Orange Marmalade

0.001 - GASC Here is the thing, I might be biased about this perfume... A delicious, soft, silky, yet pungent orange peel, that somehow creates the sensation of being one of those organic orange marmalades you find in a "pueblo mágico" here in México. So for a long time, I have been watching fragrance-related content. I am a very smell-receptive person who enjoys and appreciates nice smells, however, there was always something that turned me off from starting my own collection instead of watching videos, and it was the price. I hesitated a lot, thinking about what I should start with or if I should even start. I have been in a good moment in my life, both financially and emotionally, enough to feel heavily attracted to purchase an orange, woody fragrance advertised by the bear Paddington. I don't tend to buy things for myself as it makes me uncomfortable for some reason (let alone a USD 165 perfume), but, I think it was the fact that I was tired of wearing the same old colognes I got from my father's drawer to work and just the feeling of taking care of myself even if it was in a materialistic way that pushed me to buy it. Am I disappointed? Not at all. When I opened the bottle and sprayed it on myself I got scared a little bit because of how sharp the orange peel smell was at the beginning, I thought I might have over-sprayed myself. After going to buy some things to make a big meal (it was my mother's birthday) I noticed the smell was still very present, however, the striking orange that scared me, in the beginning, had turned into some orange suede that had a white wood smelling undertone to it, I could not explain it and I stood baffled. Maybe it was just the fact that I used a new fragrance that didn't come out of a suspicious-looking box and smelt like all the years it was inside of it, but something was different, it was worlds better. After having a great day with all the family, I said goodbye to everyone and got a compliment! That had never happened before to me, it was just amazing, the same day I got it, the same day I got the courage to do something for myself I got a compliment from someone else. So what I mean by the statement I gave in the beginning is that yes, it is a sweet but not too sweet orange marmalade, one of those that has orange peel inside of it, but it also reminds me very much of those caramelized orange peal treats they sell here in México, but in a very elegant, and I must emphasize on that because, after going on a spree caused by the purchase of this perfume, I can tell you this is one of the best qualities in all the fragrances I now have smelt. It has a very smooth feel; as if you could touch a soft blanket; or a velvety plant, or it even reminded me of how a deer antler looks. It is a very simple but very special blend that I think is unique from other orange and citrus fragrances because this doesn't smell like orange juice at all, or a synthetic, cleaner type of orange, it is nothing but the peel, as simple as that. I guess I still have lots ahead to discover and this was a great stepping stone, especially if you are like me, who likes subtle, yet sweet and strong enough to be there for those who you decide to smell you, it's a great choice I would recommend every single time. I must mention, I don't think it will be to everyone's liking, I am sure of that. So all and all I would give this perfume a 9.5/10, again, this is just the beginning of my journey but I will keep updating my experiences as much as my time lets me. Peace. GASC.

One of the most photo realistic orange fragrances I’ve owned. It’s as though a fresh orange has been squeezed on you arm. It is beautiful, you smell everything about that orange the pith, the rind, just stunning. As it drys down it becomes slightly woody and dare say creamier smelling- Projection isn’t great and the longevity is pretty standard for a Jo Malone fragrance, ie 1-2 hours. I got this as a Christmas gift to myself to wear at bedtime- yes at bedtime- I just love to shower and wear a beautiful clean crisp scent to bed as it makes me feel cosy. Price point is expensive for what it is but JM fragrances are price inflated for a cologne. Bottle looks great though and to me it is worth the price as a Christmas treat- Sits close to the skin but I can imagine it would work really well on a warm summers day. OMG this is gorgeous (as I’m sat in my bed with PJs on, on a cold winter night, electric blanket keeping my toes nice and warm).

Another love at first whiff! Super heartbreakingly, Orange Marmalade barely lasts an hour on my skin... how effortlessly it swept me off my feet with its damce of bittersweet citrus and warm, grounding embrace. This fragrance is less like the fruity marmalade it set out to depict, and more the fragrant allure of citrus peels slowly simmering on the stove, their bitterness curling into the air deep within a quiet pine forest. It’s fresh yet comforting, bright yet rich—an aromatic warmth that was once a signature stitched into my skin. Oh, how I adored it while it lasted.

This perfume has become one of my favourites. Usually I prefer sweet, fruity perfumes, however, sometimes I'm in the mood for something that's not sweet yet still smells good, I like to use this one. The orange is strong throughout the whole time I'm wearing, and I certainly can smell a rather herbal, leafy smell, which I assume is the sage. It threw me off initially, but it's grown on me. The herbal, leafy smell is more prominent in the initial spray, and the dry down smells more delicious and slightly sweeter. Overall, it's a perfume I use often in my rotation.

Received this today, it’s lovely packaging it to cute! I wouldn’t say it’s sweet at all or anything like marmalade! In fact it leans more masculine but I would still say unisex, it’s very fresh smelling hint of orange but I do pick up more on the woody/ clary sage notes! I will be pairing it with wood sage and sea salt body wash and lotion so it will definitely be giving fresh summer vibes! Either way I am happy with my purchase x

To me this smells exactly like a 2000's Hollister store, citrus and woody but a bit elevated. I really like it, the citrus notes do have quite a bit of staying power, which is rare and even more for a Jo Malone fragrance. It's unisex, masculine leaning. Fun, bright and peppy!

This scent its the most beautiful orange 🍊 fragrance ever i smell it in my life .like an orange cream candy but fluffy candy not the hard one we have here in Sweden like a marshmallow orange candy 😋

Que perfume bommmmm !!! Da pra ser seu perfume de assinatura ! Um aroma de laranja delicioso ! Do topo a base, se mantem com um cheiro maravilhoso e continuo ! Mais um otimo perfume da Jo Malone !

A lovely fragrance which smells very nice but longevity is very low off my skin. I will use it to layer on other fragrances. It just does not last as a stand alone scent. Which is a shame.

i love it so much it makes me feel like a twisty candied orange rind or perhaps the way an orange feels when it falls off the stem!

A longer longevity fragrance among Jo Malone's products, A pleasant cologne with sweet and light woody notes.

There should be a sugar note on here! Lovely, flirty smell that I can totally see wearing on a night out.

I fall for this i lovet it, want it,it smells sooo good like a orange marmelad what my mum made allways

I am the ultimate orange fan. I like all kinds of orange fragrances. Citrus, spicy, floral, fruity, aromatic, gourmand, woody, you name it. This is not what the name suggests. Yes, there is orange, but no marmalade. It's not jammy. It's citrus and almost salty. I mean even during the drydown there is not a hint of sweetness. This is similar to Essential Perfumes Orange Santal, but changing that bright amazing citrus orange from the Santal opening for a more chemical/ window cleanser orangy smell. Comparing this to Orange Bitters, Marmalade also lacks the beautiful opening. The good news are that it doesn't develop as much as Bitters, so what you smell in the opening is pretty much what you get during the whole evolution. This perfume feels herbal. I would have called it Sage Orange. Not a bad perfume, though. Sad, anyway.

A bright, uplifting unisex fragrance. It opens with a burst of fresh orange peel, followed by bitter orange. As it settles, there's a subtle herbal touch of clary sage and woody nuance, which nudges the fragrance into slightly more masculine territory. Longevity on my skin is around three hours, give or take, with moderate projection. I'm not quite sure why Jo Malone decided to call it Orange Marmalade, as there's nothing jammy about this fragrance. However, if you're after that sweet, gourmand feel without it becoming overly sticky, try layering it with Lemon Tart by Theodoros Kalotinis. Trust me on this one, you won't regret it.

To be honest I have no reference to the British orange marmalade, but I was really expecting som tart and sweet orange smell a gourmand in all sense, but this is not it, is more like a herbal orange and woody fragrance, fresh, clean and gentle, with a moderate projection and performance. To me it behaves like Arancia Di Capri from Acqua Di Parma, having a similar construction, Orange Marmalade with less sweet and more natural smelling. Nothing complicated, not groundbreaking but really easy to wear fragrance, if you want something clean, uplifting and fresh for the hotter days of summer.

A bright, clean orange fragrance that opens sparkling and fresh, but reads more as straight orange than true marmalade on my skin. It softens quickly into a gentle, linear citrus that remains pleasant and easy to wear throughout... albeit that it does go into stealth mode pretty fast. For me, although there is not one thing that is offensive here at all, it is just a little too simple and polite for my taste. If you enjoy soft, understated citrus this is absolutely worth sampling, but I personally prefer more nuanced orange scents with a but more lift and life.

This becomes a skin scent very quickly (after only about an hour), but it is such a nice fragrance anyway. It's a lovely blend of orange peel and clary sage, and will remind you of European marmalade (which is much less sweet than American marmalade). You can pair it with almost all other Jo Malone fragrances, as usual, which can extend it a bit.

Delightful! Not especially syrupy or fermented (as we often associate with marmalade), but rather fresh citrus rounded off with pleasant spices. Perfect for summertime.

Not sure if I've just had different marmalade from other reviewers (I've had marmalade in the UK, as well as various homemade European and soviet style versions) and they expected it to only smell of sweet commercial marmalade (especially the American kind which is very sweet) and were disappointed by the clary sage and cashmere wood (at least one reviewer was), but I thought it delivered. Now whether I like that is another question. The first few minutes definitely smell of marmalade - specifically orange PEELS and lots of them, cooking for a while on the stove. As someone that doesn't love sweet scents, I appreciated the fact they used bitter orange as I think that's more interesting as a scent than a straight orange. I also like that they didn't shy away from the orange by adding something like lemon (at least I didn't notice any). I definitely caught the clary sage, even from the first few seconds, but I like clary sage and I think it's a nice way to ground this fragrance. I'd put this in the unisex category - not sure why others think this is definitely a masculine fragrance. Not sure if I just don't know what 'cashmere wood' smells like, but I'm surprised that's the note that Jo Malone specifically lists on their website as the clary sage is so strong for me. Apparently there is pink pepper but I'm not getting it at all. There is also apparently lavender, but if it's there I think it must be more of the stem than the flowers. One reviewer said the notes are: top of orange peel and pink pepper, heart of orange bitter and lavender, base notes of clary sage, patchouli, and cashmere wood. I don't think this is the fragrance for me as I don't actually want to smell of orange, though I fully thought I might - I tend to prefer woody, mossy, earthy green kind of scents (even though I'd categorise my personality as more orange zesty), but I would love this as a candle!! Ironically, if Jo Malone had gone with their normal naming convention and called this Orange Peel and Clary Sage (or Wood), people may have liked this more. If they went the other way to double down on the theme and called it Paddington Bear (who knows if that would have been allowed though), I think that may have also worked better - I can definitely imagine a stuffed bear having the clary sage and cashmere wood notes. (Marketing campaign was super cute and definitely seems to have gotten a lot of people to buy this) I also wonder if they used a different base if it might hit better - again, double down and go for a bread note (or even less obvious like barley), or maybe stay in the food family with a black tea and a hint of vanilla? One reviewer says it layers well with Blackberry & Bay - in the same vein I think it would also layer well with Basil & Neroli, Poppy & Barley, and anything from the Rare Teas collection. On the other side, to make it deeper, richer, and maybe more into winter/autumn and mulled wine territory, I bet it would be nice with Nutmeg & Ginger, Myrrh & Tonka, Vanilla & Anise, Amber & Patchouli, and Ginger Biscuit. ------------------------ It looks like Jo Malone has tried variations of this in the past (just looking at those listed here in Fragrantica). Ignoring the orange BLOSSOM related scents which would obviously be more floral, their orange and orange peel related scents in chronological order: - Bitter Orange and Chocolate in 2013 - seems like more of a gourmand take with dark chocolate, cacao, coconut, and coumarin, and hasn't been repeated. - Orange Bitters in 2016 - this seems fairly different as (based on the notes) there is more orange fruit (and plum), and they used amber and sandalwood as the base. - Orange Peel in 2021 (not sure why Fragrantica says 2016) as part of the 'Marmalade Dreams' collection - very similar to this fragrance as it also had orange peel, bitter orange, and cashmere wood, but no clary sage. Did have a rhubarb note - Orange Bitters Cologne in 2023 - similar to the one released in 2016, also has fruits (including plum), and uses amber and sandalwood as the base. So the 2016 and 2023 releases were incredibly similar (at least note wise), and the 2021 and this 2024 release was incredibly similar (at least note wise). I wonder how much it changes between the years - are they trying to refine it (as there aren't great reviews for it this year at least), or do they just re-release the same idea as a limited edition scent every few years? (I've just checked the US site and it actually says "Orange Marmalade has returned". Not sure what the UK site said at the time, but I'm pretty sure it never said that and at the time of writing they're already advertising the advent calendars). I've seen only three people mention the previous release, and only one of those had both fragrances and she said this one is lighter and more citrusy vs orange peel which is sweeter and more heavy. I've checked youtube, tiktok, reddit, jo malone reviews, and everything and no one else is mentioning this.

Orange Marmalade opens with a burst of fresh citrus that feels bright and uplifting. It captures the scent of real oranges beautifully, crisp and slightly tart. I only wish it had more of the sweetness you’d expect from marmalade, that sticky jam-like warmth to balance the freshness. The notes are lovely but the projection isn’t strong, and it fades faster than I’d like. It’s a pretty, refreshing scent, but it didn’t leave a lasting impression on me the way I hoped.

Nice if a bit unremarkable. The orange peel note comes through clearly but there is something artificial smelling about it versus some other more photorealistic citrus scents. There's a slight edge of herbal-y-ness that adds interest and almost gives it a bit of a cocktail feeling (it could just as easily be a screwdriver scent as orange marmelade). Like most citrus scents, it does not last terribly long.

Sadly more citrussy rather than orangey. I wanted it to me more zesty and biting, like a proper orange marmalade. But this is more like a lemon room freshener. It's not bad, I will use up my travel sized perfume, but I won't be getting it again. Just not really orange marmalade. More citrussy spritz water.

This has decent sillage and longevity for a citrus fragrance. I very much like the opening but after that it becomes a more masculine aftershave scent which isn’t what I want. I’m currently testing it with a sweeter orange blossom fragrance and I quite like the combination, but not enough to buy both.

It starts with a gorgeous juicy orange marmalade scent, then quickly fades into a very herbal and sharp, unisex/masculine scent, which I guess is the clary sage. I wasn't expecting such a fresh, unisex scent, but it's fine, if very unexpected. Too strong for me!

Very nice clean orange scent, but not in a sugary marmalade way. To me this smells like ”Jo-Maloned” version of YSL Libre l’absolu platine, and I really do enjoy this. Better performance than the Peony&blush suede and Blacberry&Bay. Worth the money, love it

I'm gonna keep trying with this perfume because I really want to like it but right now, I honestly kind of hate this. I'm not getting the fresh, citrusy scent other people are getting or anything bright or light or whatever. this to me smells exactly like any men's aftershave. like literally Lynx Africa type stuff. there's no depth to it. I can get that it's supposed to be like orange peel, and honestly it does smell a bit like orange marmalade to me, but it just smells so boring and one-note - super bitter and heavy. I'm not getting the sage or pink pepper or anything. sometimes I'll sniff and it'll smell the tiniest bit sweeter, but then I'll go in again and it's gone. it never seems to soften up (though it lasts ages, which is notable for a Jo Malone, lol). I'm going to keep trying with it but it's so strong and overpowering and headache-inducing to me. it smells like a classroom of 15 year old boys right after PE trying to cover their sweat up with Lynx! I'm so sad about it!!!! I'm equally as confused by people saying it's the perfect summer scent - it's so heavy and dark to me I can only imagine it in the autumn or winter, when it starts getting cold and you want something 'more'. I don't know. I'm really hoping if this sits for a little bit or something I'll start getting the lighter, clean, fresh citrus stuff other people are getting because right now, I am thoroughly not feeling it :(

very fresh and natural orange. definitely not the sugary sweet kind, more like the kind you pick straight from the tree and cut open when i smell deeply enough i get a slight arugula smell and i haven’t seen anyone else say this over time the orange gets a bit sweeter but it still keeps its freshness. i don’t understand why it’s called “marmalade” because i’m not getting any gourmand level sweetness from this, actually i’m barely getting any sweetness at all. the sweetness i notice over time could just be me being delusional 😆 it’s definitely not for me but it’s not BAD 🫵 either. it just leans more masculine than unisex to my nose. while i think it would suit a bold and masculine woman, the scent profile reminds me of men’s products. i could never wear this lol i’ll sneak it into my father’s perfumes 😆

what does this have to do with that smiling bear? Where’s the freshness of the orange, where’s the jammy note? What I smell is a dark brown bear with a face full of sorrow. The scent is mainly composed of neroli and bitter orange, falling into that unpleasant, stuffy, soapy category. The dry down is slightly better, with a faint hint of orange candy, but overall it still leans toward an autumn–winter fragrance.

I was expecting a jammy, gourmand orange and instead got a bright, zesty orange. It reminds me of Orange Glo cleaner. It's on the masculine side of unisex imo.

This is a masculine citrus + wood... Every Jo Malone fragrance smells weird to me :(

Although the founder left years ago, Jo Malone continues to be a successful brand because the company understands what they are good at. The house is especially good at UK-style fragrances with a decidedly country vibe. As such, they will often re-release limited edition fragrances under a different name after a couple of years in a new limited collection, or as a Christmas edition. I quite enjoy this because it means a favourite can be enjoyed again. I still hold out hope that Peony & Moss from the 2012 London Blooms collection will come back. Some examples: 2013's Elderflower & Gooseberry from the Sugar & Spice collection became Elderflower Cordial in the 2021 Marmalade collection. Wild Achillea from the 2023 Highlands collection was originally part of the 2019 Wildflowers & Weeds collection as Nettle & Wild Achillea. Some limited editions that have come back for sale during the Christmas season include Green Almond & Red Currant (2017), Ginger Biscuit (2013) and Bitter Orange & Chocolate (2013) which is back this year as a candle. They definitely got a lot of mileage out of that Sugar & Spice collection! The notes listed on Fragrantica are completely different but based on the notes listed on the Jo Malone website (artemisia, fir, leather) I'm willing to wager that their limited edition Fir & Artemisia is actually a relaunch of the Leather & Artemisia from the 2017 Bloomsbury Set collection. Although the formulations may have changed between releases due to regulatory reasons, I don't believe that they are making substantial changes most of the time. One exception is with the fragrance Lavender & Coriander. Originally part of the 2016 the Herb Garden collection, it came back again in the 2020 Lavenderland collection. I read at the time that they reformulated it to use English rather than French lavender to better fit with the theme of English lavender. Anyways, although Fragrantica lists the additional note of clary sage, I am 100% certain that Orange Marmalade is the exact same fragrance as Orange Peel from the 2021. Since Orange Peel was the fastest seller in the collection I doubt they would have bothered changing it. I also still have have my bottle so I was able to compare them. Orange Peel/Orange Marmalade is a warm, relaxed, natural fragrance. As I said in my previous review: think oranges and tanned, sun warmed skin or how oranges growing in a tree would would smell on a hot summer day. Definitely a lot sexier and sensual than one would imagine for something that was part of a Paddington Bear collection. But the blue label is quite charming.

I have a soft spot for Jo Malone limited editions, and when I saw the cute Paddington Bear display with a fragrance named after his favourite treat, I couldn't resist. Orange Marmalade is quintessentially British, a tart, crisp and refreshing orange cologne with a hint of clary sage. It is admittedly nothing ground-breaking, but is the perfect fragrance for a warm Summer's day. This limited edition has hit the shelves in Australia in the middle of Winter, and as a result, it might not sell very well as this fragrance is a definite warm weather scent. This fragrance smells more of the tart, somewhat bitter orange peel rather than the juicy sweetness of the actual fruit. The clary sage provides an interesting twist, adding a dusty, herbaceous accord. The overall composition is crisp and clean, and perfectly unisex. Citrus colognes have a tendency to be rather fleeting, however, this fragrance has relatively good longevity, lasting approximately 5-6 hours on my skin. Jo Malone limited editions don't last very long on the shelves, and are often a case of, "if you blink, you might miss it". There have been many times when I have contemplated purchasing a Jo Malone limited edition for too long, and missed the opportunity to purchase a bottle. If this cute release, Orange Marmalade, has piqued your interest, I would test it sooner rather than later.

This does not smell like marmalade at all! It does smell like orange peel, but you can get the woody notes right away. I honestly bought this solely because of the Paddington packaging, and the sales assistant was lovely too. Initially, I thought this was way overpriced for what it is, but once I wore it for a day, I actually came to really like it. It’s quite a pleasant scent- I’d say it’s both youthful and sophisticated. If you love Paddington and like fresh, citrus scents, this one’s for you. PS. Layering it with another citrusy scent will make it last longer. I paired it with the Jo Malone Mimosa & Cardamom makes it lasts for about 8 hours without reapplying and it makes me feel fresh and bubbly.

I'm absolutely in live with Jo Malone's Orange Marmalade, it's sunshine in a bottle. The opening hits with the most vibrant citrus, a juicy-sweet orange that instantly lifts your mood. Then, as it settles, the bitter orange note shines through, perfectly capturing that tangy edge you get when you bite into real marmalade. Weirdly, orange scents (and this one in particular) always remind me of the old I Spy books from childhood - like the scent you'd imagine wafting through one of those quirky, hidden-object scenes. It's playful and nostalgic, yet still refined enough to feel grown up. If you love bright, zesty fragrances with a slightly sophisticated twist, this is such a cheerful, unique pick.

The people saying this smells like orange marmalade are probably impressed by the power of suggestion/advertisement or just plain talking without really sampling the scent. This does not smell like marmalade. This is a sweet fresh scent with bright sparkling orange zest scent and a very fresh and light woody/sage base. To me, it smells almost exactly like Arancia Di Sicilia by Perris Montecarlo. At $85 for just 1 oz of scent this is so grossly overpriced! the longevity and projection are as expected, very light. I would sample both Arancia di Sicilia and Orange Marmalade before comitting to a full bottle...the better value here is Arancia Di Sicilia, hands down! Sample first people!

This reminds me very much of Bitter Orange by Agraria, a home fragrance collection that smells of bitter orange, clove and woods. Orange Marmalade by JM is pretty but not my cup of tea to wear. Seems more of a candle scent. It also makes me think of fall and spiced cider, probably due to the Agraria scent memory. (My mom always had their potpourri and candles going in autumn growing up.) Considering it is 115o F where I live right now, it's not something I would reach for. Perhaps in the fall layered with some vanilla it would be cozy. I wouldn't spend money on this one but would use it if given to me.

I love the Jo Malone Orange Blossoms-So with Orange Marmalade I imagined a wearable, non juvenile, orange marmalade but instead got a zesty woody, ever so slightly, masculine citrus. Eventho it’s not what I expected it’s not bad, and it blends well with their Orange Blossom. Also blends beautifully with their Nectarine.

This smell like the eating a whole orange! First you peel the orange and smell the orange peel. Then you get the fresh orange. Then you accidentally bite the seed so you get something green in the end. It’s very fresh and simple scent that I imagine would be ideal for very hot summer days.

I was wondering whether this smells anything like the other JM orange colognes. Does anybody know? I'm tempted to buy this because of the packaging and because of the promise of a warm, woody element but I don't think I'll wear it if it's too much of a lively, fizzy orange!

I love this so much! The opening notes of this really smells like orange marmalade then it dries down to what i think is pink pepper? It smells clean and a bit citrusy but after a few hours it smells like baby powder or smth sweet and soft

Received my bottle from Jo Malone today. A bottle of perfume in a shipping box. No packaging, no gingham packaging box or a Jo Malone box. Perfume is tart, bitter, astringent woody. No sweet marmalade here. Masculine. Not a gourmand.

Surprisingly long-lasting for this type of scent. And not bad for what it is, a straight-forward bitter orange. Linear, sure, but for me there is place and time when this is all that I need. Instant mood lifter for sure.

My favorite winter fragrance is to layer the clean, fresh, soft spicy Orange Marmalade with Jo Malone’s warm floral Orange Blossom. The combination is beautiful and last until showered off.

Basically the same scent profile as Dior Homme Cologne Sport. I think I like the Dior better, it is better performing.

I have no idea why I've never sprayed this in Sephora until today, so Fun! Bright! Beautiful!

This is a really delicious and pleasant orange fragrance. But the performance is ATROCIOUS

It's really lovely summer scent surprisingly lasting for Jo Malone

They dropped the ball on presentation. Big time.