I’ve been counting down the days until The Herb Garden finally sprouted up. (See what I did there, guys? Don’t make me make a “green thumb” pun.) It’s the first collection from Jo Malone’s new in-house perfumer, Anne Flipo, the woman behind icons like L’Artisan Parfumeur La Chasse Aux Papillons and Alexander McQueen MyQueen. The last Jo Malone to really impress me was Blackberry & Bay back in 2012, so I can’t wait to watch Flipo work her magic.
With one exception, the five scents in The Herb Garden are a lot more ambitious than the last few Jo Malone collections (Rock The Ages, London Rain, Sugar & Spice). Unfortunately, they’re still plagued by that notoriously dismal Jo Malone lasting power. As always, the limited-edition bottles are deeply cute.
Nasturtium & Clover
Notes: Rocket, lemon, clover, nasturtium, jasmine, vetiver
My favorite of the five, even though I’m still not sure what “nasturtium” is. (Turns out it’s watercress! Was “Watercress & Clover” not glamorous enough?) N&C is a leafy, vegetal green fragrance with quite a bit of depth. Immediately reminded me of a much less sweet L’Artisan Parfumeur Mimosa Pour Moi.
Wild Strawberry & Parsley
Notes: Strawberry, Blackcurrant, Tomato Leaves, Parsley, Violet
Probably the most conceptually interesting scent in the collection. WS & P is an aquatic fruity fragrance, a tricky balancing act between the sweetness of the berry notes and the tartness of tomato leaf. A little too sweet by the end, but it mostly works. Not distinguishably strawberry.
Carrot Blossom & Fennel
Notes: Carrot, Rose, Orange Blossom, Iris
An odd duck. Rooty iris, sweet, syrup-y orange blossom, and a touch of spice. I was hoping for a lot more carrot, like L’Artisan’s Fleur de Carotte, but I do have to give CB & F credit for being the only one of the five scents to last more than half an hour on my skin.
Sorrel & Lemon Thyme
Notes: Lemon, Bigarde, Petitgrain, Sorrel, Lemon Thyme, Rosemary, Geranium, Moss
The weakest link of the five. This thin, tart lemon scent smells much closer to a citrus cleaning product than an actual citrus fruit.
Lavender & Coriander
Notes: Lavender, Coriander, Sage, Tonka bean
Barbershop lavender, dry and sweet. Nicer than Jo’s other lavender, Amber & Lavender, but nothing groundbreaking.
Disclaimers: This post is not sponsored and does not contain affiliate links. All samples were generously provided by the wonderful Katri, the most helpful and knowledgable sales associate at Bloomingdales Tysons Corner.
SCENTS OF SELF 