No. 89

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All about this fragrance

Vibe check

This is a scent for close conversation, tailored clothes and a room that values composure over display. It suits a man who wants to project polish and intelligence, with a dry, aromatic trail that feels assured in a study, club or evening setting without ever becoming heavy.

How to wear

Best in mild to cool weather, where its citrus, spice and woods stay crisp and readable. Apply lightly to the chest or neck; one to three sprays is usually enough. On skin it opens bright and aromatic, then settles into a dry sandalwood-oakmoss finish with moderate, restrained diffusion.

Who it’s for

For wearers who like classic fougères, citrus-woody compositions and a restrained, old-school British profile. It will appeal to those who prefer elegance, structure and a dry woody finish over sweetness, density or modern gourmand effects.

Release year

1951

The nose

Michael Bodenham. Often credited with shaping No. 89, Bodenham worked within the Floris family tradition of understated British perfumery, building compositions that feel tailored rather than decorative. His style, as associated with this fragrance, leans on clarity, balance and a polished classical structure. No. 89 shows that approach at its most enduring: citrus and aromatic herbs up top, a discreet floral heart, and a dry, woody base that keeps the scent composed and gentlemanly rather than loud. It is one of the house’s defining masculine signatures.

Floris’s story

Floris is a historic British family perfumer rooted in Jermyn Street, with a style built on heritage, restraint and impeccable polish. The house favors classical compositions that feel tailored and discreet, with an emphasis on provenance and continuity rather than trend-led novelty.

No. 89’s concept

Created in 1951 and named after Floris’s flagship address at 89 Jermyn Street, No. 89 became one of the house’s defining mid-century scents. Its reputation was strengthened by its association with Ian Fleming and the James Bond universe, giving the fragrance a lasting image of English refinement with a faintly adventurous edge.

Extra info

No. 89 takes its name from Floris’s historic shop at 89 Jermyn Street in London. It is one of the house’s best-known fragrances and is closely linked to Ian Fleming and the James Bond mythos. The scent is often described as a benchmark of classic English gentleman style.

Celebrity connection

Ian Fleming is the strongest documented cultural link to No. 89, and the fragrance is widely associated with James Bond in the Fleming novels. Other names often linked to it in perfume history include Cary Grant, Sir Alec Guinness and Sir Ranulph Fiennes, though those associations are more anecdotal than formally documented by the house.