Parsley, fennel, coriander, carrot, sorrel and thyme are garden produce more commonly associated with cookery. As its first surprise for fragrance lovers in 2016, London perfumer Jo Malone has harvested these same herbs and crops to cook up its limited cologne collection for the year.
The Herb Garden Collection consists of five colognes that range from citrus to floral to woody. These unique brews of shrubs and sprouts were the handiwork of master perfumer Anne Flipo, tapped for the job by Jo Malone’s fragrance director Celine Roux, owing to the latter’s scent style, described by the brand as “natural simplicity.”
The fresh concoction of Wild Strawberry & Parsley is uplifting, a play on the piquancy of the flat-leaf parsley, the berry’s sweetness, and a mossy base. It’s both green and juicy.
Sorrel & Lemon Thyme opens with a zesty lemon tang, evocative of a bright summer day. Its heart consists of sorrel, rosemary and lemon thyme, and has a leafy base of geranium and earthy moss.
Fresh-cut grass is what comes to mind with Nasturtium & Clover, whose robust top note is that of clover and peppery rocket (arugula), and just a twist of lemon. At its core is nasturtium and jasmine, and it dries down to a warm vetiver base.
The aromatic bulb fennel blends with its colorful cousin in Carrot Blossom & Fennel for a floral bouquet of rose, orange flower and iris. The concoction is distinctly earthy sweet.
Lavender & Coriander is perhaps the most assertive scent in the collection, with its warm, woody and sensual accords. It opens with the arresting aroma of coriander leaves, and blends deeply with English and French lavender and sage.
The Herb Garden Collection will especially delight scent junkies in search of the unusual, and any of the five variants could easily become anyone’s favorite—if only they didn’t come in very limited units, and only in 30-ml bottles at that.
The colognes rolled out March 7 at the Greenbelt 5 boutique and have only about 60 bottles each, according to brand manager Camille Flores-Oloan. They come in transparent, green-hued bottles and caps, each embossed with an image of one main herb ingredient. They’re sold separately.
