Kelly and Jones‘ 5 wine-scented fragrances came out this past spring, and merit some praise here.
The idea is great: the note lists in wine are similar to perfume notes. Kelly got the idea when she was advised not to wear perfume to a wine-tasting event because it would get in the way of the wine’s fragrance. This gimmick is just as good as naming perfumes after states and a clever way to launch a microbrand. It’s made better by the fact that most of Kelly and Jones’ fragrances actually smell like their namesakes, and have similar note lists.
Here’s a mini-review of each, in the order the perfumes are numbered in:
Notes of Sauvignon Blanc
Common Sauvignon Blanc Notes:
Citrus
Melon
Pear
Green
Herbal
Oak
Vanilla
Spice
Smoky
Kelly and Jones Note List:
Yuzu Grapefruit
Starfruit
Green Apple
Camellia
The first thing I smelled was a huge pear note. (Pear doesn’t smell much different than green apple, and I’ve seen it frequently listed in sauvignon blanc note lists.) I don’t notice the grapefruit, but I do notice the starfruit. I’ve never smelled it in perfume, and it’s a great addition. Kelly and Jones’ rendition of sauvignon blanc has the right calibration of sweet and sour that you’d find in the real thing. After an hour or so, this is more true. The effect becomes diluted, but the notes don’t change. I didn’t like this the first time I wore it, but now I kinda do.
My Rating: 6
Other reviews of this one:
EauMG
Fragrant Foodie
Notes of Riesling
Common Riesling Notes:
Sweet Grapes (riesling is grown in cold areas of Europe)
Peach
Honey
Rose
Green
Grapefruit
Dry
Sweet
Kelly and Jones Note List:
White Peach
Anjou Pear
Bergamot
Raspberry Leaf
This one is very sweet and tart; sweeter even than riesling itself. It does smell a lot like peaches and pears. It’s pretty and distinctive, and skillfully done. The raspberry leaf comes in after a few minutes, and is true to life.
My Rating: 6. It’s well-made, but too sweet for me. EauMG and Fragrant Foodie like it more than I do.
Notes of Cabernet
Common Cabernet Notes:
Red Bell Pepper
Mint
Eucalyptus
Leather
Dark
Fruity
Kelly and Jones Note List:
Pink Peppercorn
Black Cherry
Tobacco Flower
Vintage Leather
Notes of Cabernet is an interesting fruity leather, as promised. It smells kind of like Bottega Veneta. The pink peppercorn, which I guess is a stand-in for the bell pepper, is evident from top to bottom. I smell plum, which is similar to black cherry. The overall effect is autumnal. It gets more leathery with evolution, and unfortunately the drydown isn’t as interesting as the beginning.
My Rating: 6
Notes of Merlot
Common Merlot Notes:
Plum
Leather
Currant
Cedar
Black Cherry
Tobacco
Tea
Kelly and Jones Note List:
Rhubarb
Red Currant
Mission Fig
Candied Violet
The note list sounds excellent and innovative. The basic idea of the perfume is similar to Notes of Cabernet: dark, and autumnal; but cozier. I smell the fig and the currant, and a bit of the violet too. This is very much a gourmand scent. It does smell like merlot, and also a little bit like Guerlain’s L’Heure Bleue. It smelled darker and fruitier the second time I put it on.
My Rating: 7. Fragrant Foodie doesn’t like this one as much as I do.
Notes of Chardonnay
Common Chardonnay Notes:
Buttery
Oak
Citrus
Melon
Tropical
Vanilla
Kelly and Jones Note List:
Honeydew
Toasted Oak
Vanilla Blossom
Creme Brulee
Chardonnay is known for being a buttery, oaky wine, but Notes of Chardonnay pulls off two tricks. When you first put it on, it smells like a fruity floral. Honeydew is the first thing on the note list and is also the top note. But in the heart, Notes of Chardonnay becomes a little more like the wine itself. There aren’t too many buttery notes, but the roasted (here’s the oak) note mixes with the vanilla and crème brulee to create an effect like that in Un Bois Vanille. It’s very inventive.
My Rating: 7. Fragrant Foodie and I are in consensus about this one. It’s quite good, but it doesn’t smell much like chardonnay.
Conclusion:
All of Kelly and Jones’ fragrances are good quality, and better orchestrated than one might expect. I would have rated them even higher if they evolved more and/or told a story. But they are a lot of fun, and would probably smell great layered.
Price Range: Moderately Expensive
Recommended Occasion: Any
Release Year: 2012
Check out Eyeliner on a Cat, Ca Fleure Bon, and Perfume Diary for more reviews.
What a cute concept. I think it’s great for those that like fruity fragrances. Thanks for the post, it was really interesting!
Hey, thanks for stopping by! This collection was a lot better than you might expect something like this to be. I think they’d also be good for layering.
Helpful that Scentsate listed the common notes from wine appreciation. Clever to have grape photos.
Notes of Merlot
A modified L’ Heure Bleue, without the beauty. A lot of fun, though. Nice drydown.
Notes of Riesling
A mostly-peach, slightly tart scent that I would welcome in a wine, if I still drank. When the fruits are gone a sharp leaf green is left.
Notes of Sauvignon Blanc
Once again, this would be fascinating in a wine.
As the third Kelly & Jones I smelled, it brought me closer to concluding that there’s an anti-perfume thing going on, and I’m out of touch. Directness and fidelity to listed ingredients may be the hallmark. Beyond that a matter of individual taste. Nice drydown.
Notes of Chardonnay
A beautiful vanilla-based scent. No need to question that it’s wine-inspired, or that it’s once again faithful to listed ingredients. But these things are secondary to the perfume’s impression, as I believe they should be.
Notes of Cabernet
Far away from the wine thing here. They DO know how to do a leather!
Hi formaggio! I agree with you on all of them. The most amazing thing, I thought, was that most of them manage to smell like the wines they’re named after while still smelling like other things. Glad you liked the grapes. I thought a lot about what kind of pictures would be consistent and relevant.
I love this review. It was entertaining, informative, creative and inspiring.
The perfume theme is a clever idea, and might capture an audience not yet on board.
At any rate, I enjoyed the review and would like to try any and all of
these. And like formaggio, I liked that you listed the common notes from wine appreciation. Thanks.
You’re welcome, Abby!