gift in mind as it seems to be a hit with both the ladies and the boys they adore.

Bond No. 9 Saks Fifth Avenue for Him is available exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue stores and SaksFifthAvenue.com. Click on either photo to link directly to the Bond No. 9 store at SaksFifthAvenue.com, where you will be able to find the Saks for Him fragrance after September 1, 2007. Want real-world reviews of the hottest new beauty finds delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to Stiletto Jungle and get free updates by e-mail or RSS.

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