Basil & Neroli

From Jo Malone London's citrus portfolio we have the brand's signature scent Lime Basil and Mandarin, a citrus fragrance with a zesty, herbaceous scent that screams a summer vacation on the Caribbean. We have the uplifting and sunny Grapefruit laced with spices of rosemary, peppermint and pimento on a green mossy bed. Lastly, Earl Grey & Cucumber came into the mix with an added quirk of full-on Bergamot and the aquatic freshness of Cucumber resonant of that afternoon refinements of Earl Grey. Now last year, an addition to the citrus family was launched and it couldn't have come at the most perfect time. Basil & Neroli is that crisp and lively offering from the brand’s growing array of astonishing and unexpected perfection. A citrus scent, this time with a twist of white florals with a white musk base. When this was launched last year, I rushed directly to my nearest boutique and got a hold of this scent that I've grown to love. The scent opens with a green, herbaceous Basil Grand Vert unruffled with Basil Verbena and Cedar Needle reinforcing that green natural leafy accent. At the heart is Neroli, a green floral note, delightfully clean and fresh together with a Jo Malone London exclusive headspace note of Basil & Neroli that combines basil leaves and orange flowers together giving that vibrant freshness with a zest bite of Bitter Orange. At the base is that powdery and clean softness of White Musk. Vetiver and Mastic is thrown in the mix to give it a soft and deep base. While I'm not a fan of florals, this scent was not love at first sniff but its subtlety and combination possibilities was perfect for my mood swings when I definitely need that energy boost. Surprising when summer hits, this was what I grabbed during that much needed vacation and oh boy was I utterly wrong. Its stunning simplicity probably was the stand-out, it's perfect for that laid-back white shirt and morning walks. Summer in the Amalfi was perfect and now I associate Basil & Neroli with the perfection of that coast. The sent is reminiscent of an adventurous walk, discoveries and summer getaway and has a surprising longevity on me. The Basil & Neroli Body & Hand Wash is the favorite at home (I've heard it won an award) and the Body Creme was a stunner making the scent last longer on you. I gave this as a gift to a friend and this layered so perfectly with English Pear & Freesia adding that mellow touch of white flowers and cool pear. Basil & Neroli is my constant combining staple for an added green contrast to Blackberry & Bay for a tart and mouthwatering goodness with a peppery coolness to it. This pretty much work so well with Mimosa & Cardamom for an added spicy warmth, so good that it's been my constant summery combination. So even if you're not a fan of citrus with something floral in it, do yourself a favor and try them out at your nearest store and spray it on your skin and some on your clothes you might just be blown away. -Bertrand II

This is such a beautiful perfume, although I wish the basil note would hang around just a little while longer. I'm someone who typically prefers linear scents, but this is an exception for me. It opens up fresh and herbal with a distinct basil note. The basil quickly fades into a more subtle background note, leaving behind a fresh (but less herbal) green scent that I find very clean and very unisex. (If anything I'd say it leans SLIGHTLY masculine at this point, but even as a woman who usually avoids anything for men, I don't feel out of place wearing it). It doesn't smell like a bar of soap exactly, but it has a clean and slightly soapy quality to it, especially later on in the dry down. More of a luxury soap scent than a standard store-bought soapy scent. It's very pleasant and uplifting, and something about it feels deeply nostalgic for me. Somehow it feels equal parts outdoorsy and refined. It reminds me of nature, mountain hikes, gardening, and clean air. But it also reminds me of staying at a nice hotel, and showering with luxury bath products. I honestly wish this was available in more stores and was a more well-known scent. I definitely prefer this to some of Jo Malones more popular unisex scents like Silver Birch & Lavender (smells too much like men's deodorant to me) or Wood Sage & Sea Salt (beautiful at first, but gets too powdery and off-putting in the dry down for my tastes). It's soft enough that it can stay muted and unintuitive with just 1 or 2 sprays, but adding additional sprays can give it more silage and intensity if that's more your style. Personally, I like that I can keep it office-appropriate by spraying lightly.

I bought this because it reminded me of the old Coppertone from the 80s. My aunt was like, “Why don’t you just wear Coppertone for $8/bottle?” Lol, good point, and it would probably last longer! But I LOVE this scent! I layer all my other JMs but not Basil Neroli. It's more of a summer fragrance, but it makes me smile in the winter to wear and think of summer. I think the longevity is better in winter, but it's not great overall. I have to spray 6 times to get any projection, and even then it's doesn't last long. Full price is not worth it, IMO. I am very careful to avoid the Russian fakes and snag discounts from my trusted ebay and Mercari sellers... that way I can afford the 6 sprays per application x2-3 applications per day of use. This is a great day or night scent, perfect for the beach or tropical climate, Mediterranean, etc. Not a sex fiend scent like some of the TF or PdMs I've reviewed, but a hottie for sure. I prefer this to my other neroli scents because it's pretty clean and straightforward, and that is just my preference. I don't like what I smell as patchouli in the TF version (even though patchouli isn't in the pyramid), and while I like the Creed Neroli Sauvage, it is more masculine to me. The old Chloe Eau de Fleurs Neroli is also really pretty, and I smell some floral there, but not too much, but it is even weaker than the JM. So all things considered, I prefer my JM as the best option for my tastes and needs.

Yeah, this is where its at. I'm a huge neroli and orange flower fan, and this satisfies that addiction. Its warm, green, cheerful, natural and fresh. It doesn't turn out-dated, it doesn't slip into soap, powder, or detergent territory. It keeps its integrity through out, shifting gently, but feeling just a touch mysterious - "ooooh what IS that? What is he wearing?? Its so nice!" A real compliment generator, and melts with my body chemistry effortlessly. I dont specifically get basil per se... but its herbal for certain. Could be tarragon, could be lavender, could be bay leaves... it is a bit pricey, but I'm actually ok with that. This blows TF neroli portofino out of the water. Office appropriate! First spray: an olfactory assault of green herbal citrus and unopened flower buds crushed in your hand. 1 hour in: smooth, clean, natural. Its unassuming but fleeting and difficult to pinpoint. It's really summery, and almost linear - it will maintain this character for a few hours. The herbal quality has changed to just a touch of green depth. 3 hours: orange blossom all the way. Delicate, warm, a little heady.... but my favorite part: it took on a "hot skin in the sun all day" vibe. Immediately sexy. Perfectly unisex, boys, don't be afraid of this one. This will be in my regular circulation, even in winter, I don't care. Its just that good.

Just gorgeous. A simple and clean scent that at first reminded me of sunscreen or unscented lotion, then bloomed into a garden of white florals and herbs. The jasmine is very present, and yet it lacks the sweetness that many associate with it. The herbaceous, mostly basil smell is a perfect compliment, while the hints of citrus and vetiver round it out into something classy and timeless. For my chemistry, it leaned a bit too far into that citrusy sharp scent, however I know that perfumes like this present quite differently on others so I don't fault it for that. It lingered a while on me, but not overwhelmingly so. Like when a beautiful woman kisses you on the cheek, you're left with but a hint of her scent that follows you all day, but never makes itself as present as it was when her lips were on your skin. Let it be known that I prefer darker scents, it isn't often that I find a bright and floral perfume like this suited to my taste. But this one is so elegant, so exceptional, that I can't help but love it.

I smelled a lot of Jo Malone scents at one of their boutiques in Toronto, and this one captivated me right from the beginning like no other from their line. It smells very similar to Bond No. 9's Eau de New York but lacks some of the white florals like jasmine in the drydown, and is a bit darker than the Bond, and also more masculine in my opinion. Surprisingly, it has really amazing longevity for a Jo Malone cologne, projecting really well for over 4 hours and then remaining as a skin scent on me for many, many hours (in fact over 12 hours with 2 sprays for me). As for the scent itself, it is an absolutely amazing mix of neroli flowers (the blossom of an orange tree) and basil, making it smell very green and citric at the same time. It smells like you're walking in a lush dewy meadow surrounded by orange trees. This is an absolute masterpiece by Jo Malone and one of my favourite fragrances ever. 5/5

tried this out of nothing but pure curiosity with no expectations, thinking to myself that surely something so simple would, at most, be a layering compliment to other fragrances in the line. how wrong i was. is it simple? yes. is it beautiful in its simplicity? also yes. an understated fragrance that performs very well. this seems to lasts much longer than Oud & Bergamot from the Intense line. fresh, calming, ever so slightly sweet and just clean enough without ever veering in to laundry detergent territory. a well manicured, tempered floral with subtle sparkle and a lovely cozy anchor. while i didn't try this with the intention of finding a new obsession or indeed a full bottle purchase Basil & Neroli has well and truly put a spell on me. a 100ml bottle is now due to arrive within 48 hours. well done Jo Malone, you've brought me back around.

This is one of the strongest perfumes from Jo Malone I've smelled. Definitly one of the best of Jo Malone. I love the smell of neroli. The citrus of neroli makes this great for spring and summer but the richness of the scent makes it great for fall as well. The basil makes the scent very fresh. The vetiver brings a balance to the scent. The musk may be what gives it longevity (which can be a problem with many Jo Malone scents) but I don't specifically pick up on musk. Just a really well done scent. Similar to Neroli Portofino from Tom Ford but I prefer the Jo Malone version for women. I wouldn't mind smelling like this all the time.

I was not a fan of Basil & Neroli st first but before my small bottle ran out I was in love. It is such a simple and straightforward perfume it sometimes makes you want all of your perfumes to be this direct and straightforward. It layers nicely on its own and I feel it does need to be sweetened up with another perfume for some occasions. Because of its baser dark and mysterious vibe tonit, the projection is great. It gives off a sense of who is this person and what are they about kind of vibe. I love Basil & Neroli and I can’t imagine not having it in my arsenal of fragrances for as long as it’s available.

This is my signature daytime scent in the spring and summer. It's really quite simple but still interesting and captivating, equal parts green and citrusy, instantly recognizable, uplifting, clean, and elegant. It makes me feel like I'm in Italy wearing linen by the water. I mostly wear this alone but sometimes like to layer it with something floral. It's nice with Peony & Blush Suede and I'd imagine it to be even better with something like Do Son or Philosykos. Really just such a beautiful and versatile scent. If you love basil or neroli notes this will be your go-to.

I absolutely love this perfume! It's so fresh and fun but not overly masculine. I'm pleasantly surprised by how long this lasts in comparison with other Jo Malone fragrances. While this is best in warm months, there's nothing like it to brighten up a cold gloomy day. Layers well with countless other Jo perfumes like Orange Blossom and Wood Sage Sea Salt. I love putting on a hoody and smelling the faintness of this scent from the day before. Smells similar to Tom Ford's Neroli Portifino Acqua but lasts longer and costs less. Though I do love that NO bottle, LOL!

Anne Flipo, bravo - you have done it -- you've captured the neroli of my childhood memories. There is nothing like the intoxicating scent of orange blossoms in real life (not from a bottle), though many have tried. Jo Malone Basil & Neroli comes pretty darn close to the real thing. Yes, sillage and projection are scant. But this one's for me, not others, and I would gladly re-spray throughout the day to get that fresh hit of scent. Also notice that this is cologne, which is not intended to be a powerhouse.

Green. White Floral. Cool. Fresh. There is a genuine green freshness in the initial notes. It smells sort of like being around pine trees in the spring. At first, I was not sure if I really liked this then a quick moment later, the floral arrives! Then, the dry down softens to be more white floral, which I love. I think the balance between the green herbal smell then with white floral really makes this an interesting scent. I plan to wear it in the summer to balance the heat.

Love this, my favourite freshie. 100% unisex and a perfect after-shower cologne as well. The basil note is there, but disappears quickly after initial spraying, and then it's just a beautiful, aromatic, slightly floral and bitter dance of neroli and vetiver. Again with Jo Malone colognes, the longevity is not the best, but this still performs better than some of the other Jo Malone's.

Like all of the scents from Jo Malone, it isn't particularly strong or lasting. However, it does perform better than some in the line. This has a slightly herbal neroli that I find absolutely beautiful. Very sexy and clean. I think it's wonderful. My go to scent throughout the spring and summer. This is a signature scent for me, I just wish it lasted longer and projected more.

I really like Jo Malone Basil & Neroli cologne! The light floral scent makes me feel very happy. The scent stays on me for about 4 hours after a few sprays with quite a strong sillage, then starts to fade quickly. I don't smell basil, but neroli comes out very well. Although it's floral, it's not irritating or tiresome, but uplifting and very much something to be adored.

Its a nice soft powdery flowery scent. I love the blend fresh green scent with the white floral scent. I am generally not a fan of flowery scents, but this one is good. One of the few scents that I like the dry down better than the opening notes. Its been 4 hours and I am still getting faint lingering smell. I think I am going to be wearing it all spring!

This was love at first sniff for me. I have avoided Jo Malone for years because of the complaints about poor performance. This fragrance is awesome! It’s bright, clean, fresh, aromatic...ahhh. I’ll just carry the bottle around with me. Love. Excited to try more. I put several sprays on my clothes at 8am and it’s still going very strong at 6pm.

Clean, green and sharp. It's the type of fragrance that makes people smell like fresh out of shower on a sunny day. Great longevity and projection for a Jo Malone, and it combines perfectly with Orange Blossom, giving the mix that classical Eau de Cologne vibe (it's much closer to TF NP then, but still pretty different).

One of my favourite new Jo Malone fragrances! I have gotten so many compliments on this gem. It smells fresh, floral, and citrusy at the same time. The neroli is prominent throughout, but it is greener than most neroli scents owing to the basil. It is utterly fabulous on my skin, and lasts 12 hours. Way to go Jo Malone!

Gorgeous! Unlike many citrus fragrances, and Jo Malone scents in particular, this has great potency and staying power- it is reminiscent of Dior's Escale a Portofino, but not as sharp and green. Also reminds me of Chloe Eau de Fleurs Neroli. If citrus aromatics are your thing, you're sure to be happy with this...

The rather excellent thing with the way Jo Malone name their fragrances is that the names convey the scent, actually. You do not need to play the guessing game. This composition is fresh, citrusy, a bit spicy and lightly floral. Perfect for spring and summer and whenever you want that zesty uplifting feeling.

My favourite scent from Jo Malone. Green, fresh and different. Like 99 percent of JMs, it lasts for an hour. I would suggest to get the body cream instead as that lasts way way way longer. I put it on before I go to bed, by the time I wake up, the scent has filled the room. It’s so beautiful.

Wow! I am impressed. How possible that Me- found of flowerly perfumes ... just fell in love with herb on my chest? Thats funny, but i think this is really master peace. Last long time and i cant wish nothing more for this spring :) Smell 7 Longevity 7 Unique: 9 Price x quality: yes worth it

Such a beautiful green scent. I fell in love with this perfume when I was looking through all the Jo Malone frangances and this one stood out the most. It's a sophisticated basil floral scent that isn't feminine. Out of all the basil scents I've smelled, this is my favorite by far

The best neroli scent filled with spice and fun while maintaining an airy light feel. It reminds me of Diptyque eau des sense with a bit less spice. When I smell this sent I imagine a nice walk on the boardwalk or picnic in the park. The scen is simply wonderful!

Basil & Neroli is absolutely delicious. Fresh summer green fragrance with neroli and basil. I wore it for the first time today and got many compliments. My second favorite Jo Malone. It lasts a long time on me. I will be wearing it a lot in the summer months.

This is a new favorite from Jo Malone. I love neroli and the basil cuts the sweetness with a freshness. I find I reach for this in the mornings to brighten my mood. Smells good any time. Wonderful alone or layered with Orange Bitters this time of year.

I personally like green fragrance and i feel glad i pick this one up 😌 , Its smell so natural that i can't resist smell it again and again...what a beautiful blend which cant describe in words only real fragrance enthusiasts understand this 😙😌🌻

I dont know what it is about this one, but its like a breath of fresh air. I didn’t like it at first and then I spent a day with it and my goodness is this good. so fresh and clean and just beautiful. slightly masculine and I love it so much

I adore the greenness of this scent paired with the citrus!! Its perfect for summer. And for anyone who is turned off by that green burst when first sprayed, don't worry, it softens down. This is my favorite from Joe Malone.

The basil really shines in this and I really love basil. So bright, well balanced, fresh and lovely, and for Jo Malone, pleasantly surprised that it is so long lasting. A real pick-me-up and definitely a keeper.

For me longevity is quite fine, at least 5-6h and I can still feel it when I turn my head. I love the opening and I love even more the way it sets, a fresh neroli note. I find it rather feminine than unisex.

This is the scent of heat and gardens in summer, complete with that lovely, delicious waft of basil. This makes me weak in the knees. Who knew basil could smell so sweet? C'est magnifique, Anne Flipo.

I love, love, love this scent! Fresh and clean, green neroli with a hint of honey. Smells similar to Nerolia Vetivier Forte, but better and with more longevity.

Fresh and not too green. The basil is there but it's perfect. Neroli and vetiver compliment each other. It's one of my favorites from Jo Malone in a long time.

i love this scent, i wouldn't say it smells like 4711 BUT they are definitely relatives. Fresh, herbaceous, forest fairy vibe. I'll take 10.

My fav in the collection. One of the best neroli fragrances out there.

This is how my soul sounds. Forever love.

My signature scent for years has been Grass by The Gap. The original version of that fragrance was soapy and clean and perfectly green on me. I can't tell you how many times boyfriends would hug me and inhale my scent and whisper that I smelled so good. Now I am running low on the second version, which although smells very good on me, does not hold a candle to the original. I've been searching for a new signature scent for when my last few bottles run out (all I have are mini body mists now), I am ready. This is my new signature scent. I've said MAYBE to quite a few other frags, but this one has won my heart. It is perfect for my chemistry: fresh, green, a tiny bit floral, and a tiny bit lemony. There is not a note in here that I don't adore, which makes me chuckle sheepishly, because I normally despise neroli on me (candy corn anyone?). On first spray, I'm like an herb garden and soap, almost giving me that Gap Grass vibe. Drydown turns citrus, earthy, and softly floral, and the final result is an almost suntan lotion mixed with wildflowers and grass wisp of a fragrance. I still don't get the complaints about longevity and sillage because I'm sitting here three hours after initial application and can still smell this all around me as I write. I've worn it for days now, and I still smell it at the end of a work day and even after sleeping sometimes. However, it's never overpowering or sickening, it clings nicely to clothes, and it gives off a warm skin scent at its base. I feel light and pretty and fresh in this, and I'm actually willing to pay its price. I'm also going to mix the mimosa and cardamom, since I liked that one until I wore it for a day. Mixed with my new fave, I think I could breathe new life into it.

Lovely. Certainly one of the best offerings from th Jo Malone line, provided you like fresh citrusy scents. It is definitely a green scent. I cannot say there is basil (basil has a very prominent and distinctive scent) buy i would say there are spicy green leaves and a pungent minty note. Citrus is plenty. But... where's the neroli? I am a neroli lover but here there's just a trace, a hint. Neroli is not the main player here. I get a hint also of other white flowers, like muguet or waxy gardenia. However, the ingredients used here make it for a perfectly refreshing summer cologne, genderless indeed, if you don't mind re-applying as it will not last the entire day. The drydown is a bit a letdown, though. It surely smells like a refreshing towel (the ones given on planes, as someone mentioned), so probably this kills it a bit. Not a strong love, but a light, uncomplicated affair, just like a summer boyfriend would be.

When I first tried this I was submerged in a cloud of freshly cut grass. “Pleasant, but nothing special” I thought, resuming my journey. As the time went by, a very unique scent started to emerge from somewhere. It took me a while to figure out that the scent was Basil & Neroli that I applied earlier, because now it had nothing in common with the rather simple fragrance I initially thought it was. It was clearly and unapologetically stating “I’m here and I’m here to stay”. Indeed, the fragrance kept evolving for the rest of the evening and I could even still smell it on my clothes a day later. A symphony of spices, neroli flowers (the blossom of an orange tree) and herbs, this fragrance is very complex, elegant and unisex. It would be great for autumn and winter as it has a surprisingly warming aura to it despite it’s greens-ness. My perfume Instagram @peace_love_masha

I'm a fan of this fragrance, which is funny because usually I think neroli somehow ends up smelling like candy corn on me. The basil is sharply predominant in the beginning, giving the neroli a green kick that suits my chemistry much better. Also, enough basil sticks around to make this fragrance NOT just for floral lovers. Can I see spending so much for it when I've also just found Garden Gangster from Pinrose (also a lovely grassy green, although more citrus in nature)? Honestly, probably not, but if someone were to gift me a bottle, I'd wear it often. I know many have said Jo Malone fragrances don't last on them, but I'm a floating cloud of this fragrance and have been for hours. It's by no means overwhelming or strong, but I definitely can catch a whiff if I minimally try. I'd recommend giving this at least a sample try. Very nice.

Got a tester for this when I bought a bottle of Velvet Rose and Oud (which is criminally underrated). And oh man am I glad I did. While on my skin it's a fairly weak projection, the herbaceous and citrus peel symphony is worth the reapplication. It gets a litte grassy in the drydown but in a good, Bleeker St by Bond No 9 kind of way. I get an hour or so of close projection and sillage before it becomes a skin scent but it's a beautiful skin scent that makes me smell like I had been hand tearing herbs to prepare a fine meal. Bright, green, and just aromatic enough to stand out but not so pungent as to be offensive. If you are a fan of neroli or herbals, you owe it to yourself to test this out. I'm normally a beast-mode heavy spice and gourmand lover and this might have just earned a place in the collection.

My first Jo Malone. I found a full bottle at a thrift shop for 50c. I was over the moon! I've read about Jo Malone and how they don't last very long, which was a huge put off for me. Thankfully, Basil and Neroli seems to be pretty good in the way of performance! Definitely acts like a typical light "cologne", but it has a bite to it, which is great. Not strong by any means, but the scent definitely exists and hangs around long enough. As for the scent. Bright, green and herbal. Very deep and complicated. Unlike any other fresh fragrance I've smelled, so I appreciate this a lot. Wouldn't spend $120 on it, but I'd totally spend 50c! ;)

My first Jo Malone. I always heard complains about the longevity, so I just didn't pay much attention to this perfumes. But now I got a sample of neroli & basil. Neroli is obvious from the beginning, light citrus floral with that green slightly spicy undertone. I'm not overwhelmed. It's a fresh, clean fragrance. I should say a "correct" fragrance, it won't offend and neither will cause major headlines. It turns powdery, but very light. Frankly, it disappears too quickly. For the price...Mmmh, I would think it twice. $140 for a perfume with the performance of a simple body spray? No.

After walking around Austin, TX as a tourist in the cold weather, I stumbled into a department store, and sprayed the first thing I found from a familiar brand. It was basil & neroli. At the time it was the best thing I had ever smelled. I had to have it! Since then, it has lost its halo a bit as I have been exploring other scents, and I really have to be in the mood for this. It is bitter and green, with amped up blooming white blossoms (orange tree with no orange), and green basil without the licorice note. Strong projection with my chemistry!

For a "fresh" perfume, this is very strong and I mean that in a good way! It starts out predominantly green, with a sharp, aromatic blast of basil -- then tart, juicy citrus -- then the orangey powdery sweet neroli flower comes through. The longevity is great. The dry-down is a soft, smooth, musky neroli. What I love about this is that the basil adds a much-needed sharpness and uniqueness to what could otherwise just be an everyday neroli scent. The staying power is great for a fresh scent. And the drydown into softness is absolutely beautiful.

Agree with previous reviewer - this does smell like being part of Herbs Garden collection that I personally loved. But I do not like this one that much. On paper tester it is very balanced with neroli as main accord and basil and vetiver in background adding depth and rounding the citrus - green and honeyed, a tiny bit powdery like a veil. On my skin, however, it is mainly sweetish neroli - citrus not floral, not much of anything else which is disappointing to say the least.

Strong neroli matched with a black licorice-like basil at the opening that dries down soapy and much softer and warmer than the initial scent, though still pleasant. There's something quite vintage about it, even as it's very fresh and gardenlike. Maybe somewhat similar to 4711 (with the caveat that it has been a while since I last smelled 4711). Firmly unisex spring/summer scent with very mild silage and longevity.