10 Best Jo Malone Colognes for Men
Updated January 2023
How We Found the Best Jo Malone Colognes
5 Experts Interviewed
13 Fragrances Tested
Top 10 Picks
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Liam Carson
Jo Malone is a wonderful British fragrance house, most commonly associated with producing some of the highest quality female fragrances on the market.
But did you know that Jo Malone also has a fantastic fragrance line for men? Better still, many of their fragrances are unisex. Who decided to give fragrances a gender label anyway! We are firm believers in fragrances for all, so if you like something, wear it!
In our top ten guide today, we have brought together some of the most exquisite Jo Malone men’s fragrances for testing.
Check out our guide for the top gents’ Jo Malone scents ranked in no particular order!
Summary List
Jo Malone Fragrances Ranked by Cologne Critic
Why we chose it
An adorable ‘beachy’ scent, Sage & Sea Salt is incredibly fresh and invigorating. The inspiration behind this fragrance came from British beaches, particularly the feeling of freedom and escaping into nature.
Providing the scents of the sea we have notes of sea salt and seaweed, and the fresh burst of citrus is provided by grapefruit, sage and ambrette.
To us, this smells like summer morning strolls along the beach with our dog. Longevity is moderate at around 5 hours, and for projection is sits much closer to the skin.
Given the beach vibes that Sage & Sea Salt give off, this is undoubtedly a summer fragrance, perfect for the office given its fresh aroma. A beautiful, classy, zesty, almost aquatic scent.
Main Accords
- Marine
- Citrus
- Aromatic
Our Take
Woody, spicy fragrance, Jo Malone’s English Oak & Hazelnut features (surprise surprise) notes of hazelnut, cedar and oak. This fragrance, in particular, has a LOT of fans, and could be one of the most popular Jo Malone scent on the market.
Longevity and projectivity are both very well-performing, and to some, the fragrance is a little intense so again, use sparingly.
We love the fact that this smells so natural, smelling woody and nutty, reminding us of an autumnal walk in a brown oak forest. Comforting and warm, this aroma truly lifts your spirits on a cold or rainy day.
Main Accords
- Woody
- Earthy
- Aromatic
Our Take
An oriental floral, Velvet Rose & Oud features the scents of damask rose, oud, praline and clove.
Sprayed on your skin, this almost feels edible – ideal for up close and intimate situations. Some compare this to the smell of a raspberry jam which we love!
For us, the inclusion of the praline notes creates a delectable fragrance we just keep having to go back for more. If you are not into sweet scents, this may be a little too much for you.
This scent oozes elegance and class, best reserved for formal occasions.
Main Accords
- Sweet
- Rose
- Oud
Our Take
Another Malone fragrance inspired by the British landscape, this time the English countryside.
Nothing screams rural English villages like English pear. This fragrance packs everything you would expect, fruity, juicy and delicious. Accompanying the pear in the top is a mouthwatering note of melon, with rose and freesia adding a floral twist in the mid. Base notes include musk, patchouli, Amber and Rhubarb.
Many Jo Malone fragrances have moderate longevity, but out of those we have tested, English Pear & Freesia possibly lasts the longest, coming in around 8 hours.
Juicy pair and floral freesia make a winning combination, making this one of the best selling Jo Malone perfumes in their collection.
Although the notes of freesia and rose give this a floral vibe, it still maintains an air of masculinity, so it’s an excellent choice for dinner at a fancy restaurant with a loved one.
Main Accords
- Sweet
- Floral
- Fruity
Our Take
Some would argue that Incense & Cedrat is Jo Malone’s most masculine fragrance yet. Although Jo Malone shies away from labeling their fragrances by gender, their Cologne Intense line tends to favor more masculine base notes, over the traditional florals.
We would describe this as an oriental, woody aroma featuring scents of lemon, pepper and benzoin (the sap from Styrax trees). It’s a beautifully spicy and warm fragrance.
This scent truly lives up to its name in terms of intensity, so use sparingly as a little goes a long way. Some customers do find, however, that this doesn’t have much staying power, and longevity is just a few hours at most.
The incense pushes this fragrance to more of a fall or winter scent, perfect for early evening strolls or in a casual setting.
Main Accords
- Balsamic
- Fresh Spicy
- Citrus
Our Take
Dark Amber & Ginger Lily was first introduced in 2008 and is described as an oriental woody fragrance. The scent itself is very dark and complex, many compare this to Tom Ford’s Black Orchid.
Dark Amber & Ginger Lily features top notes of ginger and pink pepper, a mid consisting of jasmine, orchid, water lily and rose, with a base of leather, sandalwood, incense, patchouli and black amber.
Another addition to the Cologne Intense line, Dark Amber & Ginger Lily lives up to its name. An intense yet delightful scent, which is perfect for the colder months.
Overall, a beautiful and safe scent which is perfect for layering with other colognes in the collection.
Main Accords
- Flora
- Amber
- Woody
Our Take
Close your eyes and think of a warm spring summers day. This is precisely the image this scent conjures.
Beautifully fresh and floral, this scent was actually inspired not by Britain, but by a hotel stay in Bel Air, Los Angeles.
Featuring top notes of cedrat and clementine leaf, the orange aroma burst at first spray. Orange features throughout this fragrance as both orange blossoms sit in the mid and base notes.
Accompanying the orange blossom in the base is lilac, which features heavily in this fragrance, giving it a light and floral feel.
It’s a very straightforward and uncomplicated scent, best suited so casual or semi-formal occasions. We feel this is an all-year-round fragrance, although it naturally leans towards spring and summer.
Main Accords
- White Floral
- Citrus
- Sweet
Our Take
154 scores its name from the street number of Jo Malone’s first store in London and is quite possibly our all-time favorite!
Initially launched in 2001, 154 features top notes of bergamot, grapefruit and mandarin for an incredibly zesty, citrus punch. In the mid are lavender, basil and nutmeg and in the base patchouli, vetiver, musk and vanilla.
A bright, masculine cologne, this is fresh and easy to wear on almost any occasion. The freshness of the citrus makes it perfect for the summer, while the spicy, woody notes make it an excellent choice for wintery months. A true all-rounder.
Our top choice for a date which is bound to leave them asking: “what are you wearing?”
Main Accords
- Woody
- Aromatic
- Fresh Spicy
Our Take
Next up, we have a fragrance that was specifically designed for men, Amber & Lavender.
Amber & lavender features top notes of bergamot, lavender and mint, giving way to lily-of-the-valley, clove and cinnamon in the mid. Rounding out the base are myrrh, patchouli and amber.
This has an almost calming aura to it, a spray or two can leave you feeling rejuvenated and relaxed.
Lavender is the prominent note in this fragrance, so this is a guaranteed win if you’re usually drawn to lavender based scents. Given it’s calming properties, it also works to boost your mood.
Spicy, warm, refreshing and sharp all at the same time, this is perfect for fall and winter use.
Main Accords
- Warm Spicy
- Floral
- Aromatic
Our Take
No prizes for guessing the main note in our last cologne on this list.
Accompanying the juicy grapefruit are tangerine, middle notes of rosemary, mint and paprika, with a base of vetiver, patchouli and oakmoss.
Although unisex, this leans towards a more masculine fragrance given its deep and woody notes. Aromatic and bright, this is definitely one for the warmer months.
We see this working well on a beach trip coupled with a floral Hawaiian shirt and sandals. A solid choice to round off our top ten list!
Main Accords
- Aromatic
- Citrus
- Woody
Other Colognes We Considered
Expert Tips
As a child, Jo Malone would make simple fragrances using flowers from her British Garden. After moving into floristry, Jo would often give facials to clients of an evening using homemade ingredients. As a thank you, Jo would gift a homemade Nutmeg and Ginger bath oil which customers went crazy for. Realising she had a talent for creating wonderfully smelling cosmetics, the brand we know and love was born.
Launching in 1991, Jo Malone concocted her fragrance line inspired by British flowers and fruits. Malone’s fragrances are built on the concept of ‘fragrance combining’, which is a method of applying combinations of scents to create your own signature aroma.
As you would expect with any high-quality colognes, we are often asked whether Jo Malone fragrances are worth the hype and indeed the price tag.
In our opinion, they are 100% worth it.
To maintain their image, Jo Malone only uses high-quality ingredients in their colognes and perfumes. Some of which take many years to cultivate.
As each fragrance is designed to be layered with other colognes, Jo Malone fragrances are incredibly versatile and inoffensive.
Malone’s fragrances smell elegant, classy and sophisticated, and make a worthy addition to any man’s collection.
We also have to mention the packaging, which is simple yet refined. Understated but beautiful.
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Researched by a team of fragrance experts.