The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Bond No. 9 launched the I Love New York collection as a love letter to a city that had seen too much and kept going. Each fragrance mapped a different corner of Manhattan. But the holidays? That needed its own chapter. December in New York is its own animal, cold enough to sting, bright enough to hurt your eyes, crowded enough to make you nostalgic for space. The 2013 edition captured that specific energy: the rush of window displays, the press of bodies on cold streets, the city's perpetual refusal to stand still even when it's supposed to be magic.
What makes this one interesting is the apricot. It's not a typical holiday note, it shows up more in summer fragrances, stone fruit season. Here, it works as a warmth generator, something that glows without being gourmand in the obvious way. Then the fennel. Fennel is a divisive material in perfumery: anise-adjacent, slightly medicinal, undeniably green. Used well, it adds a savory counterweight to sweetness. Used poorly, it smells like black licorice and regret. In I Love New York for Holidays, it threads through the heart alongside nutmeg, spices that feel festive without leaning on cinnamon/clove clichés.
The evolution
The opening is bright and immediate, apricot and mandarin orange arriving together in a rush that feels like cold air on warm skin. That citrus-fruity burst holds for maybe twenty minutes before the spices begin their slow take-over. Nutmeg first, then fennel weaving through, with freesia poking through occasionally to remind you this is technically a floral fruity. The drydown is where it earns its name: leather and patchouli arrive to stay. Not harsh leather, this has been softened by everything that came before. The praline lingers in the background, a warmth that doesn't quit. On skin, expect a full workday. On fabric, it stays for days, a faint sweet ghost in the morning air.
Cultural impact
I Love New York for Holidays occupies a distinctive corner of the Bond No. 9 collection, sitting at the intersection of sweetness and edge. It has built a loyal following among fragrance enthusiasts who appreciate its gourmand warmth and the leather-driven drydown. The scent projects confidently and remains present throughout an evening, offering a sophisticated alternative to predictable seasonal sweetness.
