Eight Blocks

Eight Blocks opens on the signature Wall Street accord: cool cucumber and briny seaweed laced with lemon and bitter orange, a fresh, faintly daring aquatic overture that splits opinion in the original. A brief heart of caraway, pistachio and lavender adds an aromatic-spicy twist before the fragrance settles onto a base of musk, ambergris, leather, vetiver and balsamic resin - the unexpectedly woody-leathery foundation that makes the scent more than a simple marine. Bond No.9's original wears for a good six to eight hours with moderate sillage; this budget interpretation captures the cucumber-seaweed signature and the curious leather-resin close faithfully, but reads a shade cleaner and less strange, losing a little of the original's challenging depth. It remains a bold, refreshing aquatic for spring and summer daily wear, ideal for anyone drawn to a marine scent with genuine character.