Jo Malone London Marmalade Collection: all the fun of the fete

I only buy the good jams. Life's too short to eat rubbish. If I ever have offspring one rule I'd teach them is never short change yourself at the farmers market and don't kid yourself that anything short of Tiptree or National Trust Jams will make the cut (pardon the pun) at my breakfast table. 

Of late I've learned to mourn the loss of my bread and jams in my diet. Breakfast is now a joyless charade of stripped avocado, skinless chicken and a blended dirge of kale and cucumber. Of course I have black coffee. But the sugary sweet joys of Tiptree's thick cut Tawny Marmalade or National Trust's cherry sour, have been eradicated. Damn you encroaching 40s. What vices will I have left to get out of bed for, huh? 

I digress. 

So, when I was enlisted in on the Jo Malone London Fragrance Discovery and Botanical Illustration workshop to celebrate the launch of Jo Malone London’s Marmalade Collection, I was reunited with my insatiable love-quest for all things jams and marmalade. I was offered an alluring glimpse into the promise of picnics on Primrose Hill, nostalgic scenes, marmalade dreams and brightly coloured bunting fluttering gently in the breeze. Jars of homemade jams and marmalades sit on gingham table tops. It's enough to get me back on the jam wagon baby. 

Natural fruit extracts were created especially for The Marmalade Collection by one of the UK’s leading soft fruit processors in Blairgowrie, Scotland. Usually used in the food industry, fruits and berries from local growers are steam distilled into draughts that are added directly to the fragrance. These extracts help to capture the true vibrancy of tart rhubarb and juicy blackberry.

New bottle designs have been created exclusively for this collection, inspired by the shape and detailing seen on vintage marmalade jars.

Let me walk you through some of the collection and if you'll indulge me, some of my unsanitised notes from the event. Mostly cerebral. 

Tangy Rhubarb

Rhubarb, crumbles and good times. A mosaic of orange, citrus, a thumb of woodiness from somewhere. (Later revealed to me as Cedarwood). Journeys to the end of the garden accompanied with Vivaldi's Four Seasons. Bright. Fresh. Kitchens with chipped work tops. I want to wear linen shirts and pleated trousers with this. 

Rose Blush

Floral, like sunflowers and dandelions. Feminine. His and hers. I wish I could paint like Monet, is Paris open yet? A herb note, reluctant to come through. (Later revealed as Basil). Rose or Rosé "Pink is my colour I won't drink from another lover" who wrote that? (Googled later, the band The Feeling of course). Presents for Tuula, she'll love this. 

Orange Peel

Sweet. Alive. Unhindered and unapologetic citrus. Classic - Gold. Wear this to the Common for summer picnics - pack healthy stuff and get the good rye bread. Wear this to my parents and hire that Morgan 3-Wheeler if poss. Wait, no room for Charlie. 

Elderflower Cordial

Long walks country roads. Hated them back in the day can't get enough of them now. Elderflower, I want to get a window-box and fill it with elderflower and mint. I need to wear my candy striped shirts with this. Pack away the camel coats when get home. 

More mature than the others. Stronger than the others. Best so far. Reminds me off trips to the arcade along Yarmouth pier. What was that called? The Claremont? These also layer nice. 

Blackberry & Bay

Opens darker than the others. More complex. Definitely means business. I'd like to wear some chalk stripe suits more; with this scent. I think my nose has turned to mush, I can't tell if it's blackberry, blueberry or sloe berries. Sorry, I'm not a professional. It has a punch, but I'm not getting any fuzzy nostalgia. It runs deeper than the others. I still have an old Blackberry phone somewhere, would that be worth anything? 

The full collection:

Tangy Rhubarb 30ml Cologne £55/€62
Rose Blush 30ml Cologne £55/€62
Orange Peel 30ml Cologne £55/€62
Elderflower Cordial 30ml Cologne £55/€62
Blackberry & Bay 30ml Cologne £55/€62

Available at jomalone.co.uk and Jo Malone London stores nationwide from May 2021 For stockist information