Each year, Jo Malone London launches a special edition fragrance for the Christmas season. Last year, it was the Green Almond and Redcurrant cologne. This year, Christmas brings around the Jo Malone White Moss and Snowdrop cologne.
Truth to tell, I wasn’t sure what to expect.
While I love smelling the smell of Christmas around me, I much rather not wear it, thank you. The smell of Christmas to me is everything we have been taught is symbolic of Christmas – the woody resin notes of pine cones, the warm spiciness of mulled wine, the smoky smells of a crackling fire, the crisp winter air, gingerbread cookies!
None of which is present here in hot, muggy, rainy, squelchy Malaysia.
Sigh. LOL! 😀
So I approached Jo Malone White Moss & Snowdrop with a touch of trepidation. Was it going to evoke all these images of a White Christmas that jars terribly with my warm (currently wet) surroundings?
Happily for me, no it does not. In fact, I’d not go so far to call this a Christmas scent, for it is one I’d happily wear any day of the year.
Do note where I live – Malaysia, where it is warm, humid, sunny and rainy for most part of the year. I therefore will not know how this performs in a cooler, drier climate. My experience with fragrances in such climes is that I tend to gravitate towards something warm, heavy and spicy and they tend to linger. That happens less in a tropical country.
However, do note also my scent preference – warm, woody, spicy with a hint of floral. Never sweet, never gourmand, never overtly floral with the odd exception.
And happily for me, Jo Malone White Moss & Snowdrop nestles itself comfortably in my list of preferences! 😀
In many ways, White Moss & Snowdrop makes me think of a watered down 154, which happens to be one of my favourite Jo Malone scents. I did warn you that I prefer woody, spicy scents! LOL! If you’ve ever smelled 154 you’d know what I mean – it’s strong, woody, spicy and well, strong!
I was expecting something floral, because the iridescent shine of the bottle brought it to mind. It is like the prismatic shine you get when the light hits a crystal or a Christmas bauble. Apt, for the season, and subtle.
But when I eventually wore it, I did not detect the floral notes until later. For me, it wears as a woody scent, slightly warm, rather earthy. The sort of warm earthiness you get while walking through the woods. The smell of earth and trees.
After a moment, I detect a light hint of floral (which sits well with me, since I do not prefer overtly sweet, floral scents) I know not what a Snowdrop smells like, except to say that I used to be very pleased to see them on my way to classes at University.
I used to have to tramp uphill along a tree-lined path through the green campus, and Spring would see yellow daffodils and white snowdrops peeping from the soil. It was cold as heck, but the sight of the cheery flowers was a sign that this chill too shall soon pass (and with it, exams) 😛
I hadn’t thought about this for a while, and as scent does, White Moss & Snowdrop brought back those memories and made me a little homesick for the old Alma Mater 🙂
In our warmer weather, White Moss and Snowdrop makes for a lovely introduction to a warm, woody fragrance. It grounds a sweeter or lighter floral, so you can use this to layer under something a little lighter, like English Pear and Freesia, or you can even use this to bring out the depth of the new Honeysuckle and Davana scent.
I found myself enjoying it tremendously, with one little issue.
The longevity on me is quite poor 🙁
I do get the occasional whiff after an hour or two, but it doesn’t cocoon me in scent the way 154 or English Oak and Hazelnut does. Even Honeysuckle and Davana lasts longer on me, which is surprising, as that is more floral and lighter on me.
I do however, still smell it on my clothes when I take them off, so perhaps it’s still there and others can smell it. But I can’t. And really, I wear perfumes for me, not for anyone else.
If you’re looking to add something different to your perfume collection, and if you don’t find yourself gravitating towards woody scents, then White Moss & Snowdrop will serve as an introductory scent. It paves the way for you to explore a different side of the perfume world.
If you really don’t favour it on its own, then you can use it to add warmth and depth to a lighter, fresh or floral scent. Jo Malone fragrances are versatile that way 🙂
Have you smelled the Jo Malone White Moss & Snowdrop cologne? Is it something you like?
Paris B
Jo Malone White Moss & Snowdrop Cologne is available for a limited time while stocks last. Do note that fragrance is very personal as different people will perceive scent differently so this serves as a guide not gospel
PRICE: RM540 | US$140 | £96 for 100ml
WHERE TO BUY: Jo Malone London stores.
WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who favours a woody scented fragrance, Anyone who wants to try a lighter woody scent with a hint of florals
Love Jo Malone but they have poor staying power. Out of 5 fragrances I own, the longest lasting is Nectarine Blossom and Honey, around 4 hours.
They are a cologne, which explains the shorter time it lasts. I do find that layering them helps prolong the scent and if you have more than one, it’s nice too!
Unfortunately, layering didn’t work as well. I’ve tried layering two fragrances. I think layering with body lotion works best but I’m just too lazy to apply body lotion during the day ?
Yeah I don’t do body lotions either. I don’t like how it feels on the skin. Another thing I like to do is to spritz on my hair and clothes as well. It lasts longer sometimes, and I catch interesting whiffs as the day passes 🙂
Hi Paris, smelt this yesterday in store but I bought 154 instead… Thanks a lot for the lovely review.
YAY FOR 154!! It’s my absolute favourite Jo Malone fragrance and I do hope you love it as much as I do! It’s so rare to meet someone who enjoys it too because most people take a sniff, look at me and say “It smells like a man’s perfume!” 😛
Ya. My friend also didn’t like it. You wrote before that your favourite is 154 so I purposely asked for a sniff. And I feel that I must have it. It is such an unusual fragrance and should have a longer staying power. The KLIA2 duty free just brought in Jo Malone counter and they are available at the domestic arrival and departure area. Jo Malone is so addictive… wallet burnt. Please write more about Jo Malone, Paris, love your writing.
Aww you’re too kind! I will try to share more perfume stuff as I go along 🙂 And I’m so happy that you enjoy 154 too! Seriously, so few people do, it’s refreshing to find someone else who does 😀 Thanks for the heads up about the KLIA2 duty free (they’re also at KLIA!). A little saving, but hey, a little saving is better than no saving! You remind me that I should write about 154. I realised I haven’t!