It’s that time of year – daylight savings just ended and it’s dark at 5pm. Time to get hygge with the teas, the candles, the flannels on my body and bed, etc. This seems like the perfect time to talk about three new-to-me Jo Malones I tried last week, with first impressions that surprised me: Jo Malone Ginger Biscuit, Orange Marmalade, and Vanilla Scotch.
I somehow missed Ginger Biscuit last time around and was thrilled to find a bottle at Sephora while traveling last week. (Of course I went to Sephora, since we don’t have one here; I assure you the rest of the trip was very highbrow and culturally enriching.) Google says a ginger biscuit or “ginger nut” is similar to our gingersnaps. I love all things ginger, including gingersnaps, emphasis on the “snap” – I’m partial to those giant tins of Swedish Nyakers from World Market, although the Trader Joe’s ginger thins will do in a pinch. “Warm and spicy scent with ginger, cinnamon, and roasted hazelnuts. Sensual with vanilla and tonka bean.” I was all set to buy the $40 travel bottle of this, which they had in store. I’m glad I tried it first, because shockingly, it is not for me. I don’t get enough of the spices, and the nuts and tonka combine in a way that smells almost rancid to me. I was devastated (in a perfume-y way.) Next!
Vanilla Scotch, another holiday LE, this one’s brand new for 2026, “A festive adventure in the Highlands. Warm indulgent vanilla blended with a spirited splash of a Scotch whisky accord, tumbling over roasted tonka bean and wrapped in the sensual allure of golden amber.” Not what I was expecting – I was hoping for a smoky, boozy vanilla – but again the tonka is playing games and it’s the wrong kind of smoke with an almost barbecue note on me? YMMV, there are people online who loooove it. Weird, and less personally devastating, but also no. Next!
Orange Marmalade – “Orange peel simmers on the stove, its vibrant aroma and bitter bite tantalizing the senses. Warm woods are blended with orange zest.” Orange peel, bitter orange, clary sage and cashmere wood. This one’s from 2024 but I don’t think I ever ran across it. Anyway, I laughed out loud, spraying it on – what a delightful scent! It really smells exactly like marmalade to me, that juicy-bitter-slightly sour smell. (I am a major fan of marmalade and still miss the Keiller’s Dundee crocks.) The clary sage doesn’t come stomping through, and the woods stay well in the background, like the smell of a woven gift basket holding a nice jar of the good marmalade. JM reeeaally stresses the layering option on this one, which to me implies a lack of complexity or longevity (or both) but I think it’s just dandy on its own and it lasted for hours while I went about my day. Of course this doesn’t come in a travel size like the other two, dammit. I want some. (Update: 30ml tall bottles available online for about half the price at Sephora, I see one in my future.)
Vanilla Scotch and Ginger Biscuit are available as a cute mini gift set as well as travel sizes. There’s some other seasonal-looking ones too with pretty bows.
Have you tried any of these? I know Jo Malone can be a bit meh for perfumista-ville, mostly (I think) due to longevity, although I remember being blown away by Dark Amber and Ginger Lily which I bought immediately and then eventually sold, it was toooo much. I can’t believe how many JMs there are now. Also, if you’re a jam/preserves/marmalade person, what are your favorites? I eat a lot of Tiptree, Bonne Maman, and anything else that catches my eye, on toast with excellent French butter. Made me hungry for some, just typing that. It’s teatime somewhere, right?
I should not even be typing (but I am,,,) because I have nothing of value to contribute, other than to say, as a dyslexic, it seemed very odd that someone would name a perfume Vanilla Scratch. Of course, re-reading corrected that for me.
I haven’t tried these but am not sure I need to. Two you didn’t care for and I have admit I don’t care for orange marmalade on toast so I don’t think I need it as a scent.
But happy fall- break out those flannels!
I hope your weather has settled down? You have had some excitement over the past few months. There’s snow up on the mountain peaks today, so pretty.
It rained over Halloween which the mean grinch part of me kind of liked. Not because it stopped the kiddies (it came later than that) but it kind of stopped the news helicopters from circling the West Hollywood event, which makes that part of WeHo/Beverly Hills like Apocalypse Now.
I have two of the three perfumes you talked about, which is two-thirds of my Jo Malone collection. (I also have Velvet Rose and Oud, which is pretty and reasonably long-lasting)
I really like Ginger Biscuit, which is admittedly more Biscuit than Ginger. I’d waited what felt like forever for it to return after receiving a decant many years before. For people who want a ginger perfume with more bite I’d suggest Serge Lutens 5 O’Clock au Gingembre.
The 30 ml of Orange Marmalade I bought had an adorable wrapper of Paddington Bear, in both a London taxi and a hot air balloon – I was crushed that he didn’t appear on the bottle itself. This marmalade seems to have a lot of twigs in it, which I wouldn’t like in real life, but enjoy on my wrists.
Oh, and I had the Bonne Maman advent calendar one year, and last year I found a five (or maybe six) pack of minis. Purely in the interest of inspiring envy, I’ll mention that a friend and I were in Paris last year and we ended up in the Bonne Maman store…
Lolololol well I’m happy for you.
Now let’s see who’s next, though I would need a new passport!
Oh gosh, to go to the Bonne Maman store, I hadn’t even thought of that! I do love going to fancy food halls in general though, like the Grand Epicerie (probably spelled that wrong). I’m glad you got your Ginger Biscuit, and jealous of the adorable Paddington bottle.
The only Jo Malone that I have tried was a freesia one and wasn’t really impressed with it. I want something with some staying power to it.
Totally fair. Some people struggle with the JM base or general formula. I’m kind of impressed that you’ve only tried the freesia, when I run across those big displays they’re like catnip.
Yummy post! I love hot tea with an English muffin spread with butter and raspberry preserves. Marmalade was a too grown up taste for me as a kid. Haven’t tried any in years, maybe decades! I enjoy Bonne Maman. I don’t own any Jo Malone full bottles. I think I have a couple JM samples in my sample drawers. I tried a fig one last winter that I really liked, Fig and Lotus Flower. The Orange Marmalade scent sounds good. Thanks for reviewing these. 🙂
English muffin with butter and raspberry preserves — one of my favorites! I never ate marmalade (or any preserves with actual fruit in them lol) as a kid but I’ve really enjoyed sampling them as an adult, they’re a mainstay afternoon treat or when I’m feeling peckish.
When I read your title and first para I thought to myself, orange marmalade — that will be good.
I don’t pay much attention to Jo Malone (or whatever the new line is named after she sold the original). None of the ones I tried sat well on me. But, someone once gifted me a grapefruit candle from the line and it was spectacular.
I think the Jo Malone line can be found at the department store in town and I will have a look for marmalade.
I hope you like the marmalade — it’s very straightforward in the best way and I don’t have anything quite like it.
Orange Marmalade sounds like such a fun one for the dark-at-5pm season! For anyone testing citrus-and-wood scents like this, I find it helps to give the opening a few minutes before deciding, since bitter peel notes can settle quite differently on skin. Did the marmalade note stay juicy-bitter for you throughout, or did it turn woodier as it dried down?
It stayed juicy-bitter for most of the ride and settled into more juice-less pith there towards the end, over the woods.
The only one that interests me somewhat is Orange marmalade, but it’s iffy. I do like Jo Malone’s perfumes though. I have several now and fell for Wood Sage & Sea Salt and have seen a 30ml bottle at a great price at discounters. That one’s in my future. I want to try Vetiver & Golden Vanilla and Orange Blossom next.
Huh. I waffled about Wood Sage — sometimes it’s lovely and sometimes it grates on me a little and I can’t make up my mind. I’ve given up trying to keep track of all their releases, I just try them as I run across them. Cos Bar here has them.
Have you tried the Bonne Maman advent calendar? Counting down the days until I can start opening mine! I’ve always had a problem with Jo Malone (at least the ones I’ve tried) because there is something in there that just seems to attack my sinuses. Too bad because some of the ideas are beautiful!
There’s an advent calendar?!?!?! Whaaaaaat!?!?!? I’m assuming it’s all those teensy jars. Must investigate, thanks!
Yes, a plethora of tiny jars! It is great fun!
I liked Ginger Biscuit, did not like Vanilla Scotch, but really want the Marmalade. I, too, am a huge marmalade fan and love orange in general. I walked the Cotswold Way in England last summer with a friend and ate marmalade whenever it was available, but my friend said she couldn’t stand it and I … had to rethink our friendship. (Not really, but I don’t get it at all.)
My current marmalade open in my fridge is Mrs. Darlington’s Medium Cut Orange Marmalade, but I also love Tiptree when I can get it.
Oooh! I’m going to look for one of these. I currently have an open jar of Trader Joe’s and I have to admit it’s a disappointment.
I love this! I certainly didn’t eat marmalade as a kid, I loved that nasty grape jelly, but as an actual grownup I’ve really enjoyed the less sweet and more flavorful preserves and marmalade.
Oh!!! Those Nyaker tins! Remember when I ate myself sick on those? Good times!!!
dang shambe the perfume doesn’t smell like that!!
GIRL. I generally don’t keep a tin in the house because I have no self control. The TJs are safer for that!