I first tried Jo Malone Bitter Orange & Chocolate sixteen hours ago at Nordstrom. My usual policy is to wait at least a week before reviewing a perfume so that I can be sure that I haven’t missed anything, but Bitter Orange & Chocolate has no hidden depths to plumb. This perfume does what it says on the label. It smells like chocolates (milk, not dark- I’d estimate 40% cacao) filled with orange liqueur. I’m not sure if I’ve ever tasted a bitter orange, but there’s certainly nothing bitter or tart about the very smooth Bitter Orange & Chocolate. This is a relatively sophisticated chocolate scent, sweet without ever dissolving into a sugary mess. Bitter Orange & Chocolate is a simple, attractive fragrance. I consider it a perfectly good option for fans of the chocolate-orange combo.
In general, I would say that the Sugar & Spice collection is weaker than Jo Malone’s 2011 Tea collection. Most of the effort seems to have gone into the (absolutely adorable) packaging. Bitter Orange & Chocolate strikes me as the standout, and it’s a solidly three-star perfume for me.
SCENTS OF SELF 
Too bad I can’t try them. The pakagings are so happy and the scents sound lovely too. I would be happy to smell them even if they all turned out to be not suitable for me.
The packaging is fantastic. I’m a little ashamed to admit it, but I have bought a perfume solely for the packaging before: Harajuku Lovers Jingle G. Of course, it was far below Jo Malone prices!
I used to frequent a coffee shop in my grad school days called Clementine. Their signature drink was “The Clementine,” basically an orange mocha. It was good. I am sort of hoping that this perfume will evoke that drink. Anyone know of an orange-chocolate-coffee perfume?
That sounds AMAZING. Maybe this would layer well with JM Black Vetyver Cafe!
ooh, good call. I seriously want to go to Nordstrom and experiment with this idea.
I’m testing Ginger Biscuit and (at least what I think is) Redcurrent & Cream. They’re both fairly linear, but nicely done and pretty. I’m leaning towards the Ginger Biscuit though I have to say, the Redcurrent & Cream is one of the nicer red fruits I’ve smelled lately, the sourness keeps it from being too ditsy. I sniffed all of them yesterday and I have high hopes for Elderflower & Gooseberry (that’s the one I meant to spritz), and Lemon Tart, if it lasts well, may end up replacing my near-empty decant of Carthusia Mediterraneo.
Ginger Biscuit was my early favorite too. It must have been Redcurrent & Cream that you tried, nothing red berry-ish about Elderflower & Gooseberry.
I want to try the Elderflower & Gooseberry. The others aren’t really calling my name but I may very well love one of them. Who knows?
I liked Elderflower & Gooseberry, because it reminds me of the elderflower liquor in my favorite gin cocktail!
Well in my case Bitter Orange and Chocolate is calling out my name! LOL
Any chocolate lover would enjoy it, I think! Except for my mom, who called it “nasty”. Whatever, Mom!
LOL Whatever Mom!
Bitter Orange and Chocolate smells wonderful! I want to eat it! I just don’t want to wear it.
LOL! Thank you for reporting back, Undina!
I’ve been curious about these scents, but will downrate my expectations accordingly now – a bit like the UK’s Triple Star Moody rating!
Thank you for injecting some current events into my woefully uncultured brain- I’d never even heard of the Moody rating!
Thanks for confirming what I kind’ve expected (but wanted to hope otherwise) about these. 😦 No pastel caps for me, I guess!