Jo Malone At Bergdorf Goodman Spring Blue Skies and Blossoms Event Poster Photo HC

On Tuesday, April 14th I had the pleasure of attending Jo Malone's Blue Skies & Blossoms Collection Event in celebration of Spring at the Good Dish Cafe at Bergdorf Goodman. Attended by forty Jo Malone London aficionados, we were all greeted with hor d'oeuvres and sparkling wine in anticipation of a floral demonstration and the main event, three scents from the limited editions Blossoms collection: Sakura Cherry Blossom (2011), Plum Blossom Cologne (2012) and Osmanthus Blossom (2013).

Jo Malone Display of Colognes, flowers, Candles and cremes

Jo Malone encourages their fragrances to be layered and we had the opportunity to sample the three scents before and after with the suggested pairings.

James McLaughlin of Jo Malone (Photo HC)

The evening's master of ceremonies was James McLaughlin, Jo Malone's charismatic Education Executive, who led us masterfully through the entire collection. James started the event proclaiming that rose is having its moment in perfumery, (Jo Malone Red Roses anyone?).

 

From velvet folds of lush red blooms to the fragile pink petals of the season, with its delicate aroma of Cherry Blossoms which are at their peak in mid April, the group fell in love with Sakura Cherry Blossom. In Japan, the sakura is widely celebrated in their literature, poetry, and art. It heralds the coming of spring and is also symbol of friendship.  Sakura Cherry Blossom, created by master perfumer Christine Nagel in 2011 is a delightfully light and airy feminine floral. A slight wisp of bergamot and haunting rosewood note evokes the boughs of the tree gently dancing. Alas, like it’s all too brief season, the scent is fleeting. Layering it with Nectarine Blossom & Honey (a favorite of our Editor in Chief Michelyn Camen) brings out its fruitier aspects. Christine Nagel, now with Hermes has crafted twenty plus fragrances for the house.

Osmanthus Blossom, created by nose Marie Salamagne of Firmenich is a clean, crisp floral fruity. The citrus and green composition takes you out to the garden after a brief rain where golden apricots and juicy peaches have fallen to the damp earth. The dry down shows Osmanthus’ leather and darker side, but is still very office friendly . Blending it with Orange Blossom, (created in 2003 by Jean Claude Delville) made a luscious combination, but if you love osmanthus as a soliflore this is perfect alone.

Plum Blossom Cologne signed by Firmenich's Fabrice Pellegrin, is a floral woody musk which I found on my skin was better to blend instead of worn alone. Clean, pretty and bright though a bit light on the musk (for me), it blended well with Wood Sage and Sea Salt which gave it an eccentricty and unexpected heft I found delghtful.

 Flowers by Spiros for Art and Flowers(Photo HC)

Throughout the event, James brought our attention to the floral station where Christine of Deborah Hunter Flowers (long time partners with Jo Malone for their events) was demonstrating how to create a garland crown.

Attendee of the Spring Blue Skies and Blossoms Event.  If it is you dear reader, please let us know (Photo: HC)

He informed us that Jo Malone was originally a florist and the tradition of celebrating petals and blooms is part of the Brand’s DNA. The garland crowns were a wonderful spring touch for the ladies to take home. Judging by conversation, Jo Malone  Sakura Cherry Blossom  was the favorite by a nose!

 

We  were all gifted a Jo Malone bag full of fragrance samples and creams as a parting gift.

The limited collection is all Eau de cologne, available only in 100ml. and priced at $125.

Disclosure: I obtained samples at the event

 

–Hernando Courtright, New York Special Event Contributor

Thanks to  Gordana Cavlina the Business Manager  for Jo Malone at Bergdorf Goodman we have a reader’s choice for  100 ml of Sakura Blossom,  100 ml of Osmanthus Blossom  or  100 ml of Plum Blossom. To be eligible you must live in the USA and be a registered CaFleureBon reader. Please leave a comment with your favorite Jo Malone Fragrance, your choice should you win and your favorite Spring flower. Draw closes 4/23/2014

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.