Why would I ever resist a bit of Fabrice?

For those of you who read That Luxurious Feeling regularly, it doesn’t come as a surprise that although I’m not as knowledgeable with the science of perfume (making) as I wish to be, I’m very much in love with the famous perfumer, nose, Monsieur Fabrice Pellegrin. It is interesting really, but I don’t need to know that this man is behind a perfume before falling for it. It’s like with art: some techniques, motives or colours just speak to you and you end up feeling save, familiar and challenged by it, no matter how many new items that comes along!

For summer ’16, the fragrance brand Jo Malone London have recently launched their limited edition scent. I completley fell for it without knowing that Fabrice was the man behind the art. Now that I do know it, it makes it even more fabulous!

First, a general impression about Jo Malone. I wasn’t used to the brand at all before moving to Dubai where we do have a number of stores. I think what speaks to me is the black and cream white language: everything is very sleek and elegant. Aligned and clean. I like the logo and the packaging is outstanding. All the fragrances have sharp edges and straight lines just the way I like it. I’m not much for ornamented bottles or things shaped like flowers, hearts or whatnot.

Secondly, I love love love the interior and layout of the shops. I could easily live in a Jo Malone world. I think that would be a dram come true.

For Miss Jo Malone herself I have such great respect! What a woman, entrepreneur and interesting mind. Her journey, the way she believes in the power of fragrances and the history on which she built Jo Malone on is amazing.

But. And there is a but for me: ever since Jo Malone the woman sold Jo Malone the company, there isn’t many fragrances that I personally have come to like. At all. I love the “old ones”, the one with more soul. They smell more grounded, more simple and, well, much more Jo Malone. When Jo Malone the woman later on started her next fragrance company Jo. Loves I felt like coming home again. Simple and straightforward fragrances with clear notes.

It might be that I’m not all that sophisticated, I’m not super good in niche perfume (yet) but that is definitely about to change…and I do not enjoy mass produced fragrances (or fragrances with synthetic fruity ingredients). Smelling cheap is really not my thing!

Back to Jo Malone the brand. Although the perfumes are not super high-end, the older ones are still very beautiful and with the unique concept of layering scents, personally I find the shopping experience so enjoyable.

When I first heard about the upcoming summer fragrance I wasn’t immediately excited. I didn’t know the notes but as it had been a while since I bought a new Jo Malone, my interest was not on top. Then I got to see the bottle.

Wohaaa! As we are used to having these fragrances in the same clear bottle, very subtle and streamlined, this was something really hot. A bottle with bot a pattern and a lime green cap! Had the design team if Jo Malone gone crazy? Hahahaha I loved it. It was love at first sight and I though: it doesn’t matter if I will like the perfume, I’m getting it for the bottle!

And them the May launch happened. Let me present Summer of 2016 Jo Malone NASHI BLOSSOM. 

Nashi means pear in Japanese and we are talking about the flowers and petals of the wonderful Japanese pear trees. Fragrance Director of Jo Malone, Miss Céline Roux describe the process behind the perfume as something that would mimic the feeling of spring in London, where cherry blossom trees are a common sight, or fruit trees in general. She was well connected with the taste and rituals connected with the sweet and succulent Nashi pear and loved that their white blossom with black petals in looked like the same colours as Jo Malone’s. The black and white polka dots all over the bottle represents these beautiful flowers in full spring bloom.

The scent surprised me, seduced me and made me happy! I like fresh, fruity zesty notes for a daytime perfume and this is right up my ally. As top note there is lemon, both from the fruit and zest with is an interesting combination. at the heart of the fragrance lies the Nashi blossom which is a strong and sweet scent of pear with some crisp bites of green apple. The base note with its rose and white musk makes the fragrance elegant and feminine and tone down the sweet fruitiness so you don’t end up smelling like a teenager!

seeing the ripe pear and crisp green apple being visualised in a lime green cap of the bottle is just brilliant. It makes it so wonderfully well combined and personally, I think this might be a huge step up for Jo Malone.

Then of course, let’s be honest here: when a company hires Fabrice Pellegrin to design their next fragrance, they know they will get something wonderful.

Last year I had the pleasure of personally meet Fabrice at a launch for his Oud Palao by Diptyque. I’m still so frustrated with myself that I didn’t push myself into asking him all those questions that I would have loved to ask! I was to shy and in awe.

This man speaks and breath perfume. It’s in his blood and up-bring and it seems to me that he is constantly trying to push the methods on how to extract new and interesting notes and try to come up with innovative solutions to an old art form.

On the Jo Malone website, Fabrice describe the work with Nashi Blossom as trying to create a modern fluid fruity scent where adding some rose absolute and white musk will reflect the hint of rose that he could detect from the Nashi blossoms petals.

He let us know that he needed to develop a whole new way of extracting method for the lemon and for the pears (he wanted to use both the Nashi blossom and the fruit itself) as fruits are so made up by water and as soon as you try to extract any oils, the fruity scent goes missing. I’ve never even thought about that as a challenge, but suddenly it stood clear to me why I can’t stand those artificial fruity scents! This is why they never smell like peach or cherry or apple.

Monsieur Fabrice: you are a genius.

This perfume is beautiful. Simple as that. It is a new favourite in my collection and I’m very happy that I gave it a chance. I have tried to layer it with Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey (wish is a wonderful fresh fragrance with Nectarine, peach and cassis) and these two together make people turn their head!

I have one small objection to the scent and it goes for all Jo Malone perfumes (at least on ME?): the staying power is rather short. This perfume won’t last longer than a couple of hours, maybe four hours if I add it to my hair as well and it’s a bit sad since I really like it so much.

Fabrice has designed two other fragrances for Jo Malone in the past and my favourite of these is Blackberry and Bay which also layers beautifully with Nashi Blossom for a perfect evening scent.

I do own some of Fabrice’s other art work as well and they are all made by Diptyque: DoSon, Volutes, Essences Insensées and Oud Palao. 

To read more articles about Fabrice Pellegrin, click here! 

Have you tried the Nashi Blossom yet? Let me know what you think about it or Jo Malone fragrances in general. ♥

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4 Comments
  1. Thanks a lot for sharing, It’s added on my list at the duty free shop. Have you tried Jo loves the new range by Jo Malone? I am so online with Jo malone fragrances it’s an obsession, if only it came cheap.
    But I can’t resist will make sure I let u know when I have bought this perfume you have enabled me 😀, have a great day

    1. Hi Esnath! I’m so happy you like the review!! I can tell that you are a Jo Malone London fan!! Be careful though, with dutyfree, as this is a very limited edition so I’m wondering if you’ll find it anywhere else but signature stores and online? Yes I’ve tried JO Loves and no surprises: she really knows the world of fragrances. It’s a cool and very “paired down” concept. Thank you so so much for your comment and for our friendship, you always shine with you positive attitude! Kisses.M

  2. Ahh, such a wonderful journey you have brought me on and it is good that you gave JML another chance or else, you won’t discover such a new lovely fragrance. I fell in love with JML since I was introduced to the brand last year and still loving my Sea Salt and Sage VERY MUCH!

    I have another one which is from their INTENSE range, but I still prefer the usual range. I know what you mean by spelling too fruity and “young”, right? Not me as well.. haha

    You are so lucky to have been so up close and personal with such a legend (based on what you have described of him) even though I don’t really know or have not heard about Fabrice himself!

    I think fragrance is a very personal thing, and it only speaks to you, like any other art form like painting and what not. I am slowly but surely beginning to learn and appreciate fragrance more since I started blogging. I have not tried any of diptyque scents though we have them here.

    By the way, I don’t think this limited edition has landed here in KL, Malaysia. Will have to check it out in store and see *_^

    Wonderful post!

    Cheers,
    Jeann | LUMINNEJ
    http://luminnej.blogspot.com

    1. Jeann, you know I love you and all of our conversations! I know exactly what you mean and it felt good to revisit the brand and get swept away a little bit! We have so many options out there and as you say, fragrance is highly personal (although a nice bottle can speak to most of us, hahaha). Yes, I’m very impressed by Mr. Pellegrin, both as a person and perfumer.
      Kisses my love! M

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