Lime Basil & Mandarin

Quite frankly one of my all-time favourite scents which I need to prize myself away from because I've been wearing it non stop (and the macthing body lotion for that matter), its peppy, zesty and even though the last few days my mood has been far from zesty and happy, it at least makes me feel a little bit better. My first ever introduction(s) to Lime Basil & Mandarin was in the form of a Supermarket Jo Malone Clone reed diffuser, it smelt like toilet cleaner, was very bitter and harsh which made me think "if thats how Lime Basil & Mandarin actually smells, I don't like it", I tried the Superdrug Jo Malone dupes and a few other dupes since at the time I was never able to step into a Jo Malone store to actually try anything (I was too broke and knew I'd not be able to leave empty handed) and, the same end result: harsh synthetic, bitter and toilet cleaner like. Even in recent years when I've been in Jo Malone stores, I've glossed over LBM because I hated how the dupes smelt so much, until I was in an Estee Lauder outlet store which had Lime Basil & Mandarin lotion and the cologne out. I rubbed some of the lotion into my hands because they were dry and sore not actually realising what scent it was, and I could not stop sniffing my hands, I tried some of the cologne and again, I was hooked and ended up getting both. The opening is a sharp bright affair of freshly cut limes, mandarins and a little bergamot zested lightly over the top, its so refreshing and uplifting but it doesn't end there, basil (as in the name) emerges but mixes with the citrus in the top giving a gorgeous green leafy undertone. The basil here doesn't smell like dried basil or drying herbs, its more fresh and vegetal, there is also some patchouli and vetiver in here but they are so subtle and just help to ground the cirtus notes and the basil. Longevity is great, never really had a problem with the longevity of Jo Malone colognes in all honesty; 6hrs from 5 spritzes and the siliage is moderate but its quite "wafty" rather than being like a wall of scent around you. Its very unisex, can be worn easily in various settings such as the office or evenings out etc and not feel out of place and it is for sure an excellent summer reach. The body lotion is also equally gorgeous and if you want to boost the longevity of the cologne, they (obviously) work very well together, but I've not really found the need for that personally, but its lovely to slather on post refreshing shower. Summer staple, frequent repurchase and a total LOVE!

After years of promising myself I'd buy this, today I did. I'm not generally attracted to JM because the fragrances are usually too literal and linear for me. I know this is the house style and that many people love JM becuase the fragrances are unfussy and undemanding. But many strike me as humourless, mechanical, rarely more (and often less) than the sum of their parts. LB&M has always stood as an exception because it is more blended and abstract than so many other JM offerings. I smell lime, certainly. The bitter sort, not related to any kind of dessert experience. Basil? Perhaps. If so, it is folded so intricately with an (almost) salty vetiver and patchouli I can hardly perceive it, and I do know what basil smells like, I grow it every summer. And mandarin? Yes, but nothing sweet and juicy. The result is a refreshing, go-anywhere and, by today's standards, masculine-leaning fragrance, versatile and long-lasting. As time passes LB&M becomes impressionistic and more like a scented sensation than a perfume, but it nevertheless has more presence than a traditional cologne. It is relaxed but refined, like a freshly ironed cotton shirt. I've not yet worn it in the heat but expect that its pleasantly bitter quality will stand up well in humidity. Edit: since mentioning the 'salty' note in my review, I'm noticing it more and more. I'm in thrall to my own suggestibility! This note fascinates me and I'm finding LB&M addictive. This is the sort of fragrance you could live with for years, and I'm sure people do. Edit #2: I'm still thinking about that saltiness. Salt and lime, like you get around the rim of a margarita. Just perfect.

I absolutely love this! Perfect for carrying over bright citrus in hot humid weather. I do manual labor outdoors frequently, so this is perfect for those type of days. Although it says Unisex, it overall tends to lean more towards the masculine side, so if you want to smell sweet and mellow like D&G's Light Blue for women (which I also absolutely love for certain occasions), then this one is not for you. The citrus opening is very strong at first, but after 30 minutes it does calm down a bit, then is beautifully carried over by the iris, patchouli and vetiver. The patchouli and vetiver remain all day (10-12 hours), but it really helps prolong the lime and bergamot very well. The citrus notes remained present for about 5-6 hours, which is unusual. Typically citrus notes for me die out within 20-90 minutes. I absolutely love that the Bergamot isn't entirely overshaded by the orange, and takes center along with the lime. Lime and Bergamot is absolutely one of my favorite combinations ever and I think this formulation is excellent. If you are looking for a sharper, brighter bergamot and lime with a vaguely 'woodsy' & peppery but prominent base, then this works out great. Projection is pretty strong at first, but becomes more moderate after about 1-2 hours. I'm almost tempted to buy another larger bottle. One of my all time favorites so far for those hot summer days. This is definitely not an "office" perfume, as it can overwhelm in the first 1-2 hours. Unless you have an office all to yourself with no one else around, I don't recommend wearing this to an office.

Crazy story now, that just happened, like right now. It's not too crazy, just coincidental. I was just thinking about John Lennon and I was like- wow, he was so lucky to have met Paul, right! And then I started thinking, wow, Lucky Lennon probably got to smell Paul a lot (stay with me now), and I started imagining what Paul would smell like (not in a creepy way, in a 'I like scents, and I was just thinking about Sir Paul McCartney, so perhaps let's combine my two thoughts right now, in a normal way). I thought 'Basil, lime and mandarin'. I then searched it up, and boy was I right. He wears this perfume right here, according to some sources. I've never smelled it before. I love it already, though. I move to my frangratica page and I see it was just reviewed a few moments earlier, in the perfume reviews timeline! I start thinking, wow it is a sign to get a bottle of this perfume. Sadly the reviews are mixed opinions. Long story short, I am going to try and get a sample/sniff of this perfume and perhaps a full bottle if I like it. I've always liked Basil and Mandarin, and seeing that this perfume is trusted by such a legend as Paul is, has encouraged me to try this one out. I don't have any other fresh masculine scents so it's good to get one.

My dream scent. I tried it in a perfume store & sadly can't afford it at the moment, but I find myself thinking of it all of the time. It is beyond perfect, a fresh, zesty citrus without the chemical harshness/cleaning product effect. More subtle than artificial lemon, more like smelling the skin of an actual lime or lemon. The basil herbal scent comes into the middle of the composition and sets it apart from your typical citrus perfume, giving it kind of an extravagant feel. I think it smells like summer lunch with a glass of homemade lemonade and a basil salad laid out in front of you. I could not make out the other notes very well, but I am sure they are amplifying this factor. I don't know about the drydown, sillage, lasting power or skin feel, since I only had the chance to smell it on a testing strip. Unlike any perfume I've ever smelled before, just wonderful, nostalgic, beautiful. Like most Jo Malone perfumes, it smells like nature itself.