Orange Blossom by Jo Malone – created in 2003, notes include clementine leaves, orange blossom and water lily.
I got a sample of this perfume a while ago, tried it once, didn’t register either “like” or “dislike” and put it aside. Then last summer when we were having “themed” Fridays in my office, I decided to match my perfumes to the clothes I wore for each of those days. Deep Red by Hugo Boss went for the Red Friday, Pure White Linen by Estee Lauder – for the White Friday, Beyond Paradise by Estee Lauder I wore for the Hawaiian Friday, and when it came to the Orange Friday I chose Orange Blossom. There was just a little perfume left in the sample vial and I used it all up – just for the concept, without thinking about it. And unexpectedly I liked it very much. It starts sweet on the skin but then gets dryer and stays like that for hours. A friend of mine uses Orange Blossom cologne layered with Vanilla & Anise by Jo Malone and it smells very good on her but I still use it “straight”. I didn’t go for a full bottle (at least yet) but I bought several samples and it’ll do for now.
There are many other colognes in the line, I’ve tested more than I covered in my weeklong test drive but I decided to leave some of them for other stories I would tell one day. I’m sure that there is at least one perfume by Jo Malone for everybody.
I realize that Jo Malone brand doesn’t require my protection: it’s not a niche brand any more and Estee Lauder that owns it now will eventually kill whatever good there is in it. I’m looking forward to see what will come from the new company created by Jo Malone – Jo Loves. And still I feel bad when fellow perfumistas dismiss the brand completely.
Read a real review for Orange Blossom by Jo Malone at Bois de Jasmin.
Image: my own
See all episodes:
Weeklong Test Drives, Season 3: Jo Malone
WTD, Episode 3.1: Kohdo Wood Collection by Jo Malone
WTD, Episode 3.2: Tea Fragrance Blends by Jo Malone
WTD, Episode 3.3: Nectarine Blossom & Honey, Lime Basil & Mandarin and Pomegranate Noir by Jo Malone
WTD, Episode 3.4: In the Search for the Perfect Linden
Undina's Looking Glass 
Must be fun matching the outfit with perfume!
Jo Malone is a good. But the problem I have with Jo Malone is the intensity and staying power. I really like Vanilla and Anise, also like Bergamot and Oud from the Cologne Intense series.
I love the photo with oranges and lemons :)
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It was fun! Our colored Fridays stopped before I ran out of perfumes… Hm… I should probably push to reinstate them!
For me staying power varies from cologne to cologne. As I mentioned in the previous episode, French Lime Blossom stayed on me for more than eight hours.
I still haven’t had a chance to try any colognes from the Intense collection (regular stores do not carry them) but I will eventually get to test them.
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Jo Malone colognes…I’m always more intrigued by the idea than by the reality of this line. The names conjure up wondrous things in my head, compared to which the actual scents tend to seem…insipid. I have one JM that I like and which works well on my (Blue Agave and Cacao), and that’s it. I never smelled Dark Amber and Ginger Lily, but after reading your description, I wish I had! I will revisit this line next time I pass through Heathrow.
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Interesting: Blue Agave & Cacao was the cologne that absolutely didn’t work for me. I should probably revisit it now, my testes might have changed since I smelled it last time.
If you have a chance, try also English Pear & Freesia – the latest cologne in the main line. But, in my opinion, even one perfume in a line is a good result – taking into account how many brands are out there.
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Orange Blossom was my first full bottle purchase and I drained it years ago….funny but when I first smelled it from the sample I got I did not care for it…but the more I applied the more I fell for it….I think it is such a pretty scent for spring. I wish they made it in soap format…the soap offerings are so limiting in terms of scents offered…they really need to give us more choices :)
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I tried this one many times – and no. I still love it on my friend, and one of the former co-workers wore it nicely, but on my skin it just doesn’t work. I’m a little surprised: I know by now that nectarine/peach/apricot (as in fruit) notes do not work on me, but this one is blossom… Still no.
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