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New-York Nicolaï 1989

Ranked 485 in Men's Perfume

8.2 / 10 286 Ratings

A popular perfume by Nicolaï for men, released in 1989. The scent is spicy-citrusy. It is still in production.
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Main accords

Spicy

Citrus

Chypre

Woody

Fresh

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Lemon

Bergamot

Lemon petitgrain Mugwort

Mugwort

Thyme

Heart Notes

Clove

Lavender

Chamomile

Cinnamon

Black pepper

Base Notes

Oakmoss

Musk

Styrax

Tonka bean absolute

Frankincense

Perfumer

Patricia de Nicolaï

Ratings

Scent

8.2286 Ratings

Longevity

8.0219 Ratings

Sillage

7.0193 Ratings

Bottle

7.1178 Ratings

Value for money

7.336 Ratings

Submitted by Chemist · last update on 12/20/2025.

Source-backed & verified

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

New York Intense

Bois du Portugal

Pour Monsieur Eau de Toilette

Sacrebleu Eau de Parfum

Ettore Bugatti Eau de Toilette

Pour Monsieur / Man's Cologne (Eau de Toilette) by Pierre Cardin

Pour Monsieur Eau de Toilette

Reviews

28 in-depth fragrance descriptions

01/29/2014

10Scent

Oberon21
47 Reviews

Oberon21

Helpful Review 3

new york

this review its for the vintage version one of the most elegant,classy and gorgeous scent ,this frag can't b missed by any collector or perfumista ,i really loved it since the first time i've the luck to smell it .and today i was so lucky to find 3 bottles of the vintage version in a little niche perfumery store ... you cannot even imagine the great smile in my face when the seller told me we sell this with 50 % discount :-))))))

01/12/2012

9Scent 10Longevity 7.5Sillage

DieNase
186 Reviews

DieNase

Helpful Review 2

Lemonlavenderamber in an ashtray

After heaving worn New York for three days in a row now (a record for me) I feel reasonably qualified to write a comment on this scent.
I had ordered a sample of this scent at AlzD about half a year ago. I found it interesting, but I think I was not ready yet for the smokiness and the patchouli notes. A bit to butch for me I thought. I gave the sample to my brother who didn't particularly like it.
Last week-end I met this scent again at Wuchsa's and judged it as very good and definitely bottle-worthy. Those around and the boss himself approved that it was delicious on me and I bought it spontaneously (what I normally avoid doing, especially when I try lots of scents at a time).
Well, now I have been wearing NY for three days in a row, which I usually don't do either, need I say more?

So, what does it smell like?

In the beginning I get above all lavender and lemon. From the beginning there is a touch of sweetness (amber) and some earthy patchouli. After a while patchouli, amber, leather and woods merge to something that reminds me of an ashtray. Sounds disgusting, but it is not. Maybe a cold pipe would be a better way to describe it. I don't find a better comparison to this earthy-smoky accord. This accord with some sweetness, some spices and the rest of the herbal lavender and a very long lasting lemon note from the beginning settle to a highly delicious scent, which lasts all day.
I would like to smell this scent on a guy, which doesn't mean a woman can't pull it off. Well, at least I wear it! On my skin the amber provides some soft sweetness as a counterpoint to the pungency of the lemon. The smoke makes it round. Therefore, it is smooth enough for a woman. Although being a bit sweet (depending on the temperature!) and rich, it's not too heavy or cloying to my nose. It keeps some transparency and airiness, which makes it elegant.
It is perfect for autumn and winter.
Some compare it to Pour Monsieur by Chanel (and some to Bois du Portugal). I think, they share some DNA, but not that much after all. NY is warmer and sweeter. PM doesn't have lavender, but more lemon and cardamom. NY has patchouli, while PM oakmoss. The lavender gives a slight fougère caracter to NY being classified as an oriental chypre, while I would not call PM an oriental but a citric chypre.
Now compared to New York: I see similarities regarding the pungent citrus note combined with amber. But New York is much softer and smoother, Portugal more pungent, more brutal.
I love and own these three scents (well, just a decant of BdP). They are different enough to own them all. I imagine that people who like PM might like New York (and Équipage) for winter (like I do).
The projection and longevity are very good. Three spritzes are more than sufficient for 10 hrs in the office. Two would do as well, but three is more fun ;)

07/24/2012

jtd
484 Reviews

jtd

5

I used to live in New York. de Nicolai used to make a gorgeous fragrance named New York.

New York, along with Shalimar, Guerlains's Vetiver, Cuir de Lancome, Knize Ten and Diorella are my most frequently worn perfumes. Makes me feel a bit stodgy when I look at it, but classical perfumery appeals to me. I do think I have a fairly catholic sense of classicism, though. I find the best of Etat Libre classically formal in construction. Lutens reinvents classical, and most of the Piguet line absolutely venerates the classical. New York has never done me wrong. When I crave it, it satisfies. When I'm uncertain what I want to wear and put on New York, it's like an olfactory moment of kensho.

New York's secret weapon, besides its utterly flawless evolution is its powder. Powder is often mentioned in the context of the old-lady perfumes, tedious dandy fragrances, uninspired aldehydic fragrances. But New York's powder is gunpowder. It is a bitter, powdery dustiness made even darker by orange/bergamot resinousness.

Chypre? Oriental? Powdery Wood? I'd probably give you a different answer on any given day. Like the best perfumes, New York has a deliberate ambiguity that makes it seem less elusive than actually alive.

Update: Seeing Luca Turin’s note in the “Little Book” I tried the most recent iteration.

Light orange cologne. Heartbreaking.

01/04/2020

9Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

Montaigne
1 Review

Montaigne

Helpful Review 3

Elegance made man

When I tried to list all the barber shop scents that I had tested in my life, I ended up giving up the list after thirty. However, one of these fragrances is, for me, the ultimate synthesis for an assertive and refined man.
New York is perfectly manly, but with the grace that only masterpieces of perfumery have. In my opinion, his younger brother, intense New York, cannot compete with his elder.
New York is neither classic nor modern, it is timeless.
It all starts with an assertive lavender accompanied by lightly peppery lemon, the coumarin making a discreet but essential connection with, I think darker base notes, probably oak moss. The grassy side therefore dominates, but never aggressively. Maybe that's French chic ...
Everything is refined, the wake exists but it is not excessive. The outfit is sufficient for the day. And, just like a blaze and a club tie, this perfume can be worn in any season and, by day but not really in the evening, almost in all circumstances.
Are you looking for the most refined of Barber Shop perfumes?
You found it.
Thank you Madame de Nicolaï.

Updated on 01/04/2020

12/28/2012

8Scent 10Longevity 10Sillage

Drseid
828 Reviews

Drseid

Helpful Review 2

Don't Know Why Its Named New York, But A Fine Scent Regardless...

Extremely well-made scent by PdN. New York starts off with a blast of enticing orange and lemon and then completely changes direction an hour or so later. It then turns into a very dry and sharp powdery scent that is a bit less enticing, but still very distinct. I rarely notice such a sharp evolution of a scent on my skin as I did here. Also of note for those interested is New York has been a real compliment getter and seems to have some very good sillage and longevity. Bottom line is New York may not be groundbreaking, but it is so well-polished, pleasant smelling and high quality that it is an easy "buy" recommendation to all with a rating of 4 out of 5 stars in its vintage form.

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