Jo Malone™ Blackberry & Bay

Blackberry & Bay is the latest release from Jo Malone ™. I went to a launch event for the fragrance back in the summer (it was raining, so the autumnal feel of the fragrance was quite appropriate). Anyway, I've dusted off my notes, sprayed myself again and here are my thoughts on the fragrance.

Berries don't give up their fragrance for perfumery, so the perfumer (Fabrice Pellegrin) used blackcurrant buds and pink grapefruit for the fruity, tart notes, and bucco tree essence to mimic the smell of crushed blackberry leaves. Bay leaves, galbanum, lily of the valley and jasmine make the green, floral heart, and stay on the right side of the fresh > bitter scale of greenness. Finally cedarwood and vetiver make the base of the fragrance, carrying on the green theme with an autumnal, mossy feel.

This is a fresh, green, only slightly fruity fragrance. I love blackberries as a smell and a food; blackberry jam is my favourite. Blackberry & Bay does veer into jamminess but its typical light Jo Malone™ nature means that it isn't heavy or cloying.

I'd recommend this to anyone who prefers a fresher fragrance for autumn and winter, rather than the heavier scents that are more typically marketed at this time of year. Blackberry & Bay has also been launched in the candle, body creme and body & hand wash. I'll be buying the body & hand wash for Mr London; I think this would be great with the Black Vetyver Cafe cologne that he likes.

For combining; Blackberry & Bay will work very well with both Vetyvers in my opinion. It would also be nice with Grapefruit (everything is) and I think it'd work well with Nutmeg & Ginger too.

Available from www.jomalone.co.uk, and Jo Malone™ counters.

Disclosure: PR sample