Jasmine Sambac & Marigold Cologne Intense

I purchased this online without the benefit of first checking it out in store. I already have several other Jo Malone fragrances and love them all, so figured it was worth a shot - after all, Nordstrom would let me return it if I hated it. When I first received the bottle, I opened it and took a whiff...ok, wasn’t sure, so I put some on. At first I couldn’t decide if I liked it or not. But after it dried, I kept catching whiffs of it as I’d move around, and it smelled quite nice! What sold it for me what that my hubby commented several times over the first few wearings that I smelled good. He doesn’t usually say anything about a fragrance unless he really likes it, so I took that as a ringing endorsement. I don’t like to smell like an old woman (I’m only 44), and sometimes floral scents or heavy scents make me think of grannies. This one does not. I typically tend to prefer fresh, slightly sweet, or light floral scents. And I wear perfume year round (I have many to choose from and rotate through, but some go-to scents are Mon Paris by YSL, Mon Paris Couture by YSL, Peony and Sage Blush by Jo Malone, BlackBerry and Bay by Jo Malone, Wood Sage and Sea Salt by Jo Malone, Velvet Rose and Oud by Jo Malone, etc.). I don’t like “heavy” fragrances, so the intense versions of Jo’s perfumes can sometimes be too much for me...I use a very small amount. But with this fragrance, it dries down nicely and isn’t overwhelming. And I can still smell it on my skin more than 12 hours after applying. Some days I pick up more of the floral notes, other days I get more of the vanilla/cream notes...it just depends. Additionally, I have noticed with all of the Jo Malone fragrances that they do not irritate my skin like other brands sometimes do. I like that they seem “cleaner” in that regard. Anyway, if you’re on the fence about this new scent, consider giving it a try. If you’re like me, you may need a few wears/days to fully make up your mind, but give it time...it just may surprise you!