You know when you move into a home and it has a particular scent? not necessarily unpleasant, but certainly not “yours”.
When we moved into our country cottage there was a lot of work to do, painting throughout, new carpets, re-plumbing, new radiators……this fragranced everything with “newness” and an unmistakable whiff of chemicals, glue and metal. As well as looking forward to accessorising our blank canvas with soft furnishings and personal trinkets, I really wanted everything to smell lovely.
When Jo Malone London approached us with the offer of a collaboration it was basically like all my Christmases and birthdays had come at once. A long term wearer of the brand’s Wood Sage & Sea Salt cologne and various candles having a permanent place on my special occasion gift wish list, I knew I would find the perfect fragrances for our forever family home.
Most of you will know I am determined to create a stylish and practical utility room, it’s quite a narrow space so I’ve had to be quite clever with hanging and storage areas (full reveal coming soon!). As well as a dedicated place for permanent wash loads I am also attempting to grow herbs in the room – the window sill is wide and deep so ideal for a variety of pots. My favourite is lemon thyme, it smells amazing and I quite like it’s wild appearance (you can see it on the top of the small industrial rail/shelf where I hang Mabel’s clothes to dry). I am now using the Jo Malone London Aqua Di Limone Linen Spray for bed sheets and towels which has a fresh citrus scent, no I didn’t know it was a thing either but now I am obsessed. A little goes a long way – I can see a bottle lasting months.
I also finally got my hands on a “Shelia Maid”, it is literally one of the best things I’ve bought in ages.
I’ve re-installed my beauty station in the master bedroom and added a splash of pink and blush (James just came home one day from work to discover my new aluminium chair so simply had no choice but to accept it bless him). I have introduced the Jo Malone London candle in Peony & BLUSH Suede (see what I did there?) and it’s beautiful. Delicately floral and fruity (it has notes of red apple) but with a slightly sexy undertone. On the subject of sexy, have you experienced Velvet Rose & Oud Cologne Intense? if not then you need to. One spritz is all you need to smell heavenly for an entire evening and beyond.
My sister bought me an English Pear & Freesia candle not long after Mabel was born and it’s still one of my favourites, it reminds me of that newborn baby all consuming bubble. I now have the English Pear and Freesia Hand Wash and the matching hand & body lotion by the sink in the kitchen as well as the room spray for disguising potent cooking adventures or for when I manage to burn toast (happens.)
Do you have different fragrances for different rooms in your home? What is your favourite Jo Malone London scent? Any questions on my home accessories that I have failed to include in the “Steal The Style” section please don’t hesitate to ask in the comments section below!
STEAL THE STYLE
This feature has been sponsored by Jo Malone London but I would never recommend products I didn’t love or wouldn’t buy myself (or ahem… ask someone else to buy for me)
Your utility room is amazing! We have recently moved and have a utility room but it’s currently an absolute mess so I cannot wait to see your reveal. I absolutely love Jo Malone and also got English pear when I had my son. I may treat myself to another as baby 2 is due in a few weeks and I’m sure it will help me relax.. and disguise the smell of nappies!
Ha ha Anna I had English Pear in my office and in the kitchen of our old house to disguise the smell of bottles/nappies too. The utility has taken longer than expected as it is such an awkward space and I’m trying to make the best of what we’ve got i.e. maximise clothes drying space without making it look cluttered x
My ultimate is Wood sage and sea salt. I even save it just for our trips to Cornwall, so that when I smell my candle version at home it reminds me of holidays and being by the sea. I’d love them to do as much in that range as possible 😂
Rhiannon have you seen the body cream?! I find if you layer the body cream with the perfume the scent lasts forever http://www.jomalone.co.uk/product/3785/32244/bath-body/body-cremes/woody/wood-sage-sea-salt-body-cregraveme
(apologies in advance for the enabling) x
I LOVE this idea! Smells really bring back memories don’t they?
Our house is definitely lacking in it’s own scent… I am definitely long overdue a candle shopping spree! English pear and freesia room spray sounds lush… so does the Peony and Blush candle but then I am partial to a bit of grapefruit too… Dirty dirty enabler. 😉
You will love the Peony and Blush Suede! I’m not a lover of overtly floral fragrances but this has just the right amount of sexy x
Oh Mrs O’Shea, your choices of scents seem to compliment the spaces you’ve put them in perfectly, and what gorgeous spaces they are too. I second what the lovely Becky says about smells bringing back memories too, and will definitely be following your sisters lead and buying new mama’s a gorgeous scented candle, so lovely to be reminded of a special time, these babas grow far too quickly for my liking. xxx
It was such a nice gift Lorna – obviously it’s lovely when folks buy stuff for the baby but it’s so nice to receive something for yourself too (!) x
I really need to get my hands on those Cox and Cox shelves – they just look so flippin’ fabulous. (And I can’t seem to find any anywhere near as nice elsewhere.)
Rebecca you do – they have really opened up my kitchen. And I was the same, I did look for a budget alternative but couldn’t find one, plus with the discounts Cox & Cox always offer they were good value in the end x
Beautiful!! Velvet rose and Oud is my all time fave perfume, it reminds me of my 30th birthday and lasts for ages!!
I really like the tidy and clean storage you’ve got xx
Thanks Helen, so useful to have boxes to jut chuck everything in (!) it’s an amazing scent isn’t it? And the bottle looks so chic too 🙂 x
Love the copper clock in the first image! Where it it from? Love the post x
Hi Jessica, it was from made.com x
So impressed that you’re growing herbs in your utility room. Can’t wait to see the finished space xx
Trying Lisa, I’m hoping I don’t kill them all by the time Adam comes to shoot it (!) x
Such gorgeous rooms Charlotte! I was (am) also a long time lover of Wood Sage and Seasalt but it makes my hubby cough (divorce-worthy?), so I’ve switched to Earl Grey and Cucumber which is lovely, so fresh. But I still wear my fave when he’s away, too lovely to give up x
Oh Hannah I’ve not smelt the earl grey one?! Must try it next time I’m shopping x
I love how certain (nice!!) scents are part of your home without you even realising. It just makes it feel like home. I also now want to introduce some sunny lemon in my home xx
My husband bought me the mimosa & cardamon for my birthday, and wasn’t sure what to expect but it is my new favourite and have since bought the body lotion which is so luxe xx
I love using a perfume and matchy matchy body lotion Hannah, it definitely makes the scent last longer. Jo Malone also do bath oils…… 🙂 x
I realised recently that I appear to be hoarding most of my wealth in expensive candles 😳 Which is not an ideal situation – but my house at least smells good 😁
My favourite Jo Malone scent is Nectarine Blossom and Honey – it’s great for springtime as it’s fresh and sweet. I even like it as a perfume which is unusual for me as I’m not usually keen on really sweet scents. I also love Red Roses for the evening as it’s a rich, luxurious smell.
However, I’m mostly burning a Wild Mint candle from The White Company in my sitting room at the evening – I love the freshness and I’m a bit obsessed with mint this year anyway. I’ve also got a vanilla and coconut soy candle in my hallway which was extremely expensive from JL and a bit of a disappointment – it smells better just left open than it does burning, unfortunately. I feel like Jo Malone is really missing a tropical type candle – they’re very good for classic, english countryside but not great for anything a bit more exotic in my experience.
I do have two questions though, if anyone can advise – number one, does anyone know of any winter/Christmassy type candles which aren’t quite as overpowering as the White Company Winter one? I like the general smell but can’t burn it for long as it gives me a cracking headache.
Also, are the ALDI candles really that good? I’ve heard good things but not managed to get my hands on any – but I understand they were so popular that they’re bringing them out as a permanent line, so I’m hopeful for the future.
Hi Sara, yep I love Nectarine and Honey blossom too, I considered it for the living room (I currently have Wood sage & Sea salt). Have you smelt the Jo Malone Sweet Almond & Macaroon? I can see me having that for the festive season (so you know….if anyone wants to buy me one) x
They are nice the Aldi ones but in terms of perfume you would get from a JM one there’s no comparison. However as I am skint the Aldi ones do the job x
Sara – the Aldi ones are good and were £3.99 or something I think, so definitely worth buying. Though not as strongly scented as some of the more expensive candles – which to be honest with the comparison of price point you’d expect!! x
Oh and also – for the Christmas scent, try Crabtree and Evelyn ‘Noel’. They have a room spray which is amazing and not overpowering – very similar to the Winter candle from White Company but cheaper. x
For Christmas candles Jul by Skandinavisk is lovely and such pretty packaging
I use the English Pear & Freesia scent for my dress company (I burn the candle at our events and give all dress packages a spritz of the perfume!) and love the Blue Agave & Cacao for me. So many customers have asked for the name of the scent that I should probably become a sales rep on the side. Haven’t tried their room sprays but the citrus linen one sounds necessary to have!
Rebekah I love that you do this?! the dresses must smell amazing! the citrus linen spray is absolutely necessary 🙂 x
Oh thank you again for ANOTHER wonderful post.
I don’t have a sense of smell and get mega paranoid about our house smelling nasty, so this post is fantastic xxx
Can I ask where you got those wonderful shelves from too please? The ones with the black metal with wood shelf – I lurvely them.
Also your utility room looks heavenly. I’m just about to embark on ours after a recent rather unfortunate boiler update left ours in a state of total disrepair. Those few images have already inspired me to get cracking! Heather x
Hi Heather! They are Cox and cox – if you have a look at the shop the style there is a direct link I think. Thanks for the compliments on the utility – it is so nice to have a pleasant space for washing (!) x
Where are the tidy boxes from?
Hi Jill, they are from John Lewis.
Hi Charlotte-just wondering where the lemons tea towel is from-love it 🙂
Your utility is gorgeous and super stylish! Can’t wait to see the big reveal.
My absolute favourite JM candle is English pear and freesia-had one burning at our wedding and every time I smell it-it takes me straight back to that day 🙂
My husband treats me to a new candle for our anniversary every year.
Hi Shell, that’s such a lovely anniversary gift! What an amazing way to evoke memories. The tea towels are from John Lewis, there is a direct link in the ‘steal the style’ section xx
Your house looks so gorgeous Charlotte! I love your beauty station, where did you get the shelf from to create this? Thanks xx
Hi, your house is looking great! Love your beauty station. Where did you get the white trays for your make up from? Thanks x
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