New Haarlem

New Haarlem takes its cue from Bond No. 9's ode to the Harlem Renaissance, a fragrance the brand itself calls a highly potent, all-but-drinkable coffee-patchouli blend. This extrait leads with a lavender and bergamot opening before a rich, dark coffee note takes over, echoing the original's espresso-house character that one reviewer said evoked being immersed in a book while baristas pulled shots nearby. Cedar and patchouli in the base nod to the original's grounding, almost masculine woodiness despite its gourmand direction, while amber, vanilla and tonka bean stand in for the more complex resinous depth of the real New Haarlem. The coffee note is the strongest connection to the original here, and it comes through convincingly rich and dark, though the overall composition settles into a simpler sweet-woody finish rather than the toffee-like, nutty drydown reviewers describe in Bond No. 9's version. A solid, cosy coffee-gourmand for anyone drawn to the concept.