The perfumer Jo Malone receives a CBE. Here's what to buy from her brand, Jo Loves
To most people, Jo Malone is a scented candle or fragrance handed to you by a loved one in a cream bag with a lovely black ribbon. What many people might not realise is that Jo Malone (the woman) is the creator and founder of two of Britain's most famous and valuable fragrance brands with more than twenty years in the business. Here is everything you need to know about Malone and why her career is award worthy...
Malone's name has become synonymous with luxury and indulgence but her beginnings were humble. Malone dropped out of school when she was fifteen due to dyslexia and got a job in a florist. Her mother owned a salon at the time and Malone would help her concoct skincare potions. She then started her career as a facialist where she would make her own bath-oils to send to her clients as presents. They become so popular that her husband decided to quit his job and help her set up her first shop in Chelsea. Jo Malone soon became one of British's most iconic brands and in 1999 she sold to Estee Lauder for 'millions' however she remained creative director.
Sadly in 2004 Jo Malone was diagnosed with breast cancer so after a few years working with Estee Lauder she decided to leave her job to focus on family and health. Due to a non-compete agreement, Malone had to wait five years before she was able to launch a new fragrance or skincare brand. When the time was up, she got straight on the phone with perfumers and soon after that she was ready to pitch her new brand, Jo Loves.
With lots of tweaking and changing she finally launched her new brand and new image with a new scent, bath, body and candle collection. Fashion and beauty websites exploded with the news of her new launch. Her first fragrance, which is now her brands signature scent is called Pomelo, a fresh grapefruit fragrance with layers of wood. Malone has gone on to feed her customers with a never ending array of fragrances and candles. In 2017 she introduced her new innovative fragrance, 'Paintbrushes' that come in four different stunning scents that you quite literally, paint onto your skin. She says, 'Your body is the canvas, you are the artist, now paint with fragrance.' The company's most recent launch was a range of fragrance sprays inspired by graffiti cans that come in four varied scents -grapefruit, tuberose, fig and vetiver. The choice to play on the youthful and creative side of things definitely denotes a contrasting approach to fragrance compared to that of her previous venture she stood for whilst at the helm of Jo Malone London.
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Jo Malone London Lime Basil & Mandarin Cologne 100ml, ￡90
The signature Jo Malone fragrances is infused with peppery basil, white thyme and freshy zesty scent of fresh lime.
Jo Loves Fig Fragrance Body Spray, ￡40
Jo Loves has just launched their new body spray inspired by graffiti aerosol cans. Use it on its own or together with the Fragrance Paintbrush (Jo Malone recommends using Red Truffle 21 with the fig Body Spray).
Jo Malone London Red Rose Bath Oil 30ml, ￡18
This bath oil contains a blend of seven types of roses and blooms with essence of honeycomb, clover and musk.
Jo Loves Pomelo A Fragrance 50ml, ￡70
This was Jo Malone first fragrance for Jo Loves and is becoming a cult classic. It was inspired by memories of long summer holidays infused with fresh notes of grapefruit.
Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia Scent Surround Diffuser, ￡62
Brighten up your living room with this fresh scented diffuser infused with pear, white freesias, amber and patchouli.
Jo Loves White Rose & Lemon A Fragrance Paintbrush Gel, ￡40
This scented Paintbrush is the new way of wearing a fragrance which contains a long-lasting gel formula allowing you to top up wherever you are - perfect for frequent travelers.