In love with: Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay

It was with great excitement that I greeted the news that Jo Malone had unveiled the latest scent in their permanent collection, and even more so when I was invited to the New Zealand launch event one sunny winter morning.

Called Blackberry & Bay, it is due to be released in September 2012 and is quite the beauty. The company lists the notes as grapefruit, blackcurrant bud, galbanum, lily of the valley, jasmine, vetiver and cedarwood, and the perfume has been described as inspired by 'childhood memories of blackberry picking...stained lips, sticky palms.' How evocative is that?

The perfumer in charge of creating the brand new scent was Fabrice Pellegrin from Firmenich, who has also created fragrances for Diptyque and Hermes. Pellegrin said he used Bucco Tree Essence, a shrub that is used in herbal remedies that imparts a blackcurrant/ green note to fragrances, to craft the fresh, vital scent. "The tree grows wild in parts of France. It's a very green, raw, vegetal, acidic and astringent ingredient," says the perfumer. "It has a very strong olfactive impact, so you have to use it in really small amounts."

Pellegrin was reportedly travelled to Oxfordshire to experience blackberry picking in a scenic English setting, and told the press that he decided “I didn't want to have something sweet, I wanted to make something petillant and natural, like a moment of happiness.”

I’ve been wearing the cologne ever since a bottle landed in my hot little hands and have totally fallen in love with its freshness and individuality. Jo Malone perfumes are designed to be layered - in this case the recommendation is to layer with Lime, Basil & Mandarin or Nectarine Blossom & Honey – but I haven’t tried that just yet. One day I’ll get there!

After doing a little research I also fell in love with an initiative that the company has rolled out in the UK that sounds absolutely amazing. As so many Jo Malone perfumes are inspired by flowers and gardens, it is partnering with the UK gardening charity 'Thrive', which helps those who are disadvantaged or with disabilities, to maintain a garden in London. 'The Old English Garden' is a restoration project in London's Battersea Park that will open on July 5^th, lead by the award winning, critically acclaimed young gardener, Sarah Price. How wonderful is that?

Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay will be available come September as 100ml and 30ml Cologne, Body & Hand Wash, Body Crème and Candle.