Jo Malone London’s Lime Basil & Mandarin is the perfect fragrance for men and women alike.

Certain fragrances are indiscriminate in their appeal. Genuinely classic colognes meld to the wearer easily – eliciting complements, but never complaints, all the while suiting a range of ages and styles (and likely commanding a cult following in the process). A tall order for one scent to be sure, but Jo Malone London’s Lime Basil & Mandarin cologne is up there with the best. First concocted in 1991, it is the brand’s signature fragrance, and is a well-loved, staid staple in the perfumer’s repertoire – and a worthy addition to any man’s dressing table. 

Still, despite its reputation as one of the most-noted citrus fragrances in the perfume industry, Lime Basil & Mandarin is not a brash scent. The first burst of zesty citrus is later carried by deeper, heady notes of amberwood that lend it a warmth, tempered with an unexpected, peppery twist of basil. It also reacts to the temperature of the skin: the mandarin is almost undetectable at first, but grows with time as it heats up, making for a layered and nuanced scent that disappears and reappears throughout the day (or night).

You might expect that the freshness makes Lime Basil & Mandarin most suitable for wearing as a daytime fragrance, but Jo Malone London’s signature scent isn’t so easily categorised. It is intended to be worn anytime, and by any gender. “Perfumery has no boundaries,” explains Ms Emma South, Jo Malone London’s Fragrance & Lifestyle Expert. “It is not intellectual; it is personal, emotional, and something deep and intimate. This is true for both men and women.”

Trends can affect generic tastes in colognes in much the same way they shape our taste in clothes, but Ms South rejects this notion, instead advocating the wearer to do as they please. “Wearing perfume is all about pleasure. Nobody should really follow the trends or social expectations to choose their fragrance. It may be true that some men will choose scents that make them feel more masculine, but it is more a matter of taste and mood.” This unisex sensibility that Lime Basil & Mandarin boasts is refreshingly modern, but the scent remains timeless, too. It goes without saying, then, that it also makes for an infallible gift – which is why we’re stocking it across both MR PORTER and NET‑A‑PORTER. 

And, because it’s the brand’s signature fragrance, you’ll also find iterations of it in an exfoliating shower gel, a body & hand lotion that’s great if you want to boost the scent before you go out, and, if that hasn’t sold you, a scented candle with which to infuse your home should do the trick. A tip: the candle’s herbaceous notes stimulate the palate, making it particularly good when hosting a dinner party.

**Discover the Jo Malone London collection here **

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