* A Yatagan is an Ottoman sword with a single edged blade that was often decorated with artwork and gilded with precious metals.

* Yatagan kicks off with a mix of absinthe and lavender which seems strange, pairing something traditionally narcotic with something medicinal.

* The absinthe stays present and is joined by the scent of pine needles and forest sap.  Its as if different kind of greens are mixed together to form something completely different.

* Although it doesn’t project, the cologne will take you from day to evening with over 12 hours of wear.

* The base notes last a long time – patchouli mixing with leather, forest sap, vetiver, and musk.

* The scent is a play on opposites – cold and hot, moist and dry, maybe even love and war – hence the yatagan name.

Summary:  Yatagan was released in the late 70s and is still in production almost 40 years later; that’s they sign of a nearly classic fragrance.  Since it stays close to the skin, it is office friendly, but don’t let the scent encourage your warrior spirit to take over.

* Bond No 9 Signature Perfume is billed as “A New York Oud” – which is kind of confusing since there is another Bond fragrance called “New York Oud.”  To clarify, Signature is in the gold bottle and New York Oud is in the silver bottle.  This review is of the gold bottle.

* The scent kicks off with a rose surrounded by a lot of musk.  It starts quite strong and projects a lot in the opening phase.

* After about twenty minutes, when the top starts to calm down, oud begins to make its presence known.  It gradually increases in intensity until it dominates.

* The oud becomes bitter but then is joined by an almondy clove note which starts to balance it out.

* The website describes this fragrance as “The Arabian Nights come to Noho.”  I guess I kind of agree in that the fragrance is an Americanized version of oud.

Summary: Although I really like Signature a lot, the longevity surprised me.  At 30% concentration, I would expect it to last longer than five hours on my skin.  It seems like a simple fragrance, but each step is complex in its layers.  If you are looking for an oud fragrance, this is one that is worth testing.

Bond No 9 fragrances are available at Nordstrom,  Saks 5th Avenue, independent boutiques and from Bond No 9 boutiques.

* Just as Guerlain has a dandy fragrance under the name Arsene Lupin, Nasomatto was inspired by a 19th centry dandy.

* The fragrance kicks off with a chocolate and floral note.  The chocolate is like baker’s chocolate – rich and unsweetened, spiced with a touch of cloves.

* I think the Guerlain reference is in my head because it reminds me a lot of one of my favorite fragrances, Guerlain L’instant Extreme (with its rich dark chocolate scent that evolves over time).

* The chocolate stays in the forefront and a clean, non-skanky oud note starts to come up.   The oud starts off muted but gradually comes in to play a nice harmony with the chocolate.

* Longevity is really nice as eight hours after applying, the wonderful base of amber and balsams come in to join the chocolate and oud.

Summary:  Nasomatto is known for strong and intense fragrances (Black Afgano, Duro), so Pardon comes off a little more refined.  That being said, it definitely does have personality and broadcasts a bit in the beginning.  If you are looking to enter the world of oud but don’t want to get too crazy – this would be a great introduction.  This would also work for those who want something that is office safe but still has some power to it.

Nasomatto fragrances are available from Barneys New York, Luckyscent and independent boutiques.

* Perfect for those with sensitive skin, Honore des Pres fragrances are 100% natural and organic.

* The fragrance starts with a burst of really fresh and ripe citrus – blood orange and tangerine.

* Although it’s an Eau de Toilette, it reminds me of an Eau de Cologne with its focus on citrus.

* The scent goes from a fresh start to a brief period of bitter citrus with a touch of musk.

* Great for the summer as a refresher, the short life span ends on a sweet note with lightly candied orange.

Summary:  Honore’s Trip falls into the trap of many natural fragrances that lack longevity, as it barely lasts two hours on my skin.  To me that makes it more of an eau de cologne or a splash rather than an eau de toilette.  While it lasts it’s a nice citrus burst.  If you’re a naturalist or have sensitive skin, this would be a good option for you.  If you can handle non-organic chemicals, you can find more reasonably priced and longer lasting citrus fragrances out there.

Honore Des Pres fragrances are available from online shops listed on the Honore Des Pres website.