{"id":1442,"date":"2012-10-15T00:00:12","date_gmt":"2012-10-15T05:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.walkingwithcake.com\/?p=1442"},"modified":"2013-09-25T20:16:11","modified_gmt":"2013-09-26T01:16:11","slug":"jo-malone-blackberry-bay-cologne","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.walkingwithcake.com\/?p=1442","title":{"rendered":"Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay Cologne"},"content":{"rendered":"

Okay, so I said I wanted to try Jo Malone’s Blackberry & Bay Cologne<\/em><\/a>, hopefully as a Christmas gift, but I just couldn’t wait that long.\u00a0 I realize I’m not setting the best example for my little boys, but it makes good fodder for my blog.\u00a0 You know, as research.<\/p>\n

I had a little spending money set aside, so I decided to take the plunge.\u00a0 Locally, I can only buy Jo Malone’s products at Saks and Neiman Marcus, but even though I like the finer things in life, I don’t really like shopping at those stores.\u00a0 Luckily, British-based Jo Malone now ships to the United States, and since my box was postmarked from Louisville (really, Kentucky?), that tells me that they have a supply warehouse here in the states.<\/p>\n

My package arrived last week in Jo Malone’s signature black and cream wrapping.\u00a0 Seriously, this was a gift to myself and the packaging made me feel like a million bucks.\u00a0 Nothing is more elegant, and I have seen other companies begin to use this technique after Jo Malone first did.\u00a0 The weight of the box’s paper, combined with the contrasting black trim, reminds me of engraved wedding invitations.\u00a0 I once received one, and it was most definitely a thing of beauty.<\/p>\n

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(Jo Malone’s elegant packaging.)<\/p><\/div>\n

And, of course, the bottle itself is lovely and simple, too.\u00a0 I also received two separate samples that I was able to pick when I made my purchase online.\u00a0 I chose Wild Bluebell Cologne<\/em><\/a> and Vanilla & Anise Cologne<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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(Jo Malone’s Blackberry & Bay Cologne, with samples.)<\/p><\/div>\n

I must admit that I bought this cologne on a whim, after reading about it, but without smelling it in person first.\u00a0 I’ve never done that before, but I love some of Jo Malone’s other products, and felt confident ordering from her company.\u00a0 After wearing this for a week, I adore the scent, but I’m disappointed by its very brief stay on my skin.\u00a0 It simply does not last.<\/p>\n

I wrote recently about my love for perfume<\/a> and how I enjoy smelling it throughout the day, and this cologne absolutely does not pass my daily sniff test.\u00a0 I apply it after my shower in the morning, and by noon, it is a fading memory.\u00a0 If I am leaving the house in the afternoon, I have to reapply it, and that goes against my normal perfume-wearing pattern.<\/p>\n

But the scent is light and lovely, and definitely a cologne.\u00a0 When I spray it on, I’m immediately reminded of berries, but in a gorgeous and refined way.\u00a0 And there is also a slightly tart smell, as well, that I’m guessing comes from the bay.\u00a0 I also love the unique combination of ingredients, which is Jo Malone’s signature style.\u00a0 She truly has a gift for “Fragrance Combining”<\/a> and even encourages it among her fragrances.<\/p>\n

My thought is that the Blackberry & Bay<\/em> Cologne <\/em>is perfectly suited to this technique and would last much longer if I layered it with coordinating products like the Body Cr\u00e8me<\/a>. But that will most definitely have to wait until Christmas.\u00a0 I promise.<\/p>\n

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