Hinoki & Cedarwood

Short story and conclusion: Layered this with Myrrh & Tonka, and I found myself a perfect scent. ---------------- God damn long story: I own a bottle of Wood Sage & Sea Salt that was gifted to me over 10 years ago when I was still in college. I used to love it but now it gives me headaches. I don't know if it is because the bottle is getting too old, or if it is just me aging and wanting something darker, smoother, and more toned down. That was my only history and experience with JM, which left me with this stereotypical impression that JM is light, bright, fresh, and airy young. So I have been steering away from this house ever since. I have been on the hunt for new fragrances ever since I got tired of L'artisan Parfumeur, Diptyque, and Le Labo, as I have been swimming in their scented water for quite a few years. They are nice, niche, but on the lighthearted side and fairy easygoing. And you won't break your bank owning a few bottles. I tried the entire Botanique collection, Venenum 32 being my favorite, but somehow I now want something simpler, linear, and straight to the point. No more mystical concepts and fancy naming, no more hyped-up illustrations and special edition bottle designs. It's Milan Beauty Week, and there is a pop-up exhibition sort of thing going on in La Rinascente. After visiting Martin Margiela, which is so synthetic in everything they do for their Replica line (I will try Soul of the Forest after its official relaunch in Milan), I came across JM again. I thought Hang on, JM might just be that simplicity that I need right now. And I see their Cologne Intense line up, and I asked the sales lady, saying that I like woody, herbal, smoky scents. I am drawn to pine, cedar, moss, oak, tonka beans, incense... I tried Cypress & Grapevine first (it is very nice but fairy predictable as a nice masculine-leaning clean scent), but she gave me this new Hinoki & Cederwood. It opens quite bitter, herbal, and fresh. A little too cold and distant for my liking, sort of reminding me of Timbuktu in that same exotic spicy herbal assaulting sense. Then it mellowed down and became a lot smoother, tame, and gentle. Warmth returned somehow with that incense smokiness remaining. I put this aside and tried several other bottles: Oud & Bergamot (nope, I can only handle Oud Rosewood level of Oud), Velvet Rose & Oud (rose too strong and jammy), and Dark Amber & Ginger Lily (a little too flowery and bright for me). And then I came across Myrrh & Tonka. I fell in love despite the fact the fact that I don't like vanilla. It is only slightly sweet, balancing out dark smokiness—the perfect mix of warm and cold. I told the sales lady that I love Hinoki & Cedarwood because it holds emotional connection for my background in Japan, but I found it a bit too bitter, even sour. And that I love Myrrh & Tonka but wish the vanilla gets toned down further. Then the lady told me to layer these two together, because obviously JMs are created to be layered, and these two are supposed to be a perfect match. I did and got perfection. It doubled the complexity yet kept the simplicity, rounded the sour bitterness, and cooled down the vanilla milky sweetness. I walked away with two 100-ml bottles and couldn't be happier. I know you can get better deals online, but the sales lady has been uttermost patient and helpful, and I wanted to honor her time and kindness :)

The smell of a luxurious old wooden sauna/spa. As soon as you spray this on you get this wonderful assortment of green aromatics (coriander being the most noticeable to my nose) and sweet lavender that come together to form a soap accord reminiscent of the homemade wax bars of soap one might find at a farmers market. Then, as it begins to dry down, the aromatic, herbal soapiness begins to intermingle with this zesty, green, and intensely woody hinoki with the classic Jo Malone smooth cedarwood note found in many of their woody fragrances filling out the edges. I am so happy they finally decided to add this to the database so I could yap about how much I have loved this fragrance since I've gotten it. This is one of the most grounding, therapeutic, and best "dumb reaches" I have in my collection, all the while being entirely unlike anything I've ever smelled before, it quite literally smells like you just got out of the spa. If you haven't smelled hinoki before, the best analog I could give is a woodier, slightly less sharp and green cypress. That all being said however, this is by far my favorite from the current Jo Malone lineup, and I have already worn a good 15-20% of my bottle as of writing this review. I could yap more about this, but I highly suggest trying it out if you can anytime soon, it's worth a sniff especially if you like their other woody fragrances. I can very much see this becoming my signature/most worn scent this year. Easily the best performing Jo Malone on me, as I get a good 8-10 hours wear out of this with strong 6 foot projection for the first 3-4 hours, then sinking to arms length for the next 2-3 before becoming a skin scent. 10/10. Signature scent worthy. Song vibe - I Get Around by 2Pac TLDR - An extremely clean, grounding, and woody fragrance that can be worn in just about any situation and time, number of sprays permitting. Easily one of, if not the current best from Jo Malone, and a must check out for fans of the brands current woody fragrances line up or other clean woody analogs. If you wanna bring the clean, cool, and collected spa vibe with you, this is a must have. Side note - Surprisingly, for how simple of a profile, this has been one of my most complimented perfumes that I've worn pretty consistently recently, and I've put about 3 of my friends onto it who fell in love when I was just walking around the house

The hinoki in this is sharp but beautiful. Sharp but NOT a synthetic kind of sharp. To my nose it feels more high quality. The hinoki also gives it a sort of spa like feel in my opinion. If you're into woodsy fragrances, this needs to be on your radar. Beautiful, clean, sharp, green, woodsy, not dark, but not light either. Sharp is genuinely the best word for it. The closest comparison I can give you is... you know that feeling when you chew a really strong mint and get that cooling sensation in the back of your throat? That's the vibe here, and I mean that as the highest compliment. It doesn't really smell super peppery or minty, but it gives you that sensation. Does that make sense? I hope it does. It's kinda harsh, but in the best way possible. A harsh that you wanna keep smelling because it is so so good! I picked mine up on Mercari from a trusted seller for around half the retail price (just make sure they have solid reviews and plenty of them before you buy). I wouldn't pay full price, but I do genuinely love it. It's not complex. It doesn't go on a journey. And that's fine. Simple can be amazing, and Jo Malone does simple better than almost anyone. Fresh, aromatic, beautiful, and will be an easy reach all year round for me, but especially this spring! Need to do more testing to fully figure out the sillage and longevity, but both are slightly above average on me so far. Not a crazy beast mode projection, but still really good and the longevity is pretty good too!

This scent is truly addictive and one of the smoothest, luxurious blends I have ever smelled in the wood department. Sweet without cloying, warm and radiant, elegant and understated wood notes with an echo of spices and a balminess that has a clean, almost soapy quality. I absolutely don’t understand the people who say that this has no staying power. I sprayed a paper tester in the store, and when I got home I left it on the couch to see how it would develop. It was very linear so I put it elsewhere. For two days, I kept getting quite strong whiffs of this scent from the spot where it had lain. I have never had such a potent transfer from a dry paper tester that just briefly sat on a surface. Moreover, the test strip smelled for 5+ days, and even a that point it was very linear. This is such a beautiful fragrance, if you give a spritz of this into an atomiser your home will smell like a luxurious boutique hotel in Kyoto. On its own, it’s a beautiful warm skin scent that’s both cosy and sophisticated. Layered with other fragrances, it adds depth and elegance. I love layering this with Chanel Chance eau tendre. Its base notes harmonise so well with this gem from JM. Also gives depth and mystery to white florals without losing points on being feminine. One of the best formulated fragrances I have come across in the last 10-15 years.

This scent is absolutely amazing. It's everything I've been wanting for the season. It's definitely cedar-forward but it has a slightly sweet, warm-spicy aspect to it as well. I'll also add that there is an underlying freshness as with most Jo Malone frags. This won't mean the same thing to everyone, but to me, it smells like Christmas. This has quickly become a go-to for me. Since I bought it, I haven't been able to get enough. It's undoubtedly masculine. It stays on me for the full work day (a little over 8 hours) and maintains an arm length projection for like the first half of that time. I can see how this might become cloying for some, but 4-5 sprays seems to work for me. I wouldn't worry about it being to sweet though. The cedar and spice really cut through that. I would recommend this to a man of any age. If a woman wants to wear this, more power to you (you'll smell awesome), but like I said this is a masculine scent. Definitely more of an Autumn-Winter scent. I think it'd work equally well day or night. I would not try this in warmer months though. Many people will say it smells basic. I disagree. It will be mass-appealing, but I don't really know of any other mainstream fragrance that smells like it. Honestly, this is a 9/10 for me. Maybe I'll tire of it and the rating will come down, but that's where I am right now.

This fragrance stands out for its authenticity and simplicity. The combination of Hinoki and cedar transports you to a serene, almost spiritual space, like walking into a Japanese temple or traditional ryokan/onsen. It’s a calming, meditative fragrance that feels grounded and refreshing and offers something unique compared to conventional woody colognes. The fragrance is simple yet memorable. It opens with a slightly bitter note but quickly mellows into a smooth, comforting blend. The cedar and Hinoki merge beautifully with a resinous quality that deepens as the scent settles. In terms of longevity, I get around five hours of wear with a skin-to-moderate sillage. It’s noticeable but not overpowering, which makes it ideal for those who prefer something subtle but present. I also find it layers perfectly with Tom Ford Oud Wood, creating a richer, more layered woodsy experience. While it might not be for everyone, and certainly not a blind buy, this fragrance is definitely worth trying in-store for those who appreciate calm, nature-inspired fragrances. It’s become one of my go-to signature scents for its uniqueness and serenity. Overall, this fragrance delivers a distinctive fragrance experience that’s peaceful, grounded, and a good choice for those who want something a little different.

A very interesting scent. Rather than the other masculine leaning scent that is a unfortunate mistep for the house (Cypress and Grapevine), Hinoki and Cedarwood has a very interesting scent profile Theres something quite mysterious about this fragrance. Im not able to put my finger on it. It has an fantastic woody profile, but between the Hinoki and Accords, there is a rather profound depth to it I havent seen replicated in another scent in this line. I dont have the language for it, its like a mix of smoke, citrus and spice without any dominant overtone This one leans masculine, but has none of the typical, off the shelf, generic notes you get with the usual suspects. A woman could wear it if they choose. This is the beauty of the best Jo Malone scents...they transcend those typical polarities by sitting at the boundary. The longevity is excellent. People forget this is cologne, not EDT OR EDP. Its supposed to maintain a presence of there but not there, and this does a wonderful job of that. It wont dominate, but always lingers and never fails to catch someones nose long after its been put on Highly recommended if you want something different 10/10

The Chronicles of Kapow or The Ultimate Fragrance Buyer’s Guide Until I Find a More Pompous Title: Entry Number 15 A recent acquisition. So, spoiler alert, it is a very good fragrance. It is a suprising and interesting one. I am not so fond of the opening. I just find it nice/good, but at the later stages, it evolves into something really intriguing. I would be curious about a dryer version. However, the odd light gingery sweetness probably gives the fragrance both, its balance and its complexity. Longevity and sillage are ok. Nothing to complain, but it is not a beast. Its ‘performance’ lies elsewhere. So, it is beautifully blended, original and nothing straight forward, since it surprises you in the dry down process. It provides a mysterious sense of sophistication. As Dinaina put it earlier, it is almost strange, but I do like that. The hinoki dances with the dry and somehow fresh earthy cedrawood and it comes with a light smoky tone I really enjoy. It is unisex. A woman could make a very good impression with this scent, but I still think it is more masculine. In my book, a solid A. I am glad to have it in my modest collection.

yes, hinoki and cedarwood is such a beautiful scent, but after testing it for a couple weeks, consistently,i noticed that the performance lacks, as all jo malone fragrances do. for their prices, i dont think its worth it, when other perfumes in the same price range knock performance out of the park. dont get me wrong though, if this were priced correctly id buy it in a heartbeat and carry it around for reapplication, no problems. about the juice: its a very refreshing, masculine woody scent that, i believe, can be worn during the day and at night. its versatile enough to be worn at the office as well as for date night. development of the scent is very linear imo as there is not much development, and projects close to arm's reach for about 3-4ish hours before becoming a very faint skin scent. i dont know, entirely, that it would be unisex, as in my opinion, it leans more masculine. i wouldnt bat an eye if a woman walked past me wearing this, though. last thing, i was reading some of the comments under here and someone mentioned they get incense in this, and i can totally 100% agree with that.

Fresh wood, quiet air, and a softness that feels almost surreal. I love the subtlety of this scent. It’s fresh and woodsy without ever drifting into that harsh, Pine‐Sol territory — instead it feels atmospheric, meditative, and incredibly natural. There’s this calm, grounded energy to it that makes it completely unisex; both my boyfriend and I wear it, and it settles differently on each of us in a way that feels intimate and balanced. The hinoki brings this intriguing, almost exotic pine quality — airy, resinous, never sharp — and the cedar feels aged and familiar, like the warm wood tones from my childhood. Together they create this rounded, soft‐edged wood aura that feels both clean and comforting. Nothing about it is loud. It’s more like a quiet presence, a breath of cool air moving through warm wood. What I love most is how natural it feels. No synthetic bite, no heavy sweetness, just a smooth, meditative wood scent that sits close to the skin. It’s the kind of fragrance that makes you feel centered, grounded, and a little bit dreamy — almost surreal in its simplicity.

I love cinnamon, so its intoxicating. Most people describe it as woody. Either way its delicious to my nose but definitely not gourmand if that makes sense. I enjoy the simplicity but there is more than just cedarwood and hinoki going on. Definitely some sweetness and spices in there other than wood. I would like to see an accurate note breakdown. Could be good for layering if you know what you're doing. This is something that I wear for myself. It might project, it might not, I just like how it smells. For that reason I would recommend putting it on clothes so it lasts all day. On my skin it lasts only a few hours. I typically do three sprays on skin when I want projection in the fall and winter. Two on clothing if I want something more intimate with longer longevity. Certainly an upgrade for Jo Malone's longevity, but I feel it should still be more intense than it is for the price. Cant say I recommend it for the price, but its just amazing in the fall. Smell it for yourself. If you like it enough, its worth it. 9/10

I have had a hard time with Jo Malone, but I genuinely enjoy the ones I do enjoy, Blackberry & Bay and sometimes English Pear & Freesia. There are a few others I've sampled that I like too, but I don't actually see them at the store. Recently, when I went in the shop, I got to sample some of those I've missed out on, and this is by far the most lovely hinoki scent I'ver ever experienced. It's so rich and gives almost a warming spice experience. It is definitely unisex and stronger than any of the other Jo Malones, I've tried, as I guess all of those in the line with the brown bottles are, but I still wouldn't say it's incredibly strong. I spray it just for comfort. It reminded me of Aesop's Hwyr, but this is far more refined and interesting, as well as less mossy. I am on the hunt for a full bottle. I want to wear and smell myself, but also smell it on my partner! A great elbow crook and wrist fragrance, if not everywhere. Probably best in the fall or any time, but peak of summer.

If this were a song it would be "Crystalline Green" by Goldfrapp. Just tried this one on me at the store the other. Absolutely GORGEOUS manly scent. I am typically not into super woodsy colognes but this one might change that for me, as I plan on getting a full bottle soon. The marketing campaign with Tom Hardy truly does match the aesthetic of this cologne. It smells like a lush green Japanese forest, but very modern and not too overly natural if that makes. Sometimes woodsy colognes, to me, smell just straight up like a tree. However, this one feels luxurious, modern, balanced. Everytime I smelt it on my arm I just got images of being in beautiful vibrantly green forest, walking down a trail. Lot's of Boston Ferns, Asian looking evergreen trees. It feels cozy but fresh and modern. Great office scent. The longevity was very good too. Highly recommend especially if you're not a typical fan of the "wood" genre.

I found this today, and liked it well enough to buy it. I think if you are a fan of the CDG incense scents you might also enjoy this. For me it starts out smelling like frankincense — clean, almost sappy-green, and slightly sweet. Soon after I get more spice from it — but not the cinnamon we associate with food, more of a light cassia. Cassia oil. As it wears, I get more of the Hinoki and cedar. But the woods are wet, soft, almost yellow-green, they’re not hard and red and dry. This is like being in an old woods after it rains. Soft, misty — something you want to inhale deeply. No sharp edges. Relaxing. The way incense can relax you. And I had a quick memory flash of an old Paloma Picasso men’s scent — Minotaur — too. It’s very different on the card than on skin. It blooms on skin. I used to avoid Jo Malone scents, because I found them boring, but I’ve become a fan because of scents like this.

I have to agree with Clancy69, currently own 60+ fragrances & have to say i have never come across one like it. It maybe the Hinoki element but whatever it is i am hugely impressed with this scent. I originally went into Fenwicks & had Cypress & Grapevine & Hinoki & Cedarwood card samples & when home the next day something wonderful filled my dining room it was the sample cards. Long story short i thought it was the Cypress/Grapevine & ordered a bottle. It wasn't that it was the Hinoki so I exchanged the Cypress (actually gave me a headache - a first for me with a scent) for the Hinoki/Cedarwood. Wow so glad i have this in my collection, currently my go to but think it will thrive even more in warmer months. 2 sprays & maybe one of the back of my hand ensures i am blessed with this aroma throughout the day. It was certainly full bottle worthy as truly unique to me.

My type of wood frag! Sampled and it’s like a sugar-water soaked wet dark wood that absorbed a lot of incense smoke off the air. Reminds me a lot of this one Aesop shampoo, and of well-used reed diffuser sticks. I also get the coke smell people are talking about in the opening, not straight up coke but like inhaling the air above the can. It fades in the drydown though. (Although I didn’t make the coke comparison until I read any reviews, the moment I read about it I was like Ohhhhhh and it was like the scent clicked into place!) It’s not heavily woody or masculine (but it's definetly not for hyperfems), it’s incensey but not smoky, slightly sweet, it’s really good! Small edit: Ok whaow this is absolutely sig scent worthy... if not for the price, yeowch. But Man I have GOT to smell this on my boyfriend

My first review on Fragrantica is coming with one of my newer pick ups. So I got this scent as I wanted to try a new Jo Malone Cologne Intense having already tried Myrrh and Tonka in the past. At £24 for the 9ml it felt a pretty good way of testing it out properly. My overall thoughts are really positive. It's quite a dark foresty/piney smell but also spicy, woody, incensey. I wouldn't wear this everyday - I'd pick my moments depending on the occasion. For example, I actually wore this on Christmas Day as it was cosy, intimate and fitted the vibe perfectly. In terms of performance, it's great. Projection, especially in enclosed spaces, is excellent and it easily lasts 8 hours+ for me. I'd recommend this fragrance for sure, but would suggest buying the 9ml to test first like I have. I hope this helps.

absolutely love this scent and my personal favorite right now. i don’t hear a lot about it however and i wonder why. it’s a jo malone fragrance that actually stays longer than 30 minutes for starters?? reminds me of a crisp coca cola...VERY crisp. but also reminds me of a woodsy spa scent. lasts me about 4 hours i’d say, but lasts all day on clothes. i usually wear this at night as i feel its more a night time scent. however for rainy darker days i definitely would wear this out. leans sortve masculine? all the males in my life love this scent, but it also has something about it that totally makes sense on a woman. i think overall its truly unisex though. i will say i womt be wearing this for the summer just because i feel its doesnt fit, so ill miss her while she matures for the fall...

This is intoxicating without being harsh. It's incredibly woody and dry. There's a hint of airiness and conifer, but not a damp forest note at all. And then there's a very pleasant, slightly sweet fruity note with mauybe a tiny hint of spice on top of the dry woods that make this smell incredible. It does not smell deep, dark, smoky, earthy, resinous, leathery, or even citrusy like most other woody men's colognes. I tried it 3 different times at Sephora and every time it lasted the rest of the evening and through the night until I showered, and I enjoyed it more each time. It might be minimalist with notes, but it is unique and very attractive. I just bought a bottle discounted open box, because I just can't justify prices like this for any perfume.

although this may seem like a simple scent it's not what you think it is. The Cedarwood and Hinoki are very upfront in the opening but it drys down to a complex tiny bit of oud and a fresher smelling plant than Hinoki. not a safe blind buy and you have to be the right person to wear this, but beautiful anyway. As an avid woody fragrance collecter, this is amoung the top in my collection, along the likes of straight to heaven by killian and mr sam. it gives a similar vibe to mr sam but smells very different... a kind of mysterious and masculine scent but seriously exquisite smelling. decent longevity and decent sillage. 6 sprays is enough for me, as a person who trys to be non offensive and doesn't love huge, sickenly sweet frangrance. 10/10