Yazhini ManimudiThe holiday season is over, but the limited edition holiday cologne from Jo Malone is still here, but only barely. With the smaller size fully sold out on the Jo Malone UAE website, I’m here to tell you that you should buy the 100 ml bottle before you can never experience it again…
Jo Malone Sandalwood & Spiced Apricot
Unisex
Anne Flipo
Fragrance Family
Woody Spicy
Notes
Apricot may be a summery note, but it fits right in this winter special. It’s what greets you straight out of the bottle, juicy and fuzzy like apricot skin. Soft and velvety, it acts as a real apricot. Something Jo Malone achieve through a synthetic accord.
Cardamom and nutmeg, I’m pretty sure, are the spices that act to soften the juiciness of apricot. Cardamom that often elevates milk tea goes so well with the lactonic facets of the apricot. The cool spice and its peppery whisper does the job creating a calm, soft opening. The nutmeg, with its earthy, spicy-sweet character is mild.
The soft apricot and spices are anchored in a gorgeous sandalwood. It’s creamy while managing to be somewhat dry as well, perfect for an apricot that isn’t too juicy. Highlighting the drier facets of sandalwood also means its faint woody-spicy undertones get to shine with the cardamom and nutmeg. When the apricot has evaporated away (and it does quite quickly on the skin), you’re left with the sandalwood and a sensual, not-gourmand vanilla. I also get a patchouli, here. It’s subtle and creamy and really complements the spiced character of the perfume.
I am collecting news of newer fruity perfumes like they’re infinity stones just to prove my trend prediction for 2026. But I wouldn’t add Sandalwood & Spiced Apricot to the list as it isn’t all too fruity. If you want apricot to be the star of the show, I recommend something like Phlur’s Vanilla Nectar, Serge Lutens Daim Blond, or Jean Paul Gaultier La Belle Flower Edition.
With a realistic, rather than syrupy sweet apricot, and creamy yet dry sandalwood, Jo Malone have a sophisticated holiday special on their hands. My usual issue with Jo Malone continues here: it’s too good to last so few hours. But it is a cologne concentration, after all.
As a holiday special, it does lean wintry and you can wear it well both during your days and evenings. It’s just right for someone who loves sandalwood perfumes, but has such a wide collection of them that they need something that plays different from the rest.
I hope the perfume is added to their regular line-up so more people can enjoy this well-blended and inventive formula. At least a rerelease so it doesn’t disappear fully.
Sandalwood & Spiced Apricot is available in a 100 ml bottle for AED 620 from Jo Malone and Sephora. The now out-of-stock 50 ml bottle was priced at AED 430. Stay informed on the newest perfume on Perfume Mag.
Sowmya Gibish
