Say hello to my first Jo Malone purchase. Yes, you read that right: First. Ever. I'm so excited about it. Usually when I used to walk past the store, I was too intimidated to go in, because it was super fancy and i'm... well, not. I do have my fancy moments but I don't really claim to be it, so it was a little overwhelming. I did however, wander in one sunny day last week (the sun in-between the hailstones and tropical rain) and start spritzing away, not really expecting to fancy that many scents. Boy was I wrong. I'm a huge fan of citrus scents, ones that are super fresh, but also have something hidden behind them, a spicy warmth or something. Basically, I didn't even know what I was looking for, but I found myself drawn to two scents in particular. Lime Basil and Mandarin as well as Wood Sage and Sea Salt. One fresh and teaming with citrus, the other earthy and reminiscent of bracing sea winds. I was in a bind.
Ironically, I'd originally gone in to see if there were any of the Herb Garden Collection left, but unable to locate any cologne's that weren't Wild Strawberry and Parsley (I longed to spritz Sorrel and Lemon Thyme), I decided to wander down the impeccably organised glass shelves and see what caught my eye, or my nose, more specifically. Some of the most beautiful glass bottles that would certainly look gorgeous on anyone's dressing table gave way to some of the most amazing scents - so as I stepped down the wall of fragrance, half a dozen tester strips in my hand, I came to a conundrum. That's when I'm going to jump back to my last paragraph. Wood Sage and Sea Salt or Lime Basil and Mandarin? Earthy or citrus? It took some serious deciding, but in the end, the sun cascading through the large windows convinced me that something fruity was needed, and thus, Lime Basil and Mandarin made its way back home with me. We made the hour and a half journey home, and now it's sitting, pride of place on some wonderful marble, on my dressing table. Cue the dreamy sigh.
Jo Malone describes this as a modern classic, 'Peppery Basil and aromatic white thyme bring an unexpected twist to the scent of limes on a Caribbean breeze'. Cue that dreamy sigh again. Doesn't it just sound like the kinda holiday that you should be having? I can almost see me on a sun drenched beach, turquoise waters lapping languidly, with a drink in one hand and this fragrance in the other. Me, a dreamer? Whatever gave you that impression?
The combination of lime and mandarin would make for a divine fragrance (or cocktail) but with the basil thrown in and a sprinkling of thyme, this makes it's base notes seem really earth and warm. In my opinion, that makes it almost peppery and spicy, which makes this fragrance so unique; it has so many levels, and as it warms throughout the day, I get different wafts of ingredients. One moment it's zesty lime, the next is a subtle spice of basil, and then it's a heedy warmth of woodiness from the thyme. Plus a splash of mandarin, so what is there not to love about this. I can spritz this on my pulse points in the morning, and still have the lingering scent clinging to my skin by the evening, making this Lime Basil and Mandarin Cologne one of the longest lasting fragrances in my collection.
It's really dreamy, and just perfect for what I wanted. Now I just need Wood Sage and Sea Salt to make its way into my collection. Lime Basil and Mandarin is £42 for 30ml from Jo Malone.
Ohh, I've heard so much about these fragrances! At first I was thinking, "Lime basil and mandarin? how strange" but your description make it sound quite down-to-earth and maybe even subtle. As in, strangers around you won't be thinking, "uggh, perfume" maybe just "oohh, I'm hungry?" Yum. Almost makes it sound like it could smell a little "floral" of sorts, instead of sweet. Which is always a good thing. Not gonna lie, really makes me want to smell them all haha!
ReplyDeleteKindly,
Sheree
Wood Sage & Sea Salt is my everyday. I'd bath in it if I could.
ReplyDeleteLauren I agree, I would bathe in it if I could also!x
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