One woman who knows her way around an iconic, distinctive fragrance is perfume legend, Jo Malone CBE, who created a fragrance empire not once but twice. She established her namesake brand Jo Malone London in 1991 before selling it to beauty giant Estee Lauder in 1999 (for undisclosed millions) and leaving in 2006, then reignited her love of perfume in her second venture, Jo Loves, five years later.
You may be familiar with her work (in fact, you might even be wearing it right now) – she’s the nose behind legendary scents such as Jo Malone London’s Lime, Basil & Mandarin, Pomegranate Noir and Earl Grey & Cucumber as well as Jo Loves’ Pomelo fragrance and Red Truffle 21.
She brought back simplistic, cool-girl scents in an era that was flooded with heavy, complicated perfumes. The hallmarks of her work are clear throughout – straightforward, sleek fragrances in straightforward, sleek bottles. One or two notes take centre stage – but are more often than not, given a quirky twist that brings the scent to life. Her creations are distinctive and highly addictive.
Now she’s brought her magic touch to the high street, teaming up with Zara on the new Emotions Collection by Jo Loves, an edit of eight scents created by Malone, which – you guessed it – are simple, sleek and housed in ultra-chic clear, glass bottles.
“I am delighted to join Zara on this amazing adventure of creativity and collaboration,” says Malone. “Our first collection is drawn on the global heritage of both brands, Zara and Jo Loves; using ingredients I have loved for many years. Every fragrance has been crafted with personality and a voice to tell its story in a unique fashion. It is full of imagination and artistry.”
As with all of her scents, her collection with Zara was crafted to tell a story or create a moment through scent. My favourite, Vetiver Pamplemousse, is a bright grapefruit reminiscent of “a crisp white cotton shirt layered with citrus cologne – an everyday accessory,” explains Jo (if you’re a fan of Lime, Basil & Mandarin or Pomelo, you’ll love this). Her riotous Bohemian Bluebells “breathes a Bohemian spirit. It’s full of bold, unexpected notes,” she says. Namely lavender, hyacinth, sandalwood and patchouli. It’s a punchy, free-spirited concoction that’s heavy on lilting lavender with the rest of the notes languishing in the background. “It’s like nothing you have ever smelt before,” says Jo.
Waterlily Tea Dress is another smash hit. It’s soft, leafy and delicious with chintzy notes of bergamot, blackcurrant, clary sage, spearmint, basil and musks. The inspiration? “Soft jazz music plays in the background, picnics on the lawn, a vintage tea dress floats by in the gentle breeze,” says Jo.
Ebony Wood is a rich, sophisticated affair. It doesn’t contain any pomegranate, but it has a touch of Jo’s iconic Pomegranate Noir about it – ripe, luscious and tantalizing. Elsewhere, Amalfi Sunray is a warm, breezy citrus, Tubereuse Noir is a smoky floral, Fleur D’Oranger is a light, elegant orange blossom and Fleur De Patchouli is confident and alluring – consider it the leather jacket of perfumes, tough but familiar.
The main difference between this venture and Malone’s last? The price point. The generously sized 90ml bottle is priced at £25.99, 40ml bottles cost £15.99 and the 10ml taster is £5.99. So why not pick up a couple…