Inspiration can strike anywhere and at almost anytime. That's exactly what happened two years back when the head of fragrance development for Jo Malone London, Céline Roux came to India. She came during 2016’s peak summer and she was blown away by our freshly cut flowers in our markets. Visiting both, Mumbai and Delhi, she deems it to be an unforgettable experience.
Speaking to a leading fashion magazine, she recently said, "It was an unforgettable experience; tens of thousands of freshly cut flowers are either meticulously arranged in wicker panniers, left to spill out of vast sacks, or simply upturned onto the trading floor to form colourful mounds." She related how her journey to India was a start of a two-year journey that led to the brand’s latest, Jasmine Sambac & Marigold Cologne Intense.
Back home in London, she teamed up with master perfumer Mathilde Bijaoui to recreate that heady, warm emotion. And having fallen in love with jasmine in India, they even set out to Tamil Nadu where the scent is the strongest. "The aim was to create a scent that represented the warm and sunny vibe of the markets, with an addictive facet that makes you want to go back again and again,” said Roux. "We were visiting during Dussehra, and I was blown away by the yellow and orange marigolds that were used as garlands for decoration everywhere. They are such a visual part of the culture in India," she added. Coupled with the freshly plucked aromatic jasmine, the marigold provides a delectable contrast to the scent. Its fruity, green scent enhances the notes of the white flower and transports you right to those loud and noisy bazaars.
"We saw some beautiful tea fields in Kerala, and they’ve provided me with a lot of inspiration for future projects as well," Roux said. Does this mean there will be more India-inspired Jo Malone London fragrances to look forward to?
