We are all very familiar with Jo Malone London fragrances by now. It went from being a bit of a niche and cult brand, to one that is now fairly mainstream. But did you know that the lady who created the brand no longer helms it?
After Jo Malone sold her brand to the Estee Lauder Group, she later set up a new little brand – Jo Loves.
I got into Jo Malone London perfumes a little late, as compared to many other fans. There are scents I love from the brand, but there are also popular scents that I can’t identify with. It took me a while to find one that I love, but find it I did in the end.
With Jo Loves, despite never smelling them before, it was a little easier, and I find them a little familiar.
Jo Loves – By Jo Malone
Based on my experience with Jo Malone London perfumes, I’d found the scents created by Jo Malone to be rather distinctive. They tend to be clear, simple fragrances.
They aren’t heavy, nor do they take a long time for me to decide if I’d like them, or if I might have wait for it to settle. I find them simple enough, that I can decide quite quickly.
That is both a good and bad thing, depending on who you talk to. Fragrance afficionados who enjoy dissecting every nuance of scent and ingredient that goes into a perfume might find it too basic.
I don’t look for that in a perfume. When I look to a perfume, I look for a story. I look for how I feel when I wear it. I look for memories it brings, or memories I can make with it.
My taste and preference in scent have also changed through the years, so it can always be a little tricky, trying to purchase a scent blindly.
RELATED READING: I find my scent preferences changing in accordance with my lifestyle READ HERE
I had been hankering for a Jo Loves fragrance for what it seems like, for ever! I haven’t visited the UK in years, and perfumes are no longer shipped by air, due to their flammable nature. So, I bided my time.
Recently, a reader I came to know made me an offer I could not refuse. She offered to help me bring back something from the UK, if I had anything I wanted. I pounced! :D
I knew JUST what I wanted – Jo Loves fragrances! :D
Jo by Jo Loves – A Fragrance
The first one I put in my basket was Jo by Jo Loves. The reason was very simple.
The reason was because, Jo said this about this perfume – “Over the last 25 years I have created fragrances for all kinds of reasons, but this one I created for myself.”
The last time she created a fragrance for herself, using her favourite scent notes, I fell HARD!
RELATED READING: If they stop making this Jo Malone London scent, I swear, I’d boycott the brand! READ HERE
I have no access to the brand, and therefore have no idea how it might smell. But a quick glance at the scent notes for Jo Loves told me that it’d work for me.
But first, can we just swoon over that beautiful, rich, red bottle? Jo by Jo Loves was created as a celebration of precious moments, and there is no more celebratory colour than red!
The scent notes are Grapefruit, Bitter Orange, Lime and Spearmint, and it all comes through. I was a little concerned initially, because citrus scents can go right, or go very wrong on my skin.
But smelling Jo by Jo Loves is so uplifting! There is a lovely burst of fresh lime that settles down quickly to that of slightly sweet, tangy orange and grapefruit, tempered by a hint of bitterness. It smells almost like the zest you get from peeling a fresh grapefruit. The spearmint isn’t too obvious, but what I think it does, is cut through all that citrus, making it smell fresh instead of sickly, stickily sweet.
The other notes are guaiac wood, cedar, vetiver, hedione and black pepper. And it is these notes I live for, for this is what changes Jo by Jo Loves from just another citrus scent, to one that I enjoy wearing.
I find the fresh burst of citrus notes settle quickly on my skin. In just a little while, the wood scents start coming through, and then, it takes a gentle slant towards smelling just a touch masculine – like a shower-fresh scent. This is the sort of scent I go for!
My Jo by Jo Loves fragrance enters my life at a time when a lot of change is happening. It is comforting for me, to wear it, luxuriating in scents that are at once familiar, yet different, evoking feelings that are familiar. Yet, different.
Longevity isn’t very good, and that I think, will put off most people. But it comes down to your scent preferences.
It is a scent that I enjoy wearing, and I like how it makes me feel cherished. It isn’t the most unique scent in the world, but it makes me happy. And I think that’s as important too! :)
PRICE: £70.00 for 50ml , £115.00 for 100ml
WHERE TO BUY: Jo Loves website, Cult Beauty, Space NK (fragrance is not shipped outside the UK)
Jo Loves – Green Orange & Coriander
I was already troubling someone to carry perfumes back for me, so what was another bottle right? Who knows when the opportunity would arise again!
So my next pick in the line is Jo Loves Green Orange & Coriander.
My primary reason was one of curiousity. I am not the world’s biggest fan of coriander, the aromatic herb found in most South East Asian cooking. But it’s a taste I’ve come to acquire, if not appreciate.
I was curious therefore how it might work in a perfume.
Very nicely, as it turns out! :D
Jo Malone says this about Green Orange & Coriander – “This brings back memories of a lazy day in New York. With just one spritz, I’m reminded of Sunday brunch, wrapped up in a cashmere sweater, enjoying a glass of smooth red wine in front of a crackling log fire.”
Not having been to New York, nor having much memories of being wrapped up in cashmere by a log fire, what I can say is that Green Orange & Coriander is a unique scent.
It opens up for me with a burst of citrus that is more sweet than tangy, and a little spicy. I definitely smell the black pepper in this one. But the green herbaceous notes of coriander quickly mask this sweetness, and that of the tonka bean base.
I don’t know about others, but I get a slightly musky scent of honey coming through. It’s just enough that I stop short of smelling like a condiment or a tasty dessert. But it’s interesting enough that I haven’t smelled a similar scent elsewhere.
I like it. Naturally, I chose it LOL! :P
I’ve read reviews that say that the Green Orange & Coriander fragrance smells masculine. I rather beg to differ. I don’t think it smells any more masculine than Jo by Jo Loves.
I do consider Green Orange & Coriander a rather more casual scent. I’d spritz it on for daily wear, or if I was going somewhere casual. It’s not something I’d think very hard about using.
Perhaps one day, if the opportunity should arise, and I find myself curled up in cashmere, by a log fire in New York, I’d wear it then, and see if it changes how I feel :D
PRICE: £70.00 for 50ml , £115.00 for 100ml
WHERE TO BUY: Jo Loves website, Cult Beauty, Space NK (fragrance is not shipped outside the UK)
Will I get more Jo Loves fragrances?
Yes I will. However, I have rather slim pickings to choose from, due to my scent preferences.
One of the most famous and popular Jo Loves scent is Pomelo. I am however, leery of trying this, as I fear how the grapefruit scent will turn on my skin. The last time I wore a straight grapefruit scent, it smelled of pee :P
Another that is popular is White Rose & Lemon Leaves. However, I do not favour rose scents, so it’s something I will have to smell for myself. Perhaps one day, if I head to the UK I will.
What I have enjoyed, from using both Jo by Jo Loves and Green Orange & Coriander, is how much care I perceive goes into crafting these scents. They are familiar, yet different. They smell clean and lovely, like what you get in Jo Malone London, but more complex.
It feels more loved, and I love that feel and vibe that I get from Jo Loves perfumes.
I also love the construction and packaging. It is all very minimalist and simple, with clean, basic lines. But when you lift the cap, you realize that it’s secured by a strong magnet, and suddenly, the dynamics change. Suddenly, it feels so much more luxurious. I love it! :D
What I might do however, as I am unable to purchase the fragrances, is to purchase the bath and body products in the scents I’m interested in. That way, I will be able to get a feel for the scent, to see if it might be something I’d like.
Have you tried or do you own any Jo Loves perfumes? What’s your favourite?
I am very happy with both Jo Loves perfumes I bought. They both lived up to my expectations, and I look forward to making many happy memories with them, going forward :)
Paris B
I have the 50ml bottles of the following:
Pomelo
Jo By Jo Loves
White Rose & Lemon Leaves
No 42. The Flower Shop
Mango Thai Lime
Jo By Jo Loves is a more fresh and citrusy version of Pomelo, it’s definitely the scent of squeezing fresh citrus juice with hand :)
White Rose & Lemon Leaves smells like delicate rose petal, the scent is not intrusive like typical rose scented products, it stays close to the skin and does not SHOUT!
No. 42 smells like..what can I say, flower shop! Its a non intrusive floral scent, it does not have any hint of citrus like White Rose & Lemon Leaves. Its pure floral!
Mango Thai Lime is a sharp lime scent with slight sweetness of mango, of all the above this is the most DISTINCTIVE scent. I love mango so buying this is no brainer :) In fact this is my first Jo Loves perfume where the packaging was still in red box.
Now I am eyeing Mandrine ;-)
Thanks for the breakdown of scent Bryan, it is incredibly helpful! I have been particularly intrigued by the White Rose & Lemon Leaves, and it’s very helpful to know that it’s not a rose-rose scent that extends far beyond your body! I shall have to look into it next. I’m not sure about Mango Thai Lime though. I think I might have to smell that one first, because fruity scents like mango can play havoc with my skin.