Love it: Jo Malone's new Wood Sage & Sea Salt

Sitting just last week in the British fragrance brand’s Britomart boutique, I was introduced to Jo Malone’s exquisite new limited edition release, Wood Sage & Sea Salt. Nibbling a little too enthusiastically on bespoke salted caramels created especially for the occasion, I was given a signature Jo Malone hand and arm massage (pure heaven) whilst experiencing the cologne alone and in combination with my current JM fave, Velvet Rose & Oud. The result? To die for, on both counts.

Composed of ambrette seed, sea salt and sage, along with red algae and grapefruit, Wood Sage & Sea Salt cologne arrives on the market in September, accompanied by a matching perfumed body care collection. Master perfumer Christine Nagel, who was tasked with the job of bottling the smell of the English coastline for the company (even the social media hashtag is #englishcoast), thinks it smells of "the sea air, mixed with salty spray and the mineral texture of sand and rock”, whilst I think it’s just divine.

Speaking about when she was first asked to dream up the beside-the-sea scent, Nagel said she knew "it was something unusual; another great challenge. I was given photographs of the English coast and old postcards to look at with rugged cliffs and moody skies. It was sepia photography and the colour was very emotive. When I looked at these pictures I instantly felt the sensation of sea spray, romantic but natural."

Which brings me to the moody and evocative campaign shots that accompany the release, which fit perfectly with the alluring images conjured up by the uniquely beautiful scent. Photos for the advertising campaign were taken in Northumberland by British fashion photographer Tim Walker, who has shot several fragrances for the brand over the past couple of years and nails it, every time.

The Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt collection includes flacons of 30 and 100ml Cologne, 250ml Body & Hand Wash, 175ml Body Crème and 200g Home Candle and is available from September 1 online and in store at their aforementioned Britomart, Auckland boutique. Get saving now.