Jo Malone Fragrance Combining for Autumn and Winter

Despite the fact that today has been gloriously warm and sunny, I thought it might be useful to write a post on some Jo Malone combinations I have liked for the colder months.

My Jo Malone wardrobe usually consists of two or three colognes, a couple of body cremes, a bath oil in the winter, and a shower gel (and then I also pinch Mr London's shower gel occasionally.)

For example, at the moment, I have:

Red Roses cologne (from summer)
Vanilla & Anise cologne
Pomegranate Noir cologne (purchased last Autumn and nearly finished)
(plus the Dark Amber & Ginger Lily limited edition, which, if I'm completely honest, is a bit too heavy for me. I might donate this to Mr London, who can wear darker, woodier scents better than I can.)

Orange Blossom Shower Gel

Orange Blossom Body Lotion (nearly finished)

Nutmeg & Ginger Bath Oil (three quarters finished, from last year)

(I also have Cowshed and Villainess Shower/Body products that I combine with my JM fragrances.)

I will probably purchase (or hint heavily to Mr L) Pomegranate Noir Shower Gel, Blue Agava & Cacao body creme, and another body creme (perhaps Amber & Lavender, or Nutmeg & Ginger.) Altogether, this gives me a whole wardrobe of potential combinations.

Combinations I have liked:

Amber & Lavender and Red Roses.
Amber & Lavender is quite a masculine, crisp scent, so I like to pair it with the very feminine Red Roses.

Nutmeg & Ginger and Pomegranate Noir.
In the winter, I adore Nutmeg & Ginger bath oil and body creme. This was the original scent that Jo created in the bath oil to give to her skincare clients as gifts, and it's still hard to beat. It's warm and spicy without being gingerbread-ish or cloying. It goes very well with the fruit and spice in Pomegranate Noir, and this combination in particular reminds me of the winter holiday season.

Nutmeg & Ginger and Orange Blossom.
Orange and spices work very well together in winter (Diptyque's Pomander is my favourite winter candle.) This combination captures that idea, and the Orange Blossom is nicely fresh against the Nutmeg & Ginger.

Pomegranate Noir and Blue Agava & Cacao.
Blue Agava & Cacao body creme was my surprise favourite of last winter; I had dismissed this as a summer sniff and thought from the notes it would be too gourmand for my tastes. I should have had more faith; the cacao note lends warmth and softness, but it isn't sweet or cloying, and it doesn't smell like chocolate. The body creme just smells like my skin but nicer, and I love the salty note which is clean, rather than a Serge-type sweat. This works beautifully under Pomegranate Noir.

Black Vetyver Cafe and Nutmeg & Ginger.
Mr London loves the Black Vetyver Cafe cologne, which is spicy and dark. I like to pinch it occasionally on very cold days to wear over Nutmeg & Ginger body creme.

Wild Fig & Cassis and Orange Blossom.
I like Wild Fig & Cassis a lot; it smells of autumn to me, warm, fruity and woody. Mr London does not like Fig as a note in anything, so I don't get to wear it often(I like enough of the other Jo Malone scents not to mind too much.) However, if I do wear it, it is always with Orange Blossom.

Vanilla & Anise and Orange Blossom.
I've used Orange Blossom body lotion under my new Vanilla & Anise cologne, and this is a lovely combination. The Orange Blossom freshens without being overly citrusy, and it's one of my favourite mixers for the colder months for just this reason.

If there are any other combinations you're wondering about, please leave a comment, or drop me an email. Chances are I'll have tried them at the counter, at least.