Jo Malone Wild Bluebell Cologne -- Once Upon A Fragrant Time

Symbolic of humility and gratitude, the thimble-shaped English bluebell blossom is most often associated with fairies. In European folklore, these cup-like flowers provided shelter from the rain and shade from the light, doubled as cradles for newborns, and offered these magical winged creatures a place in which they could rest comfortable. At midnight, fairies would band together to dance and, to summon everyone in their kingdom, the bluebells would be rung, their chiming sound reminding everyone of their nightly ritual.

In Frances Hogson Burnett's children's fairytale The Land of the Blue Flower, the Secret Garden author describes a mystical kingdom in which a new monarch, King Amor, orders his loyal subjects to plant bluebell seeds and care for them as they grow. Though baffled by the unorthodox decree, the citizens do as ordered, learning about communing with nature in the process. Before they know it, their once-gloomy city is transformed into an enchanting realm that earned the moniker of the Land of the Blue Flower.

When developing the Jo Malone Wild Bluebell Cologne ($55 for 30ml and $110 for 100ml at JoMalone.com), perfumers sought to capture the mysterious and magical traits associated with the bluebell, even masterminding an original fairytale in which a curious, free-spirited girl named Wild Bluebell frolics along the British woodlands, enchanted by the purple-like haze created by the bluebells carpeting the forest expanse.

The fragrance itself opens with notes of fresh bluebell, itself a deliciously honey-tinged aroma, and the spicy warmth of a clove note. These luminous notes roll out the red carpet for the heart notes, which include lily of the valley, eglantine, and jasmine. Base notes of white amber and musk add a woodsy backdrop to the floral heart, reinforcing the more elusive elements of the fragrance fairytale.  

If the idea was to be spellbound by this scent, Jo Malone succeeded admirably. Every time I wear the Jo Malone Wild Bluebell Cologne, I feel like an Alice in Wonderland type character or a woodland nymph of sorts. It's the type of scent that's feminine but innocent and pure, charismatic without being overpowering, bewitching in its dewy splendor. And, while it's an undoubtedly floral perfume, the woody base notes and the clove top note add a mossy quality that renders the scent mysterious and transcendental. Best of all, the scent is so light that it seems to float above you in a delicate haze, ever so ethereal and, yes, magical.