Fire Island
Bond No. 9 (2006)

The beach is crowded. The holiday weekend has reigned in people from all over the state. Heavy in the air are the scents of sun-warmed skin, suntan lotion, and briny ocean air.

A lady's perfume
With a brash pair of beach boobs
That just makes one smile.

This very nicely channels the scent of high end tanning oils.

Be clear there is no coconut aspect to this if that's what you expect in "tanning oil" scent. If you're used to creams/oils with a coconut base, this may not strike you as "tanning lotion."

I cannot detail the notes. Some white florals I guess. A bit of musk.

Smells to me just like laying on a sandy beach with hot summer sun while slathered with tanning cream.

Haven't layed in the sun in over 20 years and won't wear this much but is a scent I really enjoy.

A successful attempt to create an elevated impression of fine 'euro' tanning oil. I think it succeeds at that. Does that make this more or less a 'novelty' scent? I would answer, yes. Still it is wonderfully done, and I give solid thumbs up with caveats. I could never wear this enough to be bottle worthy, and would not generally impose this on nor want to smell this on coworkers. However for me this is a fragrance absolutely worthy of a decant. I did happen to go to high school across from a beach. This was in the 1980's and there was plenty of tanning oil and lots of different 'baking' in the sun(maybe layer this with Black Afghano for true accuracy). In very small, very occasional, and very appropriately timed doses the smell of tanning oil can be transformative, almost psychedelic. I actually got both Fire Island and Jones Beach. Fire Island is high end tanning oil(pun intended) while Jones Beach is sun-kissed skin after the oil has faded(seriously, I know, weird...right? But that's a different review).

During one of the early sunny warm days of the year I worked in the yard and got some fresh air and sunshine(responsibly). Afterwards I took a shower, using some Seagrass and Driftwood body wash then applied a few sprays of Fire Island. Relaxing that evening in my chair this fragrance was so perfect, so amazing for that moment of zen. Clean, refreshed, content...and beachy! In my living room. In my recliner. At night. I never would have worn actual tanning oil in that situation, or actually any situation anymore for that matter. Being able to capture it like this is art in perfumery.

My plan is to enjoy this just a few times after similar sun drenched days through the summer which will create a 'scent imprint' saving enough for a few strategic 'therapy' wears during the winter. Helluva lot cheaper than airfare and accommodations!
Update: I found a discounter offering testers at $95 and I just had to go for it. Now counting my original 15ml decant I am flush with Fire Island even with it's limited practicality and wearability. Considering I'm typing this after several weeks of rainy gloom at 159% of the average for the entire season in already rainy Puget Sound, having a full bottle plus of summer-beachy-tanning oil without the oilyness seems very appealing while watching gutters overflow, lakes appear in parking lots, and driving through water over roadways.

This is one of the fragrances I test drove in the search for a great tropical/beachy scent to add to my collection. Unfortunately, it's a no-go for me. I'm a bit disappointed as I expected a big tuberose note and really don't get any tuberose. There is a faint neroli, but really all I get from this fragrance is the smell of salty skin. It's not a bad fragrance for what it is, and it definitely conjures up images of the beach on a hot summer day. But I need something more in a beach scent - either more ylang ylang, more coconut, more of something to add a bit more complexity - I don't want to just smell like salty skin.

Sillage is quite powerful - one squirt and my spouse smelled it on the other side of the room.

Big white florals and suntan lotion scent. Fire Island is pleasant but leans feminine to me. Also, the scent remains fairly liner throughout.

Projection and longevity are both good. Nothing beastly but overspraying will get cloying.