Our Impression of Primrose & Rye for Unisex Perfume Oil - by Jo Malone London
English Fields Collection Q&A with Celine Roux, Head of Global Fragrance, Jo Malone London and Mathilde Bijaoui, Master Perfumer. Celine: The idea was to have a ‘sunny’ fragrance – not a tropical scent but more like sun-baked fields on a late summer’s afternoon. Mathilde: I remember sitting in a café with Celine and she told me she wanted something very yellow and sunny with a touch of smokiness. Primroses are the perfect joyful yellow flower, and I added corn, coconut and mimosa to enhance that rich, hazy and solar effect. For the smoky warmth, I thought back to the bakery trip and the smell of rye: it had hints of vanilla (not sweet vanilla but spicy vanilla extract, which can be a bit woody and animalic) and earthiness too. Rolling fields dotted with primroses. Swaying softly on a spring breeze. Warmed by golden corn. Brightened with mimosa. On an addictive base of rye and vanilla. Filled with sunshine." - a note from the brand.