Jo Malone Herb Garden

I’ve been looking forward to trying the Jo Malone Herb Garden collection – remember Lime, Basil & Mandarin? One of the biggest sellers ever and all based around basil, which was the predominant note. If anything, I’m surprised that Jo Malone has taken to so long to go full on herby again. I have Wild Strawberry & Parsley and Carrot Blossom & Fennel to review.

Starting with Wild Strawberry & Parsley – this is such a light and pretty scent that I immediately thought of summer weddings. There’s enough strawberry that you get a distinct fruity note from it that’s boosted by blackcurrant, and enough ‘green’ that there’s a fresh edge to it without it being too herb driven. I find Jo Malone fragrances much lighter than (I think) they used to be but in this instance, the lightness and airiness is what it’s all about. Wild Strawberry & Parsley is like a soft smile on the skin – which I guess is why I connected it with something happy like a wedding.

It’s a slightly different matter with Carrot Blossom and Fennel. For a start, carrots have blossom? It’s a bit like calling a cabbage a rose, but there is a very faint but delicious carrot note that’s sweet and fresh and an evident tang of fennel, especially when you first spray it. There are notes of rose and orange flower that diminsh that proper kitchen garden scent, so if you were thinking to make like Rosemary & Thyme, you won’t. Carrot Blossom & Fennel is distinctive and you’ll either like it or you won’t but given its name, personally, I would have liked it to be more of the title and less of the hidden florals. If you want to smell of carrots, then you’d really hope that something called Carrot Blossom would let you do that.

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The Jo Malone Herb Garden fragrances above launch alongside Lavender & Coriander, Nasturtium & Clover and Sorrel & Lemon Thyme.