Jo Malone London Poppy & Barley Cologne

Originally part of a limited-edition collection, the esteemed English perfume and lifestyle brand, Jo Malone London, has supersized its Poppy & Barley cologne this spring. And here’s why we’re happy about it. 

• What Is It: A delicious, luxury women’s cologne.
• Why buy: It comes in a handy travel size, it can be layered with other Jo Malone London scents, it is quintessentially English.
• The Details: Jo Malone London’s Poppy & Barley cologne fragrance costs from $99 for 30mls, available from www.jomalone.com.au, and from the Jo Malone London Woollahra boutique, selected David Jones stores, and MECCA Maxima stores nationally.

Road Test

Back in early 2018, Jo Malone London launched one of its most popular collections, English Fields. With a focus on ‘sunlight skipping across golden fields’ of cereals, grains, and blooms including poppies and primroses, the lusty scents of this new range were inspired by the rolling meadows of the English countryside coupled with long, lazy summer days. Fast forward to September 2019 and one of the gems of that collection has come under the spotlight as a standalone fragrance. Poppy & Barley is a lively floral scent enhanced by rose and violet and topped with juicy blackcurrants, a fragrance which mimics English cereal fields where grains and flowers mingle, and where colourful poppies add splashes of colour to golden grains. According to Celine Roux, Jo Malone London’s Global Head of Fragrance, it’s a colourful character, meanwhile Mathilde Bijaoul, the Perfumer behind Poppy & Barley says it has an element of the unexpected and unusual, and is a contrast between vibrant poppies and nourishing grains, rounded by hints of violet and fig. The fragrance is undoubtedly   unique, fusing a touch of earthiness with sweetness, but there’s another bonus of having Poppy & Barley in your fragrance lineup. Layering scent is a trend embraced wholehearted by Jo Malone London, and Poppy & Barley is no exception, having been crafted to pair perfectly with other fragrances to create a signature scent. Just a few to consider include layering Poppy & Barley with Honeysuckle & Davana for a vibrant floral combination, Wood Sage & Sea Salt for a colourful, fresh scent, and Myrrh & Tonka for opulence and warmth. Layered or used alone, if you love or feel nostalgic about the English countryside, and enjoy a fragrance which stands out in a crowd, Poppy & Barley is not only a cologne with a difference, but also one which will likely stand the test of time. 

Beauty In Travel Loves

• The bottle, made from transparent glass, is simple and elegant.
• The fragrance is unusual and it can be paired with other Jo Malone London scents.
• It comes in a 30ml size ideal for travellers.
• The fragrance is niche perfume at its best. 

Insider Tips

• The difference between cologne and perfume depends on the concentration of oils in the fragrance. The highest concentration is in pure perfume or parfum, while Eau de Cologne is more lightweight and subtle.