Fifth Borough

Fifth Borough opens spiced and fruity - saffron, nutmeg and a soft peach lead into the warm gourmand heart Bond No.9 Manhattan is loved for. Gingerbread and chocolate dominate the middle, plumped up by plum, honey and a waxy thread of immortelle and beeswax that gives the whole thing a candied, almost dessert-like richness. The drydown turns resinous and dark on oud, labdanum, patchouli and suede, sweetened heavily by vanilla and softened with cashmere wood and musk. Compared to the original, this dupe tips toward the sweet side faster and stays there: Manhattan's smoky cigarette nuance and its expansive, room-filling sillage are dialled back, so Fifth Borough reads cosier and closer to the skin. Longevity is good for a budget composition though it won't match the original's all-day staying power. A comforting, gourmand-oud comfort scent for cold evenings, recognisable to anyone who knows the Bond.