James Bond 007  (left) George Lazenby, Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Writer Ian Fleming  (R) Daniel Craig, Timothy Dalton and  Pierce Brosnan

One of the moments of my childhood where I noted I was starting to grow up was the moment when I was allowed to go see a James Bond movie. Not only a movie but a double feature “Thunderball” and “You Only Live Twice”. It was 1969 and I guess since I had reached double digits in age I could go see the man known by three, 007. From that moment on I have been a fan of all things James Bond. I have read all of the novels including the post-Ian Fleming ones. I have seen every movie and have enjoyed all of them. For over fifty years these movies have reflected the changing times and culture. As I continue to tune into 007 marathons I have often thought about what James Bond, and the accompanying Bond Girls, would be wearing as perfume. With Daniel Craig ending his tenure as the sixth on-screen James Bond with “SPECTRE” I think it is time I tried to come up with some ideas.

Sean Connery as 007: The Baccarat Scene (Bond, James, Bond)  Dr. No, Quick change in Goldfinger, Clive Christian C for Men (2010)

When I think of James Bond the first image which pops into my head is of him in a tuxedo. The first time we see 007 in what is his “uniform” is at a Baccarat table in the first movie “Dr. No” (1962). One of my favorites was after swimming on shore in “Goldfinger” (1964) he strips off his wet suit and underneath is an impeccable white tuxedo. There has never been a movie where Mr. Bond does not spend some part of it in a tuxedo. For these moments I imagine him in the perfume I think of as my formal wear perfume, Clive Christian C for Men. It is a sophisticated blend of my favorite spices in cardamom, cinnamon, and clove matched with one of the best leather, tobacco, and oud foundations around. I always wear this on the occasions I am asked to dress in formal wear. When I look in the mirror and breathe deeply; 007 is looking back.

Daniel Craig SPECTRE 2015 and Tom Ford Tuscan Leather

The second persistent image of James Bond is as a driver of some of the most amazing cars on the planet.. With the debut of the iconic Aston Martin in “Goldfinger” all the way through to the one Daniel Craig steals from 009 in “SPECTRE”. The Aston Martin, fully tricked out with gadgets, is how Mr. Bond gives villians the slip. Tom Ford Private Blend Tuscan Leather (2"007) is the smell of the car chase. Tuscan Leather has the smell of fine leather upholstery and perfumerst Harry Fremont and Jacques Cavallier trick it out with a full host of fun notes like raspberry, saffron, thyme and styrax. Grip the steering wheel with both hands and press the pedal to the floor.

Roger Moore (Live and Let Die 1973) Pierce Brosnan (Die Another Day 2002) Guerlain Habit Rouge  1965

The final image is 007 in stealth mode. Dressed in a black turtleneck and matching black pants this is the moment in each film where he is infiltrating the well-guarded fortress. It is when Mr. Bond is at his most lethal. 007 along with his trusty Walther PPK are ready for the final act. In truth he should not be wearing any fragrance to reveal his presence but I still imagine a tiny spritz of Guerlain Habit Rouge (1965) underneath the turtleneck. Jean-Paul Guerlain’s iconic blend of bitter orange, spice, patchouli, and leather is everything the man who is licensed to kill is all about.

Ursula Andress  Honey Ryder Dr No (1962) and Guerlain Mitsouko (1919)
 

Of course the other image of the James bond movies is that of the Bond Girl. The entire concept of the Bond Girl was invented by Ursula Andress playing Honey Ryder. She made her screen entrance rising up from the water in a bikini with a knife strapped to her waist. As a ten-year old I will admit my eyes were not on the knife. Ms. Andress wore Guerlain L’Heure Bleue but the scent I think Honey Ryder would wear is a different one from the same brand,  Mitsouko. The beauty of the jasmine rose, and peach on top is so breathtaking that the bite of a good chypre accord underneath is like that knife; it takes a while to notice it.

Jane Seymour as Miss Solitaire Live and Let Die (1973) and Le Labo Rose 31 (2006)

If I say Jane Seymour most will respond Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. Some of us met her for the first time as Solitaire in “Live and Let Die”. Miss Solitaire had the ability to read the future using tarot cards. After Mr. Bond tricked her with a stacked deck consisting only of “The Lovers” tarot cards it was a self-fulfilling prophecy ; causing her to lose her powers.The perfume I think of for Miss Solitaire in is Le Labo Rose 31. Perfumer Daphne Bugey’s rose taken for a ride by a stacked deck of cumin, vetiver, oud, and gaiac. The pure rose has been tricked into being something much more interesting.

Maud Adams as Octopussy 1983 and Neela Vermeire Pichola (2015)

The other part of the Bond Girl legacy is that of suggestive names; Pussy Galore, Holly Goodhead, Agent XXX, Xenia Onatopp; if you needed innuendo it was all there. Maud Adams played Octopussy in the film of the same name. Much of the action took place in the fabulous Floating Palace on Lake Pichola. Octopussy was the leader of a ring of jewel thieves. She was also much more of an equal to Mr. Bond than most of the suggestively named Bond Girls were. For the scent of Octopussy, I am going with Neela Vermeire Creations Pichola composed by perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour. Inspired by the locale of her palace Pichola,  it has the perfect balance of floral beauty in orange blossom and green tuberose matched with exotic spices of saffron, cinnamon, and cardamom. It more than holds its own next to anything.

Obviously this kind of exercise is a very personal interpretation of larger than life images. I would love to hear your choices for the scent of 007 and your favorite Bond Girls in the comments. I’ll be sipping my martini, shaken not stirred, waiting to read what you think.

–Mark Behnke, Guest Contributor and Editor in Chief of  Colognoisseur

Editor’s Note:  For long time readers, how great is it to read an article from our former Managing Editor (2010-2014)  on CaFleureBon? Behnke, Mark Behnke

Art Direction, theme and fact checking MC

Our 007 and The Bond Girls  draw is open to two registered readers (pesky step, but you have to do it)

USA,  CANADA and EU  thanks to the secret agents at Le Labo we have a 10 ml sprayer of Le Labo Rose 31  

WORLDWIDE:  Neela Vermeire  aka a  “Cafleure-BON” girl  is offering  a  8ml deluxe sprayer of Pichola.

To be eligible, please leave a comment with what you thought of Mark’s scent track for 007 and his favorite Bond Girls, your own choice of fragrance should you win and where you live. We would love to know your favorite Bond /Bond Girl and which scent you would match. Draw closes December 3, 2015

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume