Vanilla & Anise

Posted by Stacey

on October 1, 2009

Jo Malone is one of my favorite fragrance brands because all of her scents are unique and original. Whenever a new one comes out, I can’t wait to get to the counter to smell it because I always know that I’m going to be delighted. And the trend continues with her newest release, Vanilla & Anise.

The description of the scent says that it “transports you to the floral valleys of Madagascar and captures the extraordinary, fleeting moment when the rare vanilla orchid blossoms at day break” and that’s a much better description than I could give. It’s very light and feminine, with top notes that include Bergamot, Neroli, and Star Anise, middle notes that are touched with Tuberose and Purple Vanilla Orchid, and base notes that give you the warmth of White Amber, Vetiver Bourbon, and Tonka (among others). You can definitely smell the flowers when you spritz it, but there’s a touch of spice in it as well, giving it an unexpected bite that makes it much more complex than your average floral scent.

Like all Jo Malone scents, it’s meant to be combined with your choice of any of her other fragrances to create your own signature scent. (I always love doing that – it makes me feel kind of like a makeup scientist!) I tried matching Vanilla & Anise with her Grapefruit Cologne (one of my favorites) and the two combine to make a gorgeous, citrusy scent that’s bold and refreshing. It’s like getting a third scent without paying for it. I also tried layering it with her Orange Blossom Cologne and that was another combination I recommend. The Orange Blossom brings out the exotic Vanilla Orchid and the two complement each other in a way that I’ve never smelled before. Definitely not a fragrance that anyone else you run into will be wearing, so you’ll always stand out. For all of you Jo Malone fans out there – what have (or would) you try combining Vanilla & Anise with?

Vanilla & Anise retails for $55 for 1 ounce and $100 for 3.4 ounces. To learn more about Jo Malone, visit www.jomalone.com.

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