Jo Malone Lime Basil and Mandarin and Others

Jo Malone is a mainstay in high-end department stores. I haven’t reviewed any of her fragrances because I think they’re overpriced for minimalism. I read somewhere that Jo Malone’s fragrances are like perfume through a screen of glass. That’s a poetic way of putting it. Still, the idea of spending $110 on the juxtaposition of an herb and a fruit is unnerving to me. Some of them smell good though. Here’s an introduction to three of them.

Lime Basil & Mandarin

This is Jo Malone’s bestselling fragrance, and also generally the highest acclaimed by critics. It’s a clean, masculine scent, but not a contrived one at all. The basil cuts the citrus to make it more interesting. Lime Basil & Mandarin is exactly that, those three notes, combined into a seamless accord that your man could lead you to believe he emits naturally. Of course, it could be used for women too, but it smells to me like what a young male professional would wear. If you want a clean fragrance, use this as your reference point.

My Rating: 7.5

Blackberry & Bay

This is a new release. In the beginning is a fruity tea smell, sort of like Earl Grey mixed with Juicy Fruit. There’s a definite peach note too. As it goes on, the fruitiness begins to resemble blackberries, and the tea and bay note start to become more prominent. Towards the end it becomes a lighter version of Old Spice.

My Rating: 6

Nectarine Blossom & Honey

Here’s where it gets more literal. Nectarine Blossom & Honey smells like pollen on a muggy summer day. Hence the blossom and honey part. The note is a familiar trick of fruity florals, except this one is of higher quality. The peach note is very strong, and the citrus note isn’t easy to pick up on. I wouldn’t know the difference in scent between a nectarine, a mandarin, a clementine, and an orange, but I’m pretty sure that clementines are the smallest of the four, and oranges are the biggest. Just go by the “nectar” part in nectarine and you’ll have the gist of this one.

My Rating: 5.5