JO MALONE CHRISTMAS 2023

November 19, 2023 by Mr Luke Christian

I had recently been invited to the Jo Malone boutique in Harrogate, to take a look at this years Christmas range and as a big fan of Jo Malone already having reviewed many items across the brand before, I wasn’t going to turn this down! Plus, with seasonal cocktails provided by Slingsby Gin, this didn’t exactly make it too difficult to pass up…

I arrived with my friend and caught up with other bloggers there that I knew, and I immediately made a beeline for their fragrance Myrrh and Tonka which I have previously reviewed here. I forgot how stunning this scent was as admittedly it had been a while since I last smelt this, and a sales assistant suggested I spritz the ‘Orange Bitters’ fragrance on top of Myrrh and Tonka and well, what a dream!

A new addition to this years Christmas line-up is their fragrance - Ginger Biscuit.

Top Note: Ginger
Middle Note: Roasted Hazelnut
Base Note: Tonka Bean

which is available in

Sadly, I am not a huge fan of ginger as it is so this fragrance wasn’t for me, but I did appreciate how well-rounded the fragrance was and its projection I found felt quite light and soft, so perhaps this scent would better suited for those who like their fragrances closer to the skin and not so overpowering.

Christmas for me isn’t complete without their Pine and Eucalyptus candle which I treat myself to every year as I love how the scent captures the cold, frosty pine notes and its throw is powerful too! I also treat myself to Orange Bitters 30ml every Christmas as well, and this year was no exception.

Orange Bitters is one of my most complimented fragrances each time I wear this and if you haven’t had a chance to smell this yet, now is your chance! However, I was told during the event it sells out quite quickly so don’t hang around for too long… Thank you to the team at Jo Malone for inviting me along, I had a wonderful time and the cocktails provided by Slingsby Gin certainly went down a treat too!

Have you smelt Ginger Biscuit before? If so, what are your thoughts? Have you tried Orange Bitters or Pine and Eucalyptus? Let me know down below in the comments section as I would love to hear from you!

JO MALONE LONDON - SILVER BIRCH & LAVENDER

March 25, 2020 by Mr Luke Christian

Jo Malone London have recently launched their LavenderLand Limited Edition Collection which consists of fragrances based around the ‘Lavender’ note and for me personally, whenever I think of Lavender, it automatically evokes memories of being around my grandparents house when I was younger and the note just feels a little ‘old fashioned’…

It’s safe to say that Lavender certainly isn’t something that I’m ever drawn to however, with that being said, I have managed to sample all of the LavenderLand Collection and to my surprise, I rather like them!

JO MALONE LONDON - LAVENDERLAND COLLECTION

Lavender & Coriander Fragrance
Wisteria & Lavender Fragrance
Silver Birch & Lavender Fragrance
Lavender & Musk Pillow Mist

For this particular blog post I will be reviewing the fragrance I kindly got gifted which was Silver Birch & Lavender.

Top Note: Grapefruit
Middle Note: English Lavender
Base Note: Silver Birch

Out of the LavenderLand Collection, I struck lucky by receiving Silver Birch & Lavender as this was my favourite from the three! The opening has a fresh, fruity-like burst from the Grapefruit note that is soon taken over by the English Lavender, however, what I like about the way that the English Lavender note has been used, is how it lingers softly behind the other notes so it doesn’t have that nauseating, overwhelming punch that I often associate Lavender with. The fragrance almost has a rather soft and whimsical touch, which allows the woody, earthy notes to stand out leaving the overall scent feeling quite masculine with a feminine twist. Flamboyant shall we say?

Silver Birch & Lavender has an incredible longevity to it and lasted on my skin between 7-8 hours and its sillage soft-medium. Ideal as we move forward into the warm Spring season and I would recommend wearing the Silver Birch & Lavender throughout the evening as this is when I feel the scent comes alive! To find out more, head to the Jo Malone London website for more details on their LavenderLand Collection and be quick as it is Limited Edition and as we all know, Jo Malone Limited Edition Collections mean exactly that so don’t miss out.

*Side note, I WISH Lavender & Musk Pillow Mist was a standalone fragrance as this was another personal favourite of mine so if you manage to try anything out, head for the Silver Birch & Lavender along with the Lavender & Musk Pillow Mist!

For more of my Jo Malone London reviews, check below!

FRAGRANCE: Vetiver & Golden Vanilla, Bronze Wood & Leather, English Fields, English Oak & Redcurrant, Tobacco & Mandarin, Dark Amber & Ginger Lily, Myrrh & Tonka

EVENTS: Christmas 2016, Christmas 2017, Christmas 2018, Poptastic, The Bloomsbury Set Blossoms Collection

SKINCARE: Geranium & Walnut Hand Cream, Myrrh & Tonka Shower Oil

Have you smelt Silver Birch & Lavender yet? Have you smelt any of the new LavenderLand Collection scents? If so, which one(s)? What are your thoughts? I would love to hear from you so leave a comment below and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!

JO MALONE LONDON - VETIVER & GOLDEN VANILLA

February 04, 2020 by Mr Luke Christian

(AD/Gifted)

Jo Malone’s latest offering to their ‘Cologne Intense’ range comes in the form of Vetiver & Golden Vanilla! A creamy, sensual fragrance that makes for the perfect transitional fragrance as we move from Winter into the upcoming Spring months.

Top Note: Cardamom
Middle Notes: Vetiver Bourbon
Base Notes: Vanilla Bourbon

Vetiver & Golden Vanilla opens up with a blast of the Cardamom note that feels both spicy and rich and soon afterwards, the creaminess of the Vanilla Bourbon note makes the fragrance feel well rounded and strong. The Vetiver Bourbon note gives this an underlying earthy tone that isn’t too overpowering nor is it too subtle, and when blended with the Vanilla Bourbon note, this makes it feel a little sweet.

For me personally, I found Vetiver & Golden Vanilla’s longevity a little disappointing as the scent lasted on my skin for up to 3 hours which when compared to my other favourites from the ‘Cologne Intense’ range, they tend to last on my skin in the region of 6-8 hours, so much longer in comparison. That being said, Vetiver & Golden Vanilla gained me compliments and I found its silage to be medium-light.

Vetiver & Golden Vanilla is available in both 50ml (£78) and 100ml (£122) and more details on the fragrance can be found here.

For more of my Jo Malone London reviews, check below!

FRAGRANCE: Bronze Wood & Leather, English Fields, English Oak & Redcurrant, Tobacco & Mandarin, Dark Amber & Ginger Lily, Myrrh & Tonka

EVENTS: Christmas 2016, Christmas 2017, Christmas 2018, Poptastic, The Bloomsbury Set

SKINCARE: Geranium & Walnut Hand Cream, Myrrh & Tonka Shower Oil

Have you smelt Vetiver & Golden Vanilla? What are your thoughts? I would love to hear from you so leave a comment below and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!

JO MALONE - BLOSSOMS COLLECTION

April 14, 2019 by Mr Luke Christian

I had the pleasure of being able to attend the recent launch of Jo Malone’s newest collection; Blossom. The e-vite came through and it promised to be an ‘immersive way to experience the new Blossoms Collection through sound, vision and scent.’ Having attended Jo Malone events before, I knew I was going to attend something rather special, and so I naturally jumped at the chance of going!

JO MALONE - BLOSSOMS COLLECTION

The event took place at Victoria House in London, and as I made my way through the entrance, a whole sea of Jo Malone goody bags were there to greet us with different lights twinkling to set the mood. I then navigated through several dark rooms, and I stumbled across a long corridor with tranquil music playing throughout, again with different coloured lights changing with every beat. Once through the corridor, I walked into a large room with a long table in the middle of it displaying the most beautiful of flowers which proudly took centre stage with a DJ playing the latest tracks in the background.

What initially caught my eye when I first walked in, were these 4 rooms, hidden behind a fuzzy screen, all of which were lit up in different colours to represent the four Limited Edition Blossom scents;

Green - Star Magnolia
Pink - Silk Blossom
Yellow - Frangipani Flower
Orange - Orange Blossom

My personal favourites were the Star Magnolia and the classic Orange Blossom and much to my delight, the Orange Blossom was actually found inside my goody bag which made for the perfect treat in time for Spring! I will be doing a separate blog review on the Orange Blossom fragrance shortly, so do check back for that.

The full Blossoms Collection includes:

Frangipani Flower Cologne 30ml £49 // 100ml £98

Silk Blossom Cologne - 30ml £49 // 100ml £98

Star Magnolia Cologne - 30ml £49 // 100ml £98

Orange Blossom Cologne - 30ml £49 // 100ml £98

Silk Blossom Home Candle - 200g // £49

Star Magnolia Hair Mist - 50ml // £44

Orange Blossom Hair Mist - 50ml // £44

Orange Blossom Diffuser - 165ml // £65

I had a wonderful time at the Blossoms Collection Launch and I found it to be a unique, innovative way to experience fragrance! The Blossoms Collection is out now and is out for a limited time only, so do be quick to try out these treats! For more details, click here.

For more of my Jo Malone reviews and events, see below!

FRAGRANCE: Bronze Wood & Leather, English Fields, English Oak & Redcurrant, Tobacco & Mandarin, Dark Amber & Ginger Lily, Myrrh & Tonka

EVENTS: Christmas 2016, Christmas 2017, Christmas 2018, Poptastic, The Bloomsbury Set

SKINCARE: Geranium & Walnut Hand Cream, Myrrh & Tonka Shower Oil

Have you smelt any of the Blossoms scents and fragrances yet? Do you have any favourites? If so, which ones? Will you be trying any of these out? Have any of these caught your eye? Let me know below as I would love to hear from you and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!

JO MALONE - BRONZE WOOD & LEATHER

February 03, 2019 by Mr Luke Christian

Jo Malone’s latest fragrance addition to their Cologne Intense Collection comes in the form of Bronze Wood & Leather. A dark, moody and sensual fragrance, Bronze Wood & Leather aims to encapsulate the feeling of escaping the everyday life…

I had the pleasure of receiving a bottle of this fragrance, alongside an invitation to my local Jo Malone Boutique where I was able to have a hand & arm massage treatment! I took my Mother along with me and I opted to have my personal favourite scent; Myrrh & Tonka in the body creme whilst my Mother went for her favourite scent; Neroli & Basil body creme. The lovely assistant then sprayed the new Bronze Wood & Leather on top to layer it with our chosen body scents and combined with Myrrh & Tonka, this gave it a deeper, earthier feel to a bold, daring scent! Thank you to the team at Harrogate for inviting us along, we had a lovely morning and the glass of Prosecco wasn’t too bad either…

BRONZE WOOD & LEATHER

Top Notes: Grapefruit
Middle Notes: Juniper, Smoke
Base Notes: Leather, Vetiver

The opening of Bronze Wood & Leather has a real smokey feel to it with a faint underlying note of the Grapefruit coming through giving it a sweet, fruity edge that fades away shortly after into a deeper, muskier scent. During the dry-down, the fragrance becomes predominantly more leather and woody which has a silage that is medium albeit heavy at times with an impressive lasting power with the fragrance staying close to my skin for up to 6 hours.

For me, Bronze Wood & Leather is a fragrance that lives up to its name in terms of the leather aspect and has a strong smokey effect, however, I have found that wearing this alone has been pretty linear and doesn’t alter that much. When comparing the fragrance to other Jo Malone scents from the Cologne Intense Collection, it doesn’t have that special touch that Myrrh & Tonka or Oud & Bergamot both have which is why I would recommend wearing Bronze Wood & Leather with another fragrance to give it another dimension and to add another layer!

To purchase Bronze Wood & Leather, click here and to read more of my reviews on Jo Malone see below:

FRAGRANCE: English Fields, English Oak & Redcurrant, Tobacco & Mandarin, Dark Amber & Ginger Lily, Myrrh & Tonka

EVENTS: Christmas 2016, Christmas 2017, Christmas 2018, Poptastic, The Bloomsbury Set

SKINCARE: Geranium & Walnut Hand Cream, Myrrh & Tonka Shower Oil

Have you smelt Bronze Wood & Leather before? What did you think to it? Have you tried layering it with another fragrance? If so, which one? Let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE 2018

December 13, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

I cannot believe that this Christmas Gift Guide marks my third one, and that 2018 is almost over! Where has this year gone!? That being said, Christmas is my favourite time of the year and I wouldn’t be classed as a true blogger without bringing you a Gift Guide now would I? This Gift Guide contains many wonderful gift ideas such as skincare, fragrance, and scents for your home!

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SKINCARE

Sunday Riley - Holiday Heroes £100

One of my favourite newly found skincare brands of 2018: Sunday Riley! The Tidal - Water Enzyme Brightening Cream has become a new staple in my skincare routine and I love the fresh glow that it gives my skin and how hydrated my skin feels afterwards! To purchase, click here.

SACHAJUAN - Body Collection £68

One of my favourite haircare brands, SACHAJUAN have put together this special Holiday Body Collection which features: Normal Hair Shampoo 100ml, Hair Repair 100ml, Body Wash Shiny Citrus 300ml and Body Lotion Shiny Citrus 300ml. My personal favourite from this Holiday collection is their Hair Repair as my hair is bleached which means that it can often feel dry and limp, so the Hair Repair helps to restore it back to its natural state feeling healthy again! To purchase, click here.

Nivea - Shower & Shave Gift Set

I find that the Sensitive Shaving Foam from Nivea is the perfect way to ensure that my skin feels smooth without irritation, whilst the Sensitive Post Shave Balm helps to cool my skin down! Both of these products have 0% Alcohol within them meaning that there is no burning sensation and this Gift Set also comes with the 250ml Shower Gel which can be used for Body, Face & Hair. To purchase, you can find this Gift Set at a local drugstore such as Boots or Superdrug!

GLAMGLOW - My Little Pony Glitter Mask £30

It wouldn’t be Christmas without a little bit of camp and sparkle right!? These little Glitter Masks from GLAMGLOW are a fun way of getting all of the benefits of their original GRAVITYMUD™ Firming Treatment and help to make the skins contours look more defined after use. I have had a lot of fun using these with friends as they are a great addition for a pamper night! To purchase, click here.

FRAGRANCES

Jo Malone - Orange Bitters Limited Edition (30ml) £48

When I first smelt Orange Bitters a few years ago, I will admit that it wasn’t my favourite scent and I found the opening a little too sharp for me, but after spraying it again this year on a whim, I fell in love with it! A cosy, warm fragrance that has a longevity of 5-6 hours on my skin with a sillage that feels light-medium and is guaranteed to get you a compliment or two! To purchase, click here.

Jimmy Choo - Man Gift Set £45.50

Containing the iconic fragrance ‘Man’ in both Eau De Toilette (50ml) and All-Over Shower Gel (100ml), this gift set is ideal to splurge out on a treat for yourself or a man in your life who enjoys smelling fresh with a woody twist! To purchase, click here.

Jimmy Choo - Eau De Parfum (60ml) £57

Another offering from Jimmy Choo, this time in the female form! Perfect for the special woman in your life who will feel luxurious by wearing this with the notes of Pear Nectar, Sweet Italian Orange, Tiger Orchid, Toffee and Indonesian Patchouli. To purchase, click here.

David Beckham - Inspired By Respect Gift Set £19.95

This gift set by David Beckham contains the Eau De Toilette (40ml) and the Shower Gel (200ml). The fragrance contains notes such as Bergamot, Cardamom and AmberXtreme which has a sophisticated feel, perfect for an evening! To purchase, click here.

Vera Wang - Embrace Green Tea & Pear Blossom Gift Set £40

An elegant fragrance for an elegant woman that feels fresh and floral with notes of Peony, Orange Blossom which then dries down into a muskier take with the note of Sandalwood finishing the fragrance off on a confident note! This gift set contains the Eau De Toilette (30ml) alongside the Body Lotion (75ml). To purchase, click here.

SCENTS FOR THE HOME

Molton Brown - Festive Frankincense & All Spice (180g) and Fabled Juniper Berries & Lapp Pine (180g) £42 each

Molton Brown’s Limited Edition Christmas candles come in two different scents, the first being; Festive Frankincense & All Spice which contains:

Top Notes: Elemi, Caraway, Pimento Berry.
Middle Notes: Frankincense, Cedarwood, Guaiac Wood.
Base Notes: Vetiver, Patchouli, Sandalwood.

For me, out of the two, this one is my favourite! It just screams Christmas and has a spicy feel to the scent which leaves the room smelling wonderfully festive and cosy! To purchase, click here.

The second scent is the; The Fabled Juniper Berries & Lapp Pine which is a complete contrast to the Festive Frankincense and contains:

Top Notes: Juniper Berry, Violet Leaf, Elemi.
Middle Notes: Pine Tree, Cedarwood, Clary Sage.
Base Notes: Balsam, Oakmoss, Musk Notes.

To me, this candle epitomises ‘Winter Wonderland’ and has a real green, earthy tone to the scent! To purchase either of these, click here.

Anya Hindmarch - Chewing Gum £50

When I first saw the name of this candle, I was immediately wanting to get my hands on this! I carry chewing gum around with me everywhere so this candle felt very apt for me. Anyway! When I first smelt this, the notes of Mint and Pink Pepper were the most prominent and when I lit the candle, the scent became fruity and fresh. Perhaps better suited for Spring/Summer! This candle is ideal for those looking for a gift that’s a little quirky and different this Christmas! To purchase, click here.

Chapter Organics - The Remedy Candle £22

Hand poured, all natural, soy wax candle with a single cotton wick, The Remedy Candle is a fusion of Peppermint, Tea Tree and Eucalyptus Essential Oils. This blend of ingredients aims to help those experiencing the symptoms of a cold, nausea, congestion and sickness. I can vouch for this helping to relieve those symptoms as when I was suffering from a cold, due to the being scent rather overpowering and strong, that despite not being able to smell other things, I could smell this candle! The scent lingers in the air long after it has burnt, and I also love that Chapter Organics are based in Boston Spa, just 30 minutes from where I live! To purchase, click here.

Sanctuary Spa - Divine Candle Trio £9.37

This gorgeous little trio of candles by Sanctuary Spa comes in the scents of;

Golden Rose Oud
Signature Sanctuary
Vanilla Gingersnap

All of these are 50g and I have found these to be delightful scents! My personal favourite is the Vanilla Gingersnap, creamy with a spicy kick! To purchase, click here for a list of places to buy from.

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I hope you have enjoyed my Christmas Gift Guide this year as much as I have enjoyed putting it together! All that’s left to say now is, have a fabulous Christmas!

Have you got your hands on any of these gifts mentioned in my Gift Guide? Are there any you would love to try out? Do you have your eye on any of these for yourself? Do you like my choices this year? Let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you, and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!

TOP 5 LUXURY CANDLES THIS AUTUMN

October 09, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

One of the main things I look forward to during the Autumn season is the opportunity to indulge in a new candle! With the weather turning colder, there is no better excuse than to keep warm by snuggling up inside with a freshly lit candle. Candles have come a long way in recent years with many major brands now dipping their toes into the ‘candle pool’ so to speak, and as an avid lover of all things scented, here are my top 5 favourite candles for this Autumnal season!

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BYREDO - AMBRE JAPONAIS

Notes:

Top: Black Pepper, Coriander Seeds
Heart: Sandalwood
Base: Bourbon Vanilla, Sesame

My first purchase from Byredo was in fact the Bibliothéque candle which you can read the review in fragrance form here. As the wax began to burn out due to excessive use by myself (you can’t blame me when the scent is so stunning), I was on the lookout for another candle in replacement and came across Ambre Japonais! A sophisticated, rich and sensual scent that fills the room/space almost instantly. Perfect for the colder seasons as it gives off a warm, snug feeling. If you are a fan of oriental, spicy fragrances then this candle is definitely worth trying out!

To purchase, click here.

DIPTYQUE - BENJOIN

Notes: Patchouli, Indian Cypriol

Benjoin is my all time favourite candle by Diptyque! It is so creamy and powerful yet remains delicate.

A blend that sits just in between caramel and vanilla, this candle comes in the instantly recognisable Diptyque glass jar, a staple in any beauty bloggers photography!

If you like fragrances that are heavy and rich, then I would definitely consider Benjoin!

To purchase, click here.

JO MALONE - POMEGRANATE NOIR

Notes:

Top: Pomegranate
Heart: Casablanca Lily
Base: Guaiacwood

In my opinion Pomegranate Noir is what makes Jo Malone so special. A luxurious scent that fills the air with sophistication and class, I find that Pomegranate Noir can be burnt at any time of the year but smells crisp and fresh during the colder seasons!

If you have ever smelt Pomegranate Noir in fragrance form, then it is a given that you will thoroughly enjoy it in candle form.

To purchase, click here.

MAISON MARGIELA - JAZZ CLUB

Notes: Vanilla, Tonka Bean, Vetiver, Tobacco Leaves

One of the top selling fragrances by Maison Margiela, Jazz Club is inspired by an evening in a hazy bar with the undertones of leather coming through. This candle when lit has a slight boozy feel to it and unlike the others previously, is a lot softer.

That being said, when leaving the area and returning to it moments later, the scent hits you lightly without being too overpowering.

If you are a fan of woody, oriental and spicy fragrances then I would recommend trying out Jazz Club!

At the time of writing this post, the Jazz Club candle has sold out online, but is available to purchase in departments stores such as Selfridges, John Lewis and Harvey Nichols.

COMMODITY - LEATHER

Notes:

Top: Black Leather, Oregano Essence, Juniper Wood Essence
Heart: Cacao Bean Absolute, Myrrh Resinoid, Cade Essence, Akigalawood
Base: Styrax Resinoid, Cedarwood Essence, Haitian Vetiver Essence, Cistus Labdanum Essence from Concrete

A sultry and bold scent that imitates the texture of leather which lingers in the air long after burning! I find this candle to be rather similar to the Jazz Club in that it is a rather soft scent yet still has that spicy throw that fills up the room/area.

If you like leather fragrances (think Tom Ford - Tuscan Leather) then perhaps this candle will suit you!

To purchase, click here.

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Judging by my top 5 candles this year, I think it is safe to say that I like oriental, spicy and sensual scents! I hope you have enjoyed my choices and I would love to know which are your favourite candles! Don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button below, and do leave me a comment so I know which other candles I should look out for.