As far as British perfumeries go, none is more iconic than Jo Malone London. From its elegant glass bottles and gorgeous cream-and-black packaging to its ever-expanding fragrance library, Jo Malone perfumes have become synonymous with our special occasions—cherished moments we can return to with just a single spritz. This potent blend of luxury and sentimentality is the reason Jo Malone has found its way into the hearts of people all around the world, including celebrities, beauty editors, and even royalty.
“Our scents are elegantly simple with an unexpected twist, pure and beautiful ingredients that are allowed to shine put together with something that shouldn’t work but does,” says Emma South, Jo Malone London’s fragrance and lifestyle expert. “I love this slight irreverence in our creations. It all started with the basil in Lime Basil & Mandarin; basil as an ingredient was extremely unusual at the time, one that was normally associated with cooking, and a real surprise in a scent. Today, we continue to try to push the boundaries with our ingredients.”
But which Jo Malone scents are the most popular? With more to choose from than ever before, we set about discovering the go-to perfumes of the stars, as well as which scents Jo Malone’s devoted clientele (that’s you) always come back to.
Scroll below to discover the best Jo Malone perfumes.
We’ve already talked at length about Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s beauty routine, but the model also discussed her favourite fragrances—one of which you’ll find at Jo Malone London.
“Jo Malone London’s Lime Basil & Mandarin is one of my favourite perfumes,” Huntington-Whiteley reveals by way of video on her website, Rose Inc. “This is the fragrance my mother and grandmother always wore, and I find myself picking this up whenever I’m in need of a bit of comfort or whenever I want to feel my mother and grandmother close. My mother lives in the UK, and I’m based in L.A., so whenever I find myself feeling homesick, this is what I pick up. It really has a kind of elegant, fresh, modern scent to it—all the things I’d describe my mum and grandmother as. This is the perfume that evokes some of the most special memories to me.”
Although Meghan Markle had to become a lot more secretive about her beauty regimen when she joined the royal family, in a previous interview with Express, she revealed, “Fragrance is my favourite thing—so much so that if I leave the house and I don’t put any on, I’ll turn around and go back home. I love Wild Bluebell by Jo Malone.”
Freida Pinto is another devotee of Jo Malone London fragrances, with her favourite said to be Wild Fig & Cassis. Fruity but grounded and warm thanks to the cedarwood notes, this complex scent is a favourite amongst beauty editors, too.
Poppy Delevingne is the ultimate Jo Malone fangirl and rotates between several floral scents. Her go-to, however, is undoubtedly Red Roses. Plus, how pretty is the pale-pink hue?
If you ever wondered which perfume Victoria Beckham likes to wear, then you’ll be pleased to hear that Jo Malone London appears heavily in her rotation. Her go-to scent is said to be the brand’s Grapefruit Cologne. The epitome of uplifting, the scent is also cut with rosemary, peppermint and pimento, adding to the fresh feel of the fragrance.
Karen Elson loves Jo Malone’s signature floral scents, one of which is Orange Blossom. The dewy leaves of clementine stretch over the delicate floral heart of this perfume, making it one of the lightest and most versatile fragrances in the Jo Malone London collection.
When we consulted our friends at Jo Malone London, they revealed that Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s favourite fragrance, Lime Basil & Mandarin, which launched back in 1999, is still proving as popular as ever, but Pomegranate Noir, Peony & Blush Suede and English Pear & Freesia prove almost as iconic. Sweet, juicy and a little bit spicy, Pomegranate Noir is easily the most distinguishable Jo Malone London scent around. If you like fruity scents that linger on skin all day, this one isn’t to be missed.
This is widely considered one of the most popular wedding scents out there. Like a fresh bouquet of peonies mingled with musky suede and zingy apple, it’s a delicate delight for the senses.
Like springtime in a bottle, this stuff is the epitome of a sparkling, floral fragrance. It has all of the freshness and zest of pear but with a delicate hint of floral freesia throughout.
One of Jo Malone London’s most iconic scents, Blackberry & Bay smells like zingy fruit, tart berries and fresh woodland. It’s sweet, but not in the kind of way that makes you turn your nose up. It’s fresh, comforting and sense-clearing.
In recent years, Poppy & Barley has become a beauty-editor favourite. It’s a fresh and lively floral with notes of poppy, rose, violet and blackcurrant. More interestingly, though, it also contains soft, almost creamy notes of bran and barley. It makes a typically fresh floral warm and inviting.
“In addition to Wild Bluebell, Meghan Markle has also professed her love of Wood Sage & Sea Salt, and I can totally understand why,” Emma says. “It’s escapism in a bottle, and whenever I wear it, I feel instantly transported to windswept shores, which was very useful during lockdown.”
“This has to be my all-time favourite Jo Malone London scent. From the Intense Collection, Jasmine Sambac is delicate but has staying power like you wouldn’t believe. It’s so versatile that I can wear it both during the day and after dark,” says Emma.
Acting assistant editor at Who What Wear Maxine Eggenberger is a huge fan of Jo Malone London Nectarine Blossom & Honey as well as Cypress & Grapevine.
“My first-ever Jo Malone London fragrance was Nectarine Blossom & Honey, which I always end up coming back to. Yes, it’s sweet but not sickeningly so, and it layers beautifully with every other Jo Malone fragrance I’ve tried it with,” Maxine says.
“Jo Malone London’s Cypress & Grapevine is an under-the-radar scent, but upon the first spritz, I knew it would instantly become one of my favourite perfumes. The scent of the Cypress trees gives it a freshness I haven’t smelt in other woody fragrances, and that’s exactly why I love it,” says Maxine.
Freelance beauty editor and Who What Wear contributor Shannon Lawlor has a 60-strong perfume collection and always turns to Jo Malone London for special occasions. Her favourites include Vetiver & Golden Vanilla, Basil & Neroli and Myrrh & Tonka.
“The first time I ever smelled this fragrance, I was sat at my desk in the Who What Wear offices and gave it a spritz onto my wrist. Within seconds everyone was asking after it. It’s deep and rich but not in a heady sort of way. The sweetness of vanilla isn’t my usual vibe, but when it’s mixed with the smokiness of vetiver bourbon and the zinginess of cardamom, it’s a total dream,” Shannon says.
“This was the first Jo Malone London perfume I ever owned, and it still holds a very special place in my heart. It contains neroli (my favourite perfume note), so it has a citrusy zing to it while the basil makes it green and earthy. It’s distinctively Jo Malone London in its uniqueness,” says Shannon.
“I challenge you to find a perfume as deeply warming and comforting as this one. Definitely one for those that like strong, enveloping scents, it has the warm sweetness of almond and vanilla and the delicate addition of lavender to make it a little lighter on the nose,” says Shannon.
