I have always had a complex relationship with hesperidic (citrus) fragrances. I am drawn to their crisp brightness I often smell on others, but I am often disappointed by how they perform on me. Some dry down to take an aftershave-like quality, while others have aromatic or salty bases I don’t always find appealing. Also, most last a breath.
When I visited the Jo Loves boutique on Elizabeth Street in London in April 2019, I initially became attracted to the smoky and spicy Smoked Plum and Leather, and also to the green floral naturalness of No. 42 The Flower Shop. So, before leaving London, I went for a bottle of Smoked Plum and Leather. Pomelo, the first fragrance launched by the house, hadn’t initially caught my attention, but after trying it on from a free sample, I was completely enthralled by it and, later, I had to get a bottle of that too.
Pomelo opens as a sparkling citrus that is refreshing, energizing, uplifting. The vetiver in the heart isn’t prominent to my nose but provides an elegant woody vibe that lifts up and enlivens the citrus fruit, but never overwhelms its composition. The fresh burst is reminiscent of grapefruit, but with added sweetness, and doesn’t fade over time, which I find to be an impressive quality for an hesperidic fragrance. Patchouli in the base adds an earthy touch and allows Pomelo to softly persist all day, but I can’t detect it distinctly.
Jo Malone referred to her creation as “white sandy beaches”, “fresh linen sheets”, and “sparkling iced water”, expressions that beautifully convey the idea of how crisp and clean the creation is. For me, Pomelo evokes walking around a beautiful Greek island beach (Paros comes to mind) sipping a chilled glass of fresh, grapefruit-infused lemonade.
The fragrance is zesty, succulent, and vibrant the entire time it lasts on the skin.
I love the 18 ml fragrance Paintbrush™ version that can be layered with the EDP and can be easily re-applied throughout the day.
Notes for Pomelo are listed as they appear on the line’s website:
Top: Pomelo, Pomelo Zest
Heart: Vetiver
Base: Patchouli
I reviewed the fragrance from my personal sample and bottle.
Pomelo is sold as Eau de Parfum in 50 ml and 100 ml bottles. The fragrance is also available in other versions, including the fragrance Paintbrush™, body lotion, bath and shower gel, and candle.
Photo: Sarah McGuire.
