When you hear the word Blackberry, what springs to mind? It's the phone, no? With that the case, it's easy to forget that before the phone came into our lives we all thought of Blackberry as the berry but that's all changing as Jo Malone London have decided to celebrate it in all of it's glory in their latest fragrance, Blackberry & Bay, which hits shelves in September.
As you know, I'm a big fan of their fragrances but this one is particularly special because it's the perfect middle ground between summer lightness, without feeling to citrusy, and the deeper tones that I love so much making it the perfect go-to scent all year around. Expect a deep burst of blackberry juice as the foundation combined with refreshing notes of grapefruit and just-gathered bay resting on a brambly base of vetiver and cedarwood.
Right now I'm layering it with the brand's plum blossom scent that I still can't get enough of but as always, you can easily blend it with any of their other fragrances to make sure you get the perfect personalised smell for you.
Regular readers will know that I'm a big fan of Jo Malone London. Their fragrances and cosmetics are always spot on but aside from that, over the years they are have become just as known for their signature packaging and decor as they are for their products. In a true reflection of that they recently opened the doors to a new store in London's Covent Garden and the interiors mirror their iconic packaging perfectly.
That isn't the only thing that they've been busy working on though. To celebrate the Olympics coming to London the brand has decided to customise their signature cream and black boxes to feature landmarks like the Tower of London and Big Ben as a reminder of the events taking place in the capital this summer.
Jo Malone London, 10-11 King Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 8HN
I haven't had a bath in months and before you mind begins to wonder, it's not because I'm afraid of a bit of soap and water. Being busy at the moment has meant that having a bath feels like a luxury. What with the waiting for it to run and then the long soak and book reading that naturally comes along with it, having a bath doesn't work for me on a day-to-day basis. As a result, showers have become my best friend.
Last week, though, the lovely Jo Malone London team sent me their red rose bath oil - the perfect excuse for a good soak. While most bath oils have the effect of leaving your skin feeling silky smooth afterwards, the red rose bath oil goes that extra step with its scent. Coming from Jo Malone, you would expect fragrance to be a strong element for it and you're not disappointed. The scent is comprised of seven types or roses along with honeycomb, clove and musk.
This time last year my easy summer fragrance of choice was Jo Malone London's Wild Bluebell and this summer the brand has treated us to something new as they prepare to launch Plum Blossom.
The plum scent is a lot softer than Wild Bluebell and epitomises everything that you would want from a light summer fragrance. The scent combines a fruitiness from the yellow plum and nectarine blossom with creamy sandalwood and clean white musk.
Plum Blossom is limited edition and is available in stores this month with prices ranging from £36 to £72.
For those of you in the UK, Mother's Day is less than a week away. If you're looking for something better than those annual mother's day compilation CDs or an average bunch of flowers and box of chocolate, it can get difficult. But if you're stuck for ideas and want to do something unique, Jo Malone London has the answer.
Their latest fragrance London Blooms sees the brand's signature bottles printed with flowers and inspired by that, Harrods have partnered with top florist Wild at Heart to create specially packaged boxes just in time for Mother's Day. Each bottle can come in a limited edition box full of flowers arranged by the Wild at Heart team. In fact, any 100ml bottle can have the same special treatment. Unfortunately the service is only available from the 16th - 18th March so get that in your diary now.
If you're anything like me, come winter time your skin gets really dry due the harsh weather outside and the not so great side effects of having the central heating on full blast. With that in mind, over the past few years I've been on the hunt to find the perfect winter moisturiser to help my skin through the cold months. Sounds dramatic I know but truly, finding a good moisturiser is like finding a good pair of jeans or a man for that matter; once you've managed to find the perfect match, you can't let go.
Luckily, Jo Malone London have come up with the prefect solution for your winter blues. Their new Vitamin E Specialist skin care moisturiser is centred around nourishing the skin and putting that moisture that the harsh temperatures knock out. I've been trying it out over the last few weeks and for the first time in a long time, my skin feels hydrated for the whole day without the need for constant top-ups.
The Vitamin E collection is available in Jo Malone stores now and the moisturiser retails at £50.
Kate Phelan, isn't the only stylist working for a big brand. Last week Jo Malone London confirmed that i-D editor Charlotte Stockdale has been brought on board to serve as the brand's style editor. According to a release, Stockdale will help cultivate the brand's image, contribute to campaigns and curate their collaborations with fresh British talent.
"Charlotte Stockdale is one of the most talented and vivacious stylists in the world of fashion, bringing a distinctive personality to every project she is involved in," explained, Senior Vice President and Creative Director, James Gager. "She is a natural fit for Jo Malone where a unique understanding of British sensibility is at the heart of everything we do." When asked about joining the brand, Stockdale sounded enthusiastic. "I feel incredibly excited to be part of something so distinctive and elegant," she said. "For me, Jo Malone London is about unexpected ingredients and understated style. I am looking forward to using my experience to take the brand forward in the most dynamic and authentic way."
