My Luxe Fragrance Wardrobe Isn't Complete Without the Best Jo Malone Perfumes
Compliments incoming.
I keep a Jo Malone household. My hand washes, my diffusers, my luxury candles, and even my shower minis for guests are courtesy of the British fragrance house. I dabble across the brand’s wide variety of scents, experimenting with woody bases, floral finishes, and citrus blends. That in mind, it’s only natural that I'm also an expert in the best Jo Malone fragrances.
With dozens of the best perfumes and limited-edition releases under the brand's portfolio, it’s no surprise that the elegant, expertly-sourced eau de parfums have attracted not only my attention, but also the support of celebrity fans like Sophia Richie (she swears by English Pear and Sweet Pea) and Meghan Markle (the royal is a Wood Sage and Sea Salt devotee).
The fragrance house emphasizes environmental sustainability, working with recyclable packaging and in facilities that harness renewable energy. Still, their glass bottles remain elevated and chic, always making a statement when perched atop a vanity.
Whether you're new to the brand or are simply looking to expand your collection, the Marie Claire team is here to help guide you through Jo Malone’s offerings. Scroll ahead for the best of the best that will have you smelling your best.
The Best Jo Malone Fragrances
- The Best Jo Malone Perfume Overall: Jo Malone Wood Sage Sea Salt Cologne
- The Best Spring Jo Malone Perfume: Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom Honey
- The Best Summer Jo Malone Perfume: Jo Malone Scarlet Poppy Cologne Intense
- The Longest Lasting Jo Malone Perfume: Jo Malone Vetiver Golden Vanilla Cologne Intense
- The Best Vanilla Jo Malone Perfume: Jo Malone Myrrh Tonka Cologne Intense
Perfume Name |
Scent Family |
Intensity (1-10) |
Fresh and Aquatic |
4 |
|
Fruity and Citrus |
4 |
|
Fruity |
7 |
|
Gourmand |
7 |
|
Smoky Gourmand |
9 |
|
Oud |
9 |
|
Floral |
9 |
|
Earthy |
7 |
|
Fruity |
3 |
While this is one of Jo Malone's more well-known fragrances, I personally feel like it's not as hyped as it should be. It's the perfect unisex scent, so if you're into sharing fragrance with a partner or family member, this is one you'll both love. The notes of ambrette seeds, sea salt, and sage, are described as fresh and aquatic, but I get more of a soft, clean, woody scent. This one is particularly well-suited for layering with other scents so if you're a true fragrance connoisseur, you can't go wrong with picking up a bottle.
Notes: Ambrette seeds; Sea Salt; Sage
What I Love: This fragrance layers well with practically any other in my collection
What I Don't: I wish it projected a little more on its own
Review for MC: "I typically stick to my gourmands, but when I heard It-girls Sofia Richie and Meghan Markle loved this scent, I couldn’t resist trying it. I’m so glad I did, too, because I think I just found my new summer scent. Wood Sage Sea Salt is wonderfully soft and fresh, making it the ideal fragrance for daytime wear, especially in the warmer months. I especially love the combination of mineral and warm woody notes as they combine into a fragrance that feels totally unique." — Brooke Knappenberger, Associate E-Commerce Editor
Ariel Baker testing Jo Malone Wood Sage Sea Salt.
If spring could be distilled into a glass bottle, it would smell like Jo Malone’s Nectarine Blossom Honey. The blend of notes is reminiscent of a sunny April day that directly follows a rainy week. It’s light and fresh without feeling aquatic or squeaky clean. The balance of florals and fruity scents has a slight tingle of excitement and somehow sideswipes the chemical-smelling tinge that sometimes accompanies a first spritz.
Notes: Cassis; Acacia honey; Peach
What I Love: This perfume is the epitome of a clean-girl scent; It smells just like freshly-washed hair
What I Don't: I wish the peach note stood out a bit more
Review for MC: "This is a beautiful, light floral scent for people who don't like florals. I'd wager that you could wear it every day and still not get tired of it. For someone who is simply not a lover of green scents, this is a compliment of the highest order. ” — Ariel Baker, Beauty Writer
Ariel Baker testing Jo Malone perfume.
This perfume is creamy, indulgent, deep, and enticing. Cardamom is pretty much a one-way ticket to my heart, but combine it with other notes like vetiver and vanilla, and I am all but guaranteed to have the scent in my collection forever.
Notes: Cardamom; Grapefruit tea; Vetiver; Lavender; Clary sage; Vanilla; Cistus; Labdanum
What I Love: I adore the cardamom note in this perfume; It wraps the rest of the notes in a nostalgic warmth that I love
What I Don't: This formula is more expensive than the original colognes
Review for MC: "I’m a noted gourmand hater and have been since I was very young. I never wanted to smell like food or something familiar from my fragrances; I always wanted to be transported or have a fantasy in my day-to-day life. Enter Vetiver Golden Vanilla. Vetiver is one of my favorite ingredients, it’s deep, earthy and plays well with others. This perfume is a match made in heaven, the vetiver grounds the vanilla, which is warm and full, rather than being sweet or cloying." — Brittany Holloway Brown, Former Art Director
Ariel Baker testing Jo Malone perfume.
If you're looking for a Jo Malone fragrance that's a little stronger, Scarlet Poppy is for you. Ambrette and tonka bean may sound like a combination that would result in a deep, resinous perfume, but this concoction is anything but. It somehow manages to be uplifting without veering into childish body spray territory, and the floral notes really shine in this formula.
Notes: Ambrette; Scarlet poppy; Tonka bean
What I Love: This perfume balances floral and woody notes really well, especially on first spray
What I Don't: After a few hours, the floral notes become really prominent
Review for MC: "I'm not one to experiment much with scents; I have my standard rotation and like to keep it at that! But I've been hooked on Jo Malone's Scarlet Poppy cologne ever since I got my first whiff. It's a dynamic fragrance with layers of floral gourmand, rich iris, barley, and tonka bean that combine to create a complex, sweet, yet spicy scent. On my first wear, I received not one but two (!) compliments, which is all the validation I need to make this my new everyday fragrance.” — Emma Childs, Fashion Features Editor
Ariel Baker testing Jo Malone Scarlett Poppy perfume.
With the rebirth of vanilla fragrances, new gourmand scents have been hitting the market at what feels like a rapid pace. Some are truly worthwhile, but I’ll always stand firm in my love for this Jo Malone iteration. It smells sultry and seductive, while maintaining a warm and inviting edge. There’s not so much a bitter after-effect or overly baked good smell—it’s just rich-smelling and sophisticated. Because this is part of the cologne-intense family, I can also expect it to be one of the longest-lasting perfumes in my collection.
Notes: Lavender; Omumbiri myrrh; Tonka bean
What I Love: The myrrh and lavender in this scent balance each other out perfectly
What I Don't: This formula is more expensive than the original cologne line
Review for MC: "Lavender, omumbiri myrrh, and tonka bean combine to create a scent that's not necessarily overly food-like, but still provides that nostalgic comfort that you would feel after smelling a plate of fresh-baked cookies. It also shines particularly well in the colder winter months." — Ariel Baker
Ariel Baker testing Jo Malone Myrrh Tonka Cologne Intense.
Bergamot, cedarwood, and oud, are the stars of the show in Jo Malone's Oud Bergamot Cologne Intense. If oud fragrances typically scare you, this one is a great introduction to the fragrance family, as the additional woody and citrus notes balance out the more resinous oud perfectly. Pro tip: it layers beautifully with some of the lighter scents in the Jo Malone catalog, namely, Wood Sage Sea Salt.
Notes: Bergamot; Cedarwood; Oud
What I Love: This perfume is perfectly unisex
What I Don't: I have to be careful which perfumes I layer this with as it can easily overpower some formulas
Review for MC: "This perfume was the one that made me finally start to feel comfortable experimenting with ouds. It's rich and resinous, but no deeply so, and the oud note is balances perfectly so that it doesn't outshine the others, but is instead complemented beautifully. If you've been wanting to begin your oud fragrance journey, start here!" — Ariel Baker
Floral fragrance lovers, step to the front. Velvet Rose and Oud Cologne Intense from Jo Malone greets you with a potent whiff of rose on the first sniff, but as it dries down, the additional notes of clove and oud are revealed. The combination keeps the perfume from veering into the "fresh cut plants from the garden" space, which makes it much more approachable for people who like scents that lean a little masculine. If you like Rose Prick from Tom Ford, you'll likely enjoy this too.
Notes: Clove; Damask rose; Oud
What I Love: The combination of notes took me by surprise with how much I liked them together
What I Don't: The rose is extremely prominent in this perfume so I only wear it it colder weather so it doesn't become cloying
Review for MC: "Another fragrance that layers incredibly well with others in the Jo Malone collection, Velvet Rose and Oud is the floral perfume for people who don't typically like that scent profile. You'll encounter a pretty large dose of rose at first, but it transforms into this sweet, complex fragrance on your skin that's hard to describe in words but in short, is so sexy." — Ariel Baker
If you're one of the many people who are taking a step back from gourmand perfumes (a huge 2026 fragrance trend), this one will be a welcome reprieve in your collection. As opposed to their traditional cologne line, this perfume is made of Jo Malone's Cologne Intense formula, so expect a minimum of six hours of wear on the skin.
Notes: Cypress; Grapevine; Moss
What I Like: This is a unisex perfume for people who really enjoy green, earthy scents
What I Don't Like: Some people might find that it leans a little more on the masculine side
Review for MC: The first thing that I said when I tried Jo Malone’s Cypress Grapevine scent was that it smelled masculine in the best way possible. Earthy and sensual, it’s the perfect fragrance (for both genders!) to wear on a night out, when you’re looking to exude mysterious, alluring energy. With heady top notes of green vines and dark woods, it works well on its own or paired with a lighter, more traditionally feminine fragrance to balance it out." — Gabrielle Ulubay, Former Beauty Writer
Another fruity-floral masterpiece from this brand is none other than English Pear Sweet Pea Cologne. It's one of the more subtle scents from Jo Malone, so if you're someone who's prone to headaches or just prefers safer perfumes that you can wear to the office, you may want to add this to your list. Williams pear and sweet pea are balanced out by white musk, taking this scent from a screechy citrus to a soft, feminine concoction you'll want to wear year-round.
Notes: Pear; Sweet pea; White musk
What I Like: The white musk in this perfume makes it a much more comforting and approachable perfume than some of the other Jo Malone scents
What I Don't Like: This is an extremely light scent, so I wished there was a cologne intense version
Review for MC: "Supposedly, this is Sofia Richie Grainge’s favorite scent. It’s a light, sweet scent that I’m super excited to wear once the weather gets warmer. Subtle, feminine, and great for layering with other scents, it has top and middle notes of Williams pear and sweet pea, respectively, which are balanced out by a lingering base note of white musk. It’s great for pairing with oud- or wood- heavy scents if you’re looking for a more complex effect." — Gabrielle Ulubay, Beauty Writer
What's the Difference Between Cologne and an Intense Perfume?
The main difference between a cologne and an eau de parfum intense boils down the fragrance oil concentration. A cologne uses significantly less fragrance oil, and therefore has less staying power—it's better suited as a mid-day pick-me-up than a signature scent that will adhere to the skin all day. And eau de parfum on the other hand can last for hours. And eau de parfum intense has an even higher concentration of fragrance oil (they're known as beast-mode perfumes) and have the ability to linger on the skin (or clothes!) all day.
How Do I Make My Perfume Last Longer?
The best hack for long-lasting perfume is to pick a product with a high concentration of fragrance oil—like extraits or eau de parfum intense options. But! Hope isn't lost if you have another product you like. One insider hack is to prime your wrists with Vaseline or Aquaphor; its occlusive properties trap the scent on your skin, slowing its evaporation. It's also wise to spritz a few times on your clothes—perfume is much more likely to cling to wool or cashmere than it is to the skin, which is filled with oils and is exposed to frequent hand washing.
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How We Tested
To compile this list of the best Jo Malone fragrances, we scoured the internet and combed through countless customer reviews to find the top-rated options on the market. We also asked the Marie Claire team to share their holy grail picks and asked independent and staff testers to try a mix of cult favorites and new launches.
For each Jo Malone fragrance we tested, we assessed the fragrance's notes, how long it lasts, and its overall scent as the day went on.
