CREATING THE FRAGRANCE

'The English Oak was born through a working collaboration between Vice President of Global Fragrance Development, Celine Roux and Master Perfumer, Yann Vasnier. Here Celine and Yann tell us more about how they created the fragrances.

Yann Vasnier:

HOW DID THE ENGLISH OAK STORY BEGIN?

Three years ago I sat down with Celine and shared a very special accord with her, which she instantly loved. The idea of the forrest and English oak was something Jo Malone London had wanted to explore. So it was perfect timing. This was the start of English Oak & Hazelnut.

HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT OAK AS AN INGREDIENT?

Oak exists as an ingredient, but for this project we created an exclusive variant of the wood; a roasted oak. Our Roasted Oak Absolute has a beautifully rich, smoky feel that adds real depth to a fragrance. And like any rich wood, there’s an addictive quality and sweetness to it due to its phenolic nature. I was very excited to work with it and create something unique for Jo Malone London.

TELL US ABOUT THE EXCLUSIVITY OF ROASTED OAK ABSOLUTE – HAS IT BEEN USED IN PERFUMERY BEFORE? WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL?

The oak moss is very important and iconic in perfumery and has been used for a long time, but the oak wood itself isn’t widely used. To unlock the rich and noble properties of its wood we opted for a process, exclusive to Jo Malone London for five years, in which washed wood chips are roasted at high temperatures, yielding up a rich, deep and smoky-sweet absolute; creating a warm and enveloping base.

WHY ARE THESE INGREDIENTS SUCH A GOOD COMBINATION?

Both fragrances have similar structures and elements, but each one pushes and highlights certain ingredients. English Oak & Hazelnut uses green hazelnut, which is very unique and creates a greener, more aromatic feel with a spicy spin. Its moss notes also help to reinforce the natural scent of the forest. English Oak & Redcurrant is much warmer and rounder with rose, amber and white musk.

CELINE ROUX:

WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE ENGLISH OAK COLLECTION?

The inspiration started with the English oak tree. A powerful and noble symbol, which lies deep in the heart of the English woodland. A place of mystery and enchantment, where legends take root and imagination takes flight. And nowhere better captures this magic and mystery quite like Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, famous for its tales of wandering knights and outlaws – and Robin Hood, of course! So, this was where we began…

HOW DID YOU CAPTURE THIS MAGIC IN THE FRAGRANCES?

Oak has a fairytale-like quality, which perfectly captures the magic of the English forest. Its twisting roots and branches, dating back hundreds of years, are filled with ancient tales and stories.

TELL US ABOUT THE TWISTS IN EACH FRAGRANCE...

For Jo Malone London, it was really important that the twists belonged to the English forest. I wanted them to be authentic, and that’s when we decided on redcurrant and hazelnut. It was these ingredients that enabled us to showcase our creativity and individuality with the fragrances.