Jo Malone Perfume Review: Sea Salt & Bergamot Cologne
Jo Malone fans will likely already know Wood Sage & Sea Salt, the instantly recognisable fragrance inspired by the windswept British coast. It has become one of the brand’s best-loved scents – and one of my personal favourites for its airy, just-stepped-outside feel.
Now, the perfumer has returned to the same coastal landscape with a new fragrance: Sea Salt & Bergamot Cologne (from £24). Both fragrances draw on that bracing, mineral quality of the sea, with the new scent also taking inspiration from the rugged British coastline.
But while Wood Sage & Sea Salt is light, airy, and almost breezy, Sea Salt & Bergamot takes the idea somewhere deeper. The new cologne combines bright bergamot with sea salt and driftwood, creating a fresher, more textured finish, with mineral notes and moss for depth.
As someone who counts Wood Sage & Sea Salt among my favourite Jo Malone scents, I couldn’t wait to try the newest addition. But it wasn’t quite what I expected.
Rather than simply recreating the airy freshness of its predecessor, Sea Salt & Bergamot has a noticeably deeper character. The bright bergamot gives it immediate freshness, but the salty, woody base soon makes itself known, leaving a more grounded, almost smoky impression on the skin.
It also has a more traditionally masculine facet than Wood Sage & Sea Salt – something similar to Acqua Di Parma’s Blu Mediterraneo (£73.10, Allbeauty). That makes the two fragrances particularly appealing as a his-and-hers pairing: Wood Sage & Sea Salt for the lighter, breezier scent; Sea Salt & Bergamot for something darker, woodier and more rugged.
If Wood Sage & Sea Salt is the feeling of breathing in salty air from the clifftop, Sea Salt & Bergamot is the cold jolt of water itself. And perhaps that is the biggest surprise: this isn’t simply Wood Sage & Sea Salt with a splash of bergamot. It feels like its moodier sibling.
I’m not the only fan of the new scent either. It’s already racked up some great reviews from fellow Jo Malone devotees, including this one who shared: “It has such a fresh, clean, and refreshing scent with the perfect balance of citrusy bergamot and airy sea-salt notes.
“It feels effortlessly elegant without being overpowering, and it’s perfect for everyday wear. I love how fresh and uplifting it smells, and I’ve received so many compliments whenever I wear it. Definitely a new favourite and one I’ll be repurchasing.”
Meanwhile, someone else added: “An amazing brand of perfume that has a citrus and a light woodiness scent with a texture of sea salt that makes you feel like you’re exploring the ocean.”
“I love this amazing perfume and wear it every day in the morning. It feels great on the skin and brings back memories of being on the beach in the sand on a summer day. Jo Malone is the perfect perfume that will win you over.”
However, this mixed review reads: “It was so strong that I felt like I could taste it throughout the day. It ended up being too masculine for me.”
On a brighter note, this Sea Salt & Bergamot fan said: “Fresh, airy and clean, this cologne is perfect for everyday wear. It’s the perfect balance between masculine and feminine. I could recommend it to anyone. It’s long-lasting but not overpowering; the sea salt makes it peaceful to wear.”
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