The 2005 Bond adventure:
I went to NYC this last saturday with Cavewoman. We were joined by Karen(Liongirl), Kathy(Chattykathy), Tania(Brooklyntbone) and Liz(Smellslikeleaves). The day started out at Barneys where we played in the fragrances and beauty departments. I had my eyes "did" at Nars and purchased my parrot eyeshadow lookalike at Shu Uemura. We sniffed some new fragrances from Rosine,IPF and Serge Lutens. We spent way too much time at the CDG counter. I do not think any of us were impressed with any of the new series. Burnt Sugar smelled like latex on liongirl's wrist. The new Rosine opened promising but then sputtered in the drydown. The latest Serge Lutens was just plain awful. I thought the notes(woods and honey) looked so promising. It is the honey that sent my nose into a crinkle. While we were playing at Barneys we met the fab smellslikeleaves. We promptly kidnapped her and took her to our next destination....The Bond store. Cavewoman is a huge fan of Bond fragrances. She is the original Bond girl. She took me to the store during our first NYC trip together. This time our visit was a little different. This time we were finally meeting the creator. Cavewoman and Laurice are email pals and have been trying to meet for years. It was so exciting to see these two finally embrace and meet face to face. Laurice is uber chic(do not get me started on her coat) and beyond generous. She gave us boxes filled with all her Bond Fragrances and brought her lab bottle of her latest called Chinatown. The scent is out of this world good! Unique and mysterious. The notes are: peach blossom, cardamom(amazing!!!), peony, gardenia, tuberose and woods. It is the best Bond fragrance in the series. I could not stop grabbing Kathy's wrist to catch a sniff. I am afraid that I did not get to try Chinatown on my wrists because I was distracted by the Bondmobile.

Let me back up in the story of the day. I was walking to the Bond store with the gang when Tbone and I spot a car. Not just any car. This car was a 1960's Aston Martin. The car was covered with the Bond seal. Think of the bottle for Eau de New York. Behind the wheel was a man head to toe in tweed. A dapper and distinguished gentleman named Gerald. I could not stop staring and chattering about it. Laurice encouraged us to take pictures in it and we hammed it up. Inside the car there was a perfume bar filled with her fragrances. Laurice agreed to join us for lunch and we all jumped in the car again. I sat up front with Mr Gerald while the gals talked industry gossip with Laurice in the back. Lunch was wonderful. She was so charming and we chatted about all things fragrance. It was heaven. She then offered her car and driver for the rest of our day. Gerald drove us to our next destination....Bergdorf Goodman. He escorted us from the car and let us give him a peck on the cheek. It was a very grand experience and instantly spoiled me forever. I think we all felt like it was a dream and did not really happen. I walked around Bergdorfs in a blur. Even in a blur-like state I managed to do damage to my Bergdorf's card. Dashing Tom was there. He had even heard about our adventure before we hit the store. NYC is like a small town....news travels fast. We visited Henri Bendels. No purchases were made but Tbone and I were mad for the feather clips. Very Phillip Treacey. Chattykathy discovered that she was a NW 20. We ended the day at our beloved TAK. We got our bear hugs from Mr John Henry and I purchased my second bottle of La Base. Janca was sold out and I could not find the SMN Hay anywhere. We then split up and went to dinner. The dinner was lovely and the food was mouthwatering. The group let me crack the crust of the creme brulee. The night ended with a mad dash for our pumpkin carriage aka the tour bus. I love NYC. If I could afford to live there and pay my student loans I would take off in a second. There is nothing like it.