Jo Malone Beach Blossom Smells Like Sunshine… But Will You Actually Want to Wear It All Day?
Main image – Courtesy of writer
Tell me five people who don’t like the fragrance brand Jo Malone. I’ll wait.
From Pomegranate Noir and Peony and Blush Suede to the iconic Lime Basil and Mandarin and English Pear – I couldn’t pick a favourite even if you paid me. So many classics. So many reasons to spend money (and these fragrances aren’t cheap).
But just when I thought Jo Malone couldn’t possibly convince me to spend any more, the brand launched something a bit different. Beach Blossom Cologne (£86 /$118 from for 50ml, and £124 /$168 for 100ml from Jo Malone) is a tropical sunshine-inspired scent aimed to transport you to ‘the idyllic palm-fringed beaches of the Seychelles’.
You had me at ‘Seychelles’. Because who isn’t a sucker for tropical beaches, balmy evenings, walks in the sand and sipping guilt-free cocktails at 11am? And since this exact perfume was name joint winner in the Best Niche Fragrance category in this year’s Live That Glow beauty awards, it felt like even more of an incentive to try it.
The only problem is, I find most holiday-inspired fragrances a little too overpowering and, dare I say it, rather nauseating.
If it contains too much coconut it can instantly remind me of the cheap body sprays I used to lace my bedroom with as a teen – cue: Major headache. So, for me to actually wear it and not feel like I’m dousing myself and everyone around me in sickly sweetness is quite the task.
Image – Courtesy of writer
Would Beach Blossom fall into the dreaded sickly-sweet category? Or would I finally be able to happily mist myself in wafts of my favourite pastime, without the side of Aspirin? Keep scrolling to find out.
The fragrance notes
Described as ‘a refreshing twist of coconut water’ meets ‘the sparkling clarity of lime and mint, wrapped in the allure of tonka bean,’ this cologne comes in both 50ml and 100ml bottles.
Its top note is a citrusy lime, the heart note is coconut water to give a tropical feel, and the base note is the tonka bean, which is warm and rich thanks to its vanilla and almond accents. Unlike many Jo Malone fragrances, this one doesn’t come in a candle, body lotion, hand wash or hand cream. But one can dream…
First impressions
As soon as I unpack the beautiful signature yellow box and black tissue paper, I notice that the bottle is completely different from the usual Jo Malone fragrance bottles. It isn’t the normal rectangle shape but shorter and circular. And instead of having the recognisable silver cap, the lid is a large cream dome. I like it – it feels younger and fresher.
As I go to smell it for the first time, I brace myself and pray it doesn’t let me down. After all, it ticks every other box. Nice bottle – tick. My favourite fragrance brand – tick. Promises to remind me of good times – tick. Here goes…
The first thing I notice is the clear-cut smell of, personally, everything a tropical holiday encapsulates. Suncream. Pina coladas. Welcome heat (I’m British – we’ll say no more). Dripping hair. Sandy toes. Freshly washed beach towel. Warm breezes. Sunkissed skin. A good book.
Whether all this is because of the lime, the coconut water or the tonka bean I don’t know. But it makes me want to book a flight immediately.
Image – Courtesy of writer
It’s an instant hit of good memories. And yet I have never smelt this fragrance before. Isn’t it amazing how a fragrance can do that? After spraying it onto my skin, the happy holiday vibes lingered for a good few hours and my mood was lifted considerably.
How well does this scent wear?
As with any perfume, the smell does wear off within the hour but – luckily – only for me apparently. Because the number of compliments I get when wearing this fragrance is more than any other perfume I own, even hours after applying it. It is clearly one that resonates with lots of people, and I do think it’s down to that tropical holiday reminder.
Which leads me onto the most important part of this review. The question of whether I can stomach actually wearing it. Because there’s smelling nice at-first-spritz, and then there’s being able to endure wearing it for the whole day.
The fact that I got it at the end of March and am already halfway through the bottle should give you your answer. The coconutty smell is powerful, but the citrusy lime somehow offsets it and cuts through the headache factor. The tonka bean keeps it warm and classy but I feel like it’s the balance between the lime and coconut that makes this perfume so wearable.
There is absolutely nothing sickly sweet about it. It encapsulates what a tropical fragrance should be – fresh, warm and classy. It’s light and fresh like a refreshing drink whilst being coconutty enough to give you all the holiday feels without them being rammed down your throat (literally).
You know how when you hear the steel drums being played not only does the sound instantly make you feel great, but you’re also taken straight to a Caribbean beach, whether you’ve been to one before or not? This is steel drums in fragrance form. And I’m happily immersing myself in it.
What other users are saying
One reviewer, Lucy on the Jo Malone website, agrees that it’s super classy. “Lovely tropical smell, however a very sophisticated one.” Whilst Pocket Rocket writes, “this perfume is now one of my two favourite fragrances,” and Adda67 says, “I head off on my holidays soon and will bring my Beach Blossom cologne with me as it’s the perfect summer scent.”
There are a few disappointed users though, mainly because they feel it doesn’t last. Stylish Cookie says, “very disappointed with this cologne. It is very similar to Estee Lauder Goddess. Unlike Goddess this scent does not linger for long.”
I agree that Goddess is similar and that it tends to stick around longer than Beach Blossom. However Goddess is much more of a ‘heady’ scent – much thicker and stronger – and it is actually one that I can only spray in small doses, proving that fragrance really does come down to personal preference. And remember, while you might not be able to still smell it on you after a few hours, others might.
Overall value for money
OK let’s not beat around the bush. This fragrance costs more than I think most people would care to spend on a beauty product. There, I said it. Because £124/$168 for a large bottle and £86/$118 for a small one is no mean feat.
But for a treat every so often, or to add onto your birthday wish list – why not? It’s definitely a luxury brand, but maybe that’s why this fragrance smells so luxurious and in no way sickly, compared to other cheaper fragrances that I have to wash off after an hour because they’ve given me a headache.
The takeaway
Let’s face it, fragrance is highly subjective and there’s no pleasing everyone, but there’s no doubting this one’s tropical holiday feel.
But a last minute, budget vacation with concrete view this is not. It’s a luxurious, all-inclusive sea view penthouse with soft towels and complimentary mineral water. We’d all like to be there right now – am I right? Well, spritzing Beach Blossom and closing your eyes is the next best thing.
Get Glowing!
