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Perennially fresh – Jo Malone’s Herb Garden collection

— by Alyson Walsh

 

Gitte Lee - J Malone Herb Garden - Three-1

For a while now, I’ve been in a bit of a conundrum about what’s next for That’s Not My Age. One of the things I’ve really wanted to do is to add a regular beauty post. The best person for the job is ace beauty journalist, perfume expert and dear friend Vicci Bentley. Vicci is an award-winning writer with over 40-years industry experience  – I am always in awe of the massive beauty features she writes for the FT’s How To Spend It – and she very generously authored the piece on perfume in Style Forever. Here Vicci reviews The Herb Garden collection from Jo Malone (available HERE): 

Aren’t you loving the current trend for the grown-up beauty muse? Latest to grace a cosmetics campaign is 80-year-old Danish-born actress Gitte Lee, bride of legendary Dracula star, Sir Christopher and clearly a woman who knows her fork from her dibble. Equally at home with a herbaceous border is perfumer Anne Flipo, creator of Jo Malone London’s The Herb Garden, collection of five kitchen garden colognes with an unexpectedly intriguing twist, each £44 for a totable 30ml.

 JML_Herb Garden_Group Shot-1

Sorrel & Lemon Thyme is a sunny rush of citrus with a reassuringly earthy moss base, while Nasturtium & Clover’s peppery sweetness benefits from vetiver’s chamois background. Who would have thought sage and tonka bean would give Lavender & Coriander such a voluptuous twist? The minty sharpness of tomato leaves and tangy blackcurrant intensify the green of TNMA’s favourite, Wild Strawberry & Parsley. My choice, Carrot Blossom & Fennel has a grounding whiff of the potting shed behind euphoric of orange flower water.

 jmlherb, Gitte lee

Animating familiar ingredients is no mean task, but there again, Jo Malone’s Creative Director Celine Roux has a genius for sniffing out the right perfumer for the job. Flipo, who bottled spring sunshine for L’Artisan Parfumeur’s Mimosa Pour Moi is known for her intuitive way with floral scents. ‘Whatever Anne does smells natural, ‘ Celine says. For this collection of inspired pairings, she not only sniffed but nibbled ingredients for the fullest sensory immersion. A range of great taste all round, we’d say.

You can find Vicci on Instagram @craftycrone and I’m delighted that she’s going to be sharing her expert beauty advice on That’s Not My Age.

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  For a while now, I’ve been in a bit of a conundrum about what’s next for That’s Not My Age. One of the things I’ve really wanted to do is to add a regular beauty post.