Jo Malone London Dark Amber & Ginger Lily Cologne Intense Review

Eventually the weather turned to be really chilly here. In the mornings it is almost below 10 degrees Celsius. I have even heard that it had snowed on high lands. Considering that it didn't snow for almost two years straight, it has rather been a shock to see something white falling from the skies. Although some people like and miss snow, I am perfectly happy to live somewhere where it is not that cold all year around.

As the weather changes, I started to go for warmer scents with spices and occasionally a touch of incense. This season I have been loving Jo Malone Mimosa & Cardamom (reviewed here) for its inviting spicy opening and floral heart with an unusual touch of Mimosa. As it gets colder, I wanted to enrich the beautiful composition of Mimosa & Cardamom by emphasizing the spiciness, adding more sensual florals and neutralizing the sweetness of the Tonka Bean with something deeper, stronger and a little darker. This is when I layered it to perfection with Jo Malone London Dark Amber & Ginger Lily Cologne Intense for my signature scent of this season. Here are my thoughts about Dark Amber & Ginger Lily Cologne Intense.

Jo Malone London Dark Amber & Ginger Lily Cologne Intense

Jo Malone London line consists of simple catchy scents as well as some with slightly more depth and complexity. All in all its aesthetics is about the beauty of the minimal. Don't expect unfolding layers after layers, hours after hours but instead you will catch a glimpse of something beautiful and preserve it by all of its lightness while thinking "Isn't simple the best?".

Created by no one else than Jo Malone herself for Kohdo Wood Collection in 2009, I thought Jo  Malone London Dark Amber & Ginger Lily Cologne Intense would make a great transition to all the Japanese holiday Collections I am about to present you during the next days. The notes of the Dark Amber & Ginger Lily are provided as follows:

Top Notes

Black Cardamom, Ginger and Pink Pepper

Heart Notes 

Jasmine, Orchid, Water Lily and Rose;

Base Notes

Leather, Sandalwood, Kyara incense, Patchouli and Black Amber.

Kyara incence in the base notes is special to the Kohdo ceremony, which is a variant of oud (agar wood) and for Kohdo ceremony, it is usually mixed with Sandalwood. Another material which was used in the ceremony is Ginger Lily (aka Hedychium). It is a flowering plant from ginger family. As agarwood (oud) became very rare, the price of the original Kohdo scent has increased tremendously. This lead to the sad fact that Kohdo ceremony is not performed widely anymore.

Jo Malone London Dark Amber & Ginger Lily Cologne Intense

If I were to use three words to describe Jo Malone London Dark Amber & Ginger Lily Cologne Intense, these would be "clean", "inviting" and "creamy". The opening reveals a strongly spicy with a very inviting and catchy aroma which might make you say "Don't judge me if I have to smell my wrist again and again". Soon enough cardamom and pepper cools down as the beautiful bouquet of the heart reveals with a straight kick of ambery notes. As it reaches the base, it becomes ever creamier and woodier. Throughout I find Dark Amber & Ginger Lily clean but with an unusual spicy feel to it. This is perfect because I wouldn't associate a darker, messier scent with Japan. Its almost meditational perfect blend with a touch of light incense is perfect to set the mood for Koyo (autumn leaves watching period).

Jo Malone London Dark Amber & Ginger Lily Cologne Intense

I am loving the combination of Dark Amber & Ginger Lily Cologne Intense and Mimosa & Cardamom Cologne layered. I feel like mixing good quality samples for a perfect tune. I must have told you that I studied Ton Meister some years ago. I feel like the frequencies which are missing to me in Mimosa & Cardamom is perfectly filled with Dark Amber & Ginger Lily. The base notes, a deeper woody presence as well as more sensual flower heart with a touch of rose and white flowers to compliment care free mimosa. There two together is my signature scent for this season. 

What is your signature scent for the season?

Disclaimer: The product in this post was sent free of charge for my consideration. 
I am not paid for this review. All opinions are honest and my own.