Can we talk about Jo Malone for a minute?

[FellatioNelson]

And fragrance combining in particular?

Which are the flavours that have been hugely disappointing to you? What are your favourites? And what about the combinations?

I want to get some more and I want to go with next. I think Verbenas of Provence and French Lime Blossom are the two that will give me the most potential recommended combinations with the one I already have.

I bought a little bottle of honeysuckle and jasmine on Ebay - it's vile.

I only like grapefruit.

Ebay one probably not the real deal - wee?

I love the nectarine and honey blossom and am waiting to try the english pear and freesia that my friend got for me in duty free last week.

I am not keen on heavy fragrance so the lighter more fruity ones suit me better.

I wondered about whether it would counterfeit, there are so many on there, but it seems real enough, just way to sweet and cloying for me. Never heard of pear and freesia - that must be new. I bought a big bottle of White jasmine and mint (? and I've really loved it this summer.

I had some nectarine and honey blossom soaps and a candle - they were nice.

It's all personal - I have friends who love Red roses but I think it's vile.

I like Lime blossom and mandarin as bath oil but not as the perfume.

I've got amber and Lavender which is quite 'soapy' and zingy in the summer and has good lasting power, which a lot of them don't.

I've also got nutmeg and ginger which is warm and soft and spicy. I prefer citrus and not florals...

In the past have had the vetyver cafe (bleugh) and also the orange blossom (too sweet).

I had Space NK's Laughter and layer that sometimes with amber and lavender.

They used to be better than they are now - she sold the business a few years back and since then I think they've lost it a bit.

ha ha clarice, wee?!

Now, I love Black Vetiver Cafe, and I use it alot with Lime Basil and Mandarin, and with Pomegranate Noir. They make lovely wintery rich fruity/spicy smells, good for evenings.

Love SpaceNY laughter - perhaps my fave

Pomegranate noir is one of my all time favourites, and smells a little different on everyone. A very classy scent, beautiful and very individual.

Do NOT like lime basil and mandarin.

See? It's all very personal! I liked it when I first got it, but I've gone right off it now. I'm a bit fickle when it comes to perfume.

Want to try the new exotic ones but they are in limited shops (oud and amber or something)?

I saw the pear and freesia one but read a review that said it was too sweet. I'm always tempted by anything vanilla, spicy or citrus.

I think having tried a few, I might, faint shock horror, try a more traditional 'grown up' perfume - I was given a sample of Chanel's Eau Premier and really like it. Surprised, cos I can't stand Chanel No. 5. This is much lighter. I've always bought 'unusual' and different perfume as hate smelling like everyone else. Maybe this is a sign I am old and should just give up!!

josefa if you like lime basil and mandarin you might like the limited edition Chanel Chance (think its called eau tender). Its been updated for the summer and is very limey.

I think grapefruit is a good fragrance for combining. I also love 154.

What do you combine with grapefruit?

I've got French lime blossom which I bought because a friend wears red rose and it doesn't give me a headache, as traditional perfumes do.

I find it very light, though, and hardly worth wearing as it's worn off in no time.

Maybe that's always the case with these 'natural' fragrances.

Oh, when you say 'combine' do you mean use a lotion or something as well?

Grapefruit combines well with lots of the fragrances apparently. I used it with lime,basil and mandarin, 154 and Vintage Gardenia.

WWWY - Jo Malone sells all their fragrances in small bottles with the idea that you wear two or three together, in a 'layering' method, to creat your own favourite combinations. You can do it however you like, although there are tried and tested combinations. The shops have little booths where you can go in a fiddle around without your nose being confused by all the other smells in the shop! It's a jolly serious business you know.

Hmm.. not sure I could be arsed with all that. Will just have to stay honking.

But do they always wear off quickly, would you say, or is that just me with that scent?

I love Space NK laughter too

I'm on my second bottle of lime, basil and mandarin and am really bored of it

eau tender sounds good

actually, I think you're right, mine wears off quite quickly too

Another fan of Space NK Laughter - all of them actually. And I absolutely adore those little glass bottle of bath oils in the white box, by Aromatherapy Associates (Space NK sell them) called things like Relax, Support, Revive, etc. They are really concentrated and high quality so they last ages. I put them on my Christmas list every year - can't bear to run out!

personally i jsut burn ten pound notes in a darling little glass jar. it has the same effect.

It's top-notes don't do it for me I'm afraid.

Can't decide whether you are taking the piss in a nice way or a nasty way. Help me out please, so I can form an appropriate response.

sorry for the errant apostrophe BTW.

wanted to add Jo Malone is very protective of her brand - she wont even sell it in the staff factory shop so beware of Ebay Jo Malone products (unwanted gift probably ok but how on earth do you tell!)

Yes, the majority do seem to say 'unwanted gift'. an awful lot of them seem to be corporate gift packages and goodie bag items as well. Apparently!