I hope you are all having a wonderful week. We just went to a family dinner to a lovely restaurant by the sea. Fish was great. We have eaten John Dory (Peter's fish), a very ugly looking but super yummy fish, recommended if you are fish lover. The way it was cooked, it tasted even better than my all time favorite Sea Bass. The best Sea bass I have eaten up to date was in Hong Kong. I need to go there again.
The blog front is rather busy with all the fall collection reviews but today I would like to show you my favorite summer scent at the moment instead. Jo Malone Colognes are great for hot and humid days, when less is more. I like them all year around but they truly shine in summer. I have been obsessed about Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay recently so I would like to share my thoughts with you today.
 |
| Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay |
Jo Malone doesn't like to list the notes of a fragrance but instead leaves it up to your imagination and perception. They described Blackberry & Bay as follows:
"Inspired by childhood memories of blackberry picking. A burst of deep, tart blackberry juice, blending with the freshness of just-gathered bay and brambly woods. A scent of innocence."
The nose behind Blackberry & Bay is Fabrice Pellegrin who have created some of my favorite perfumes for Diptyque. You can find a great interview with him about Blackberry & Bay at Italian Vogue here. I found it interesting that he mentions "Lima Basil" as one of his favorite Jo Malone fragrances because I can see traces of it in Blackberry & Bay. They both have a similar addictive property which doesn't appeal the first time around but grows in time. At one point you can't do without them and keep reaching for them again and again. Blackberry & Bay is a less intimidating, more appealing, more feminine version of Lime Basil, which grew on me to the point I have to get a full bottle soon as my mini sized one is empty.
 |
| Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay |
Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay opens with a delicious fruity kick of black berry and citrusy notes of grape fruit. It almost reminds me of opening a bottle of black berry juice and pouring it into a glass. Although it is a little sweet during the first whiff, it is not your syrupy sweet fragrance. The green touch of bay leaves with a slight fresh spicy feeling carries this blend to a unisex border. The white florals such as Lily of the Valley or Jasmine Fabrice Pellegrin is revealing in the interview never become significant but rather makes the mixture richer and more complex. After several hours of linear but a very unique and pleasant fruity and green heart, the dry down has a wonderful woodiness. Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay is something to stop by the counter and try out as its addictive property is so hard to describe. My lovely friend Linda recommended it to me as "one fragrance one should not miss from Jo Malone line" and I can see why. Read her review here.
As a combination, I prefer Blackberry & Bay with white florals as it strengthens the heart and makes it more feminine. I am loving it lately with Osmanthus Blossom from the recent Blue Skies & Blossoms Collection (Plum Blossom and Sakura Blossom are reviewed here). I couldn't help but picked up Osmanthus Blossom later on to complete my collection. It pairs so perfectly with Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay.
 |
| Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay |
Final thoughts: Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay is an addictive juicy berry which is not sweet but green due to the green notes of bay leaves with a woody dry down. Try it out and you won't be able to resist. Black Berry & Bay is my most used summer fragrance this year.
What is your favorite from Jo Malone line? Any recommendations?
Disclaimer: The product in this post were provided free of charge for my consideration.
I am not paid for this review. All opinions are honest and my own.