In Pursuit of a Signature Scent, Part 4

This week I tried the remaining samples in my collection: Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt (a "Woody" scent), Dark Amber & Ginger Lilly, and Oud & Bergamont (both "Cologne Intense" category).  I also decided to do a little write-up of my beloved Coco Mademoiselle and share the scent notes on that fragrance as well.

Wood Sage & Sea Salt: "Escape the everyday along the windswept shore. Waves breaking white, the air fresh with sea salt and spray. Alive with the mineral scent of the rugged cliffs. Mingling with the woody earthiness of sage. Lively, spirited, and totally joyful."

This is yet another scent that has grown on me. Almost to where I would wear it were I not doing this experiment. The "Woody" scent seems to have some floral in it. I would completely agree with the beachy-description given by the company. The beachiness is not the typical beachy scent that would first come to mind but a more organic scent that actually brings you back to walking along the waves at sunset.

Dark Amber & Ginger Lilly: "Rare Kyara wood. Prized in the Kahdo ceremony, the highly ritualized Japanese art of incense appreciation. Enriched with amber and black orchard. Illuminated by the clean sensuality of black cardamon, ginger, and water lily. Calm and relaxing."

I'm sure the fist thing you noticed about this scent was the bottle. It is in the "Cologne Intense" fragrance category, and like the other scents in this category have a dark bottle. I had heard about Jo Malone having unisex fragrances, but can really see how this one (along with a few others I've already written about- Pomegranate Noir, Blackberry & Bay, Lime Basil & Mandarin, Earl Grey & Cucumber) would be suited for a man.  Maybe it was growing up during the CK One revolution (I adore Kate Moss), but I've always found wearing a man's cologne very mysterious and extremely empowering.  While I don't necessarily get that feeling of empowerment from Dark Amber & Ginger Lilly, I definitely feel it when wearing this next one:

Oud & Bergamont: "Precious oud, reframed. This mysterious, smoky character of the revered wood, central to Middle Eastern fragrance traditions, radiates with the clarity of crisp bergamont and an orange granite accod. Hypnotic. Alluring."

"Alluring" is definitely my favorite word to describe this scent. Putting a few dabs on my throat and behind my ears transports me to a Middle Eastern cafe, sipping spicy tea while watching rich foliage dance in a breeze. The citrus notes do help it to not feel too exotic or over-powering. Every scent is very subtle. I would definitely enjoy wearing this scent, especially in the evening, going out for drinks or dinner.

Coco Mademoiselle: "Inspired by the irrespressible spirit of the young Coco Chanel, the modern oriental fragrance entices with an utterly feminine composition, expressing refined sensuality and incredible freshness. Top Notes of Sicilian Oranges, Calabrian Bergamont, Sicilian Grapefruit; Floral Heart of pure rose extract and pure jasmine extract, along with a fruity touch of litchi; Base Notes of Indonesian Patchouli, Haitian Vetiver, Bourbon vanilla and white musk. Dedicated to courageous, brave, and modern women who prefer luxury and elegance."

I will admit, one of the reasons I wanted to explore other scents before recommitting to Coco Mademoiselle was because of its popularity- if everyone wears your scent, is it truly your signature scent? After spending some time with the slew of Jo Malone fragrances, I applied some of my beloved Coco and remember why I loved this scent so much. "Luxurious," Feminine," and "Sensuous," are the three words I would pick to describe this scent. It also has the Rose I crave and adore, along with delicate bergamont I fell in love with in the Jo Malone Oud & Bergamont.

 One aspect of Jo Malone that is very appealing (but I did not incorporate into my writing) was her patented "Fragrance Combining," which allows you to truly create a "Signature Scent," by selecting your favorite fragrance and then choosing to make it "Warmer" or "Fresher." Using this technique, I decided to make Coco Mademoiselle "rosier," by adding the Jo Malone "Red Roses," on top of it. The result was a warmer, more floral version of Coco; one that I could definitely see becoming my Signature Scent. I do believe I will save the Oud & Bergamont for some evening wear, as well.

Thank you for joining me on this pursuit of a signature scent. While there are so many other scents I would have liked to try and write about (Jo Malone herself now has a line of scents I am anxious to try- check out Jo Loves ), I am happy I took the time to very purposely go through the scents that I had. I feel as though I can confidently invest in the quality scents I chose and wear them knowing they truly embody the essence of me.

I would love to know if you have ventured on the journey of a signature scent, what the journey entailed, and what scent you choose to represent you. Please comment below and share this blog with your friends!