Jo's Scent Notes: Jo Malone London Sandalwood and Spiced Apricot Cologne

I’m sorry, Jo Malone London, but I just don’t want to smell like a ginger biscuit this Christmas. Even though I know it’s a bestseller and you’ve brought it back for this season by popular demand. But I’m also worried that Ginger Biscuit’s going to steal the limelight from this beauty, which sits alongside this in the limited edition Christmas collection. I am finding it simply bewitching.

Now, you know you’re onto something with a new perfume when you find yourself compulsively smelling your own skin. If you’ve seen a woman on the Tube doing that, in the past month, it was probably me. There’s an intimacy to this – it doesn’t enter the room and announce itself 10 minutes before you make your entrance – and I love it all the more, for that quietness, which is rather welcome at this increasingly frazzled time of year.

Jo Malone London Sandalwood and Spiced Apricot Cologne has an almost muffled quality. For me, it conjures the idea of walking into a room full of welcoming cushions and a pile of velvet throws in which to cocoon yourself while watching old black-and-white movies on TV in your flannelette PJs and sheepskin slippers. That’s not to say it’s not one for dressing up and hitting the town – but for me, it’s almost aromatherapeutically relaxing, rather than glam.

Jo Malone London categorise it as ‘gourmand’ fragrance, and it’s true, there’s a slight vanilla warmth when it’s been on skin. But this isn’t sweet and sickly; the vanilla just rounds off the whole, buffing it to absolute smoothness – and I’d argue that the vibe is woody, rather than gourmand. Spices? Understated and subtle (maybe cardamom and star anise, but not the traditional cinammony Christmas spices). Apricot? Can’t make it out at all, really. But that sandalwood is most definitely front, centre and creamy and skin-like, addictive and so, so velvety.

It isn’t what I’ll be wearing on Christmas Day. But it’s what I’ll be cosying up in for the umpteenth reruns of ‘Love Actually’, ‘The Sound of Music’ and ‘Elf’, when I floomf on the sofa and enjoy a well-earned rest, between the festivities and New Year.

A Slanket, in scent form…

From £59 for 30ml Cologne (the gorgeous bottle pictured is priced £128 for 100ml) – buy here