What Does Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol Smell Like?
Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol is a sweet, woody fragrance built around ripe plum, aromatic woods, amber and vanilla. It launched in 2011 as an Eau de Parfum and is now discontinued, so availability can be inconsistent and collector pricing may vary.
The opening is brighter than the name’s darker note list suggests. Bergamot, citrus and cypress give the first spray a crisp, green lift, while plum adds a juicy, wine-like sweetness. Some descriptions also call out peach juice and cumin in the launch profile. On skin, the fruit is the main event: lively rather than syrupy, with a slightly spiced edge. It can come across as plum gum or dried fruit, depending on skin chemistry. That playful fruitiness is also what makes the fragrance less conventionally masculine than its oud and patchouli notes might imply.
As the top notes settle, rose and jasmine bring a soft floral layer. Patchouli, cistus or labdanum, frankincense and oud then darken the composition. This is not an aggressively medicinal oud. Instead, it gives the fruit a smoky, resinous frame and keeps the scent from becoming a simple fruity floral. The effect is warm and slightly powdery, with the incense adding a dry, lemony-spicy accent.
The drydown is smoother and sweeter. Sandalwood, vanilla, musk and amber surround a mulled-plum effect, creating a cozy finish that can suggest spiced preserves, polished wood and soft incense. The progression is clear, but not radically different from opening to drydown. Andy Warhol starts fruity and fresh, becomes floral and resinous, then ends as a warm woody vanilla with plum still visible.
Performance
Performance is good but should not be confused with modern extrait-level power. Community reports range from roughly six hours to eight hours on skin, while other tracking places it closer to four to six hours. Taken together, a realistic expectation is moderate longevity with meaningful variation by skin, climate and spray count.
Projection is most noticeable in the opening and early heart. It should be detectable around you without filling a large room, then settles into a softer personal scent. A few sprays work well; overspraying the plum, cumin or oud facets can make the sweetness feel dense. The fragrance performs best in cool air, where its amber, vanilla and resinous woods have room to develop.
Best Clone Or Alternative
The most direct alternative is DUA Iconic, a 34 ml extrait de parfum listed by DUA at $65. DUA explicitly markets it as a Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol dupe and uses a closely matching structure: bergamot and cypress, juicy plum, jasmine and rose, labdanum, patchouli and agarwood, followed by sandalwood, vanilla, frankincense and musk.
Iconic is the sensible buy for someone who wants the scent profile rather than the original bottle or discontinued status. Its higher stated concentration may make it feel denser or longer-lasting, but concentration alone does not guarantee an identical wearing experience. Expect the same broad plum, woods and incense idea, not a laboratory-perfect recreation. The original still has the advantage if you can sample an authentic bottle and specifically value its balance, history and Warhol artwork presentation.
When To Wear It
Andy Warhol is best in fall and winter, particularly for evening, dates and special occasions. The plum and vanilla give it an inviting quality, while oud, patchouli and incense add enough darkness for dressed-up settings. It can work at the office with a restrained application, but its sweet fruit and noticeable character are not ideal for crowded shared spaces or hot weather. In summer heat, the ambered fruit may become cloying.
Who Should Buy It
Buy it if you enjoy plum, sweet woody ambers, soft oud and fragrances that move between playful fruit and smoky resin. It suits wearers who want something unisex but do not need it to smell traditionally masculine. It is also a good choice for collectors who appreciate discontinued Bond No. 9 releases and distinctive bottles.
Who Should Skip It
Skip it if you want a fresh, clean daily scent, a dry cedar fragrance or a transparent oud. The fruit can feel too sweet, the floral heart may read feminine, and the cumin or resinous facets may be distracting on some skin. Because the original is discontinued, buying sight unseen is a poor idea unless you are comfortable with secondhand sourcing or can start with a decant.
Final Verdict
Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol remains an appealing cold-weather plum fragrance with more depth than its playful opening suggests. Its best qualities are the lively fruit, smooth sandalwood-vanilla base and restrained smoky oud. Performance is respectable, but the discontinued status weakens its value. For most shoppers, DUA Iconic is the practical alternative. Choose the original for its exact character and collector appeal, and choose Iconic when affordability and easier replacement matter more.