The Scented Hound

Perfume blog with abbreviated perfume reviews & fragrance reviews.

Wild Bluebell by Jo Malone

by 23 Comments

wildbluebell2I don’t get Jo Malone.  I never did.  Every time I walk by the Jo Malone counter at Nordstrom I just continue to walk on by.  I can’t tell if it’s the bottles, the labels or the fact that they just look linen clean and rather boring.  In any case, I was glad when the wonderful Undina sent me a couple of samples so that I could give this line a try.  I hope I can test this without a prejudiced view but with an open mind.  We’ll see…

WHAT I SMELL: Wild Bluebell opens with astringent aldehydes that burned by nose… uh, oh…my first impression is “bathtastic.”  In this case it’s not because it smells soapy, but instead because it smells like something that should be used as bath beads or bath oil or some other “in the tub” kind of product.  What Wild Bluebell smells exactly like is …Lily of the Valley.  So much so that I’m not sure why this isn’t called Lily of the Valley instead.   It’s kind of sweet, kind of leafy green and very clean.  Thankfully, there is a nice light musk base that gives this fragrance some needed depth.

Wild Bluebell notes from Fragrantica:

Top notes: bluebell and cloves 
Heart: lily of the valley, jasmine, rose hip 
Base: white amber and musk

bathproductsWHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  bath products

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE WILD BLUEBELL: girlish, simple, clean

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT WILD BLUEBELL: The Sunday Girl, London MakeUp Girl, A Touch of Blusher

BOTTOM LINE:   Not my thing.  I like women’s perfume, but this seems very fresh face girlish to me.  It’s safe, a bit dull and just too clean.  Jo Malone recommends that you try layering their fragrances.  Since I also received a sample of Orange Blossom, I decided to give this layering a go ahead.  Surprisingly Wild Bluebell actually improved with the layering, but not enough to get me to change my mind.  Sorry Undina, I know you love Jo Malone and please don’t think that I’m not grateful for the samples, I am.  This just means that there will be much more Jo Malone for you. 😉

  • Bone Rating: 2.5 out of 5 possible bones
  • Scent:  Floral Green
  • Classification:  Unisex but leans feminine
  • Expense:  Approximately $60 for 30ml EdC from the Jo Malone website

 

Author: The Scented Hound

Just a normal guy with the nose of a beagle!

23 thoughts on “Wild Bluebell by Jo Malone”

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  1. Annina
    August 11, 2013 at 5:58 pm

    This is one of the only Jo Malones I like. That being said, It’s more of a casual perfume to me – jeans and tee. Most if them aren’t interesting or complex enough for me.

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    • The Scented Hound
      August 11, 2013 at 6:13 pm

      Annina – I could see how this would be perfect for jeans and a tee.. just kind of easy, breezy. I too would think that they would get a bit dull and boring over time. But sometimes it’s nice to have something that feels just easy and simple. Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. laniersmith
    August 11, 2013 at 5:58 pm

    Funny thing, I have yet to stop at the Jo Malone counter too! I get what you mean by looking ” just look linen clean and rather boring” I am just not inspired and I hear tell they fizzle fast. But to be fair I should give it a whirl.

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  3. poodle
    August 11, 2013 at 7:08 pm

    The only one I like is the Pomegranate Noir. It’s not as girly as most of them. It’s also got more lasting power too for some reason. I tried Wild Bluebell and wasn’t impressed. Try the Pom Noir when you can. I think you might like it a little better.

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  4. Kafkaesque
    August 12, 2013 at 2:59 am

    I love the bluebells and rabbits in that photo! The woman looks like a version of Sandra Bernhardt, but less attractive…..

    As for the fragrance, I did a double-take when I saw the title of your review showing up in my email box. I am struggling with how to be tactful about the scent you’ve described, Jo Malone in general, and the thought of you in Jo Malone. Since my views on the brand would make yours on Bond No. 9 seem positively euphoric and gushing, I’ll just shut up instead…. 😛 😉

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  5. Melinda
    August 12, 2013 at 9:18 am

    This was my first Jo Malone purchase – probably not the best choice. It’s clean, and airy and it generally just makes me smell like I’ve just had a shower. You are right, no depth.

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  6. Lyubov
    August 13, 2013 at 8:30 am

    Hallo, Mr. Hound,
    You callenged me to try to convince you into the beautiful Jo Malone world. Yes, the plain light bottles a pretty girlish, but not the Cologne Intense jars! Actually, you had to begin sampling with the Cologne Intense line! I love Oud & Bergamot and I layered it once with English Pear & Freesia – amazing quatro-couple, haha! It worked, and it worked so well, that both my male companions began sniffing around me intrigued and delighted! Dark Amber & Ginger Lily made write haiku! It is a fragrance for meditation and introvercy!

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    • The Scented Hound
      August 13, 2013 at 9:07 pm

      You know what.. you just convinced me to go to the local store and check out the cologne intense line. I had never paid attention that there were separate lines. I’ll see if I can get some sample and will let you know what I think. Thanks for the heads up. I will keep an open mind and maybe, just maybe I can be convinced 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!!

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      • Lyubov
        August 14, 2013 at 4:30 pm

        Yupppeeeey, I cannot belive I really convinced you! I am eager to read your opinion about the Cologne Intense line. Well, maybe you can ommit the sweetest Rose Water & Vanilla and you have to sample Pomegranate Noir and Black Vetyver Cafe, which are unfairly not included in the Cologne Intense series. Don’t forget the classic-to-be Blue Agava & Cacao! OH, I can go on like this forever…clearly a desparate Jo M. fan. Probably the same is with PG, but unfortunately (or fortunately, uh?) I haven’t tested as much as I have Jo’s.
        I’m a devoted reader to your neat and smart reviews, Mr. Hound, but I cannot easily comment, esp. when my other hand is either cooking for, dressing, combing or whatever it taked to serve one spirited child – mine! 🙂
        Have a splendid time at Jo’s counter!

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        • The Scented Hound
          August 14, 2013 at 7:21 pm

          My dear, I can clearly see that you are a Jo Malone fan!!! I’ll get to Nordstrom some time this weekend and will report back. Thanks for your kind thoughts about my blog, I really appreciate it and appreciate the smile you put on my face. More to come…. 🙂

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  7. Vanessa
    August 14, 2013 at 7:20 pm

    I am more a Jo Malone fan than not, but this was a thumbs down from me for the reasons you evoke. Plum Blossom was even more in functional fragrance territory for me, but I am very partial to Dark Amber & Ginger Lily and Vanilla & Anise which are more complex imho.

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    • The Scented Hound
      August 16, 2013 at 5:36 pm

      I am going to do some more searching at the local store to see if I can come to “like” Jo Malone. I don’t expect “love” but maybe I an get to “like”… Dark Abmer and Ginger Lily sounds intriguing 🙂

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  8. Natalie
    August 15, 2013 at 2:30 pm

    Bath products. Exactly. Frown.

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  9. Undina
    August 19, 2013 at 10:07 pm

    I really dislike everything about Jo Malone’s Bluebell – the scent (it’s almost unpleasant on my skin), the non-existent longevity (gone in 20 minutes) and the new approach to campaign (it was the first time they used a live (?) person in the shoot; before it was always some still life arrangement). Sorry if I inflicted it on you without warning 🙂 – usually I tell people if I send something that doesn’t work for me.

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