Dapple in Sunlit English Fields with Jo Malone
Jo Malone always brings us on the most wondrous journeys through nature’s beautiful landscapes. From the mystical oak forest of last fall, Jo Malone now transports us to sun-dappled golden fields filled with ripened grains and wild flowers. A collection unlike any others before, the new Jo Malone English Fields celebrates the essence of the English landscape in 5 sophisticated scents.
For the first time, cereals and grains are brought to the forefront in not one but 5 fragrances. Barley, rye, oat and green wheat are accompanied by flowers native to the English countryside – poppy, primrose, cornflower and crocus. Each of the scents are designed in true Jo Malone elegance, simple and sophisticated, perfect for wearing individually or layered.
It was challenging but I managed to pick 3 of my favorites, and here are my thoughts:
Poppy & Barley is the prettiest of the collection, a fistful of wild flowers – red poppies and purple violets. There is a slight tinge of fruitiness from blackcurrant, which is one of my personal favourite touches from Jo Malone. Barley and bran gives this scent a slightly green and peaty touch, softened with powdery white musk. Though Jo Malone fragrances are designed to be unisex, Poppy & Barley is the most distinctly feminine of the lot. In my mind, it is in the same general style as Peony & Blush Suede and English Pear & Freesia, yet sufficiently different to make a good addition to those who enjoy collecting such fragrances.
Primrose & Rye* is a warm gourmand blend that feels like the early onset of summer sunshine distilled into a bottle. Sunny primroses are given a golden halo by an ensemble of corn, coconut and mimosa. The addition of rye draws this fragrance from beach resorts back to the fields. It gives this fragrance an interesting edge, but is short-lived, and vanilla soon takes over as my skin warms it up. This is the most unique brew from the collection in my opinion, and very elegantly executed.
Green Wheat & Meadowsweet* is my favourite from this collection! It is green, zesty and perfectly encapsulates the freedom of spring. Green wheat has that lovely balance of freshness and earthiness, and a touch of grapefruit further emphasizes that. Meadowsweet is an uncommon floral note, but it really works in this blend, adding a touch of light sweetness without any of the creaminess of other white florals. Instead, there is a slight powdery sensation, accentuated by vetiver in the base, which I found a wonderful touch. Green Wheat & Meadowsweet layers beautifully with Poppy & Barley, and is the recommended pairing from this collection. However, I also found it creates a magical ensemble with Primrose & Rye, much more complex and interesting.
The entire collection is limited edition, and they come in a special ceramic bottle in minimalist pastels and neutrals. As with most colognes, the 3 that I’ve tried do not have extensive throws, but linger on my skin for a good 6-7 hours.
This post featured a couple of products (marked with *) that were generously provided for my consideration. Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.
