Jo Malone London goes on an olfactory odyssey to Scotland

Every year, Jo Malone London assembles a series of limited-edition fragrances inspired by the United Kingdom. This annual 'Brit Collection' has taken many forms in the past; the 2022 release, for example, was inspired by wild swimming (an activity that boomed here through the pandemic). This year, the perfume house has headed to the misty moors and heather-drenched hills of Scotland for The Highlands collection.

To create the collection, Global Head of Fragrance Céline Roux and perfumers Anne Flipo, Marie Salamagne and Yann Vasnier travelled to Scotland through memories and imaginations to distil its essence in fragrance. Originally inspired by the rambling ancient castles you find peppered throughout the Scottish Highlands, Roux incorperated the country's wildflowers into the scents, including heather, mallow, achillea and the national flower, the thistle – as well as nettles and oak. The resulting fragrances are intended to transport you to an extraordinary place steeped in history, imbued with mystique and breath-taking beauty.

"Often, when we think of the British countryside, we think of something that’s a bit more orderly, a bit more groomed," says Roux of her collection. "But with the Scottish Highlands, nature runs wild in such a dramatic way. We really wanted to embrace this with this collection. The idea that however much you may try to control nature, when left to its own devices it just takes over."

There are four fragrances in the new collection: Melancholy Thistle, a woody aromatic scent which is underpinned by coolwood to summon the image of ivy-covered stone walls inside a majestic relic; Highland Heather, a woody scent enhanced with English lavender and freshened by cypress, grounded in sensual amber; Mallow On The Moor, a bright floral combining powdery heliotrope with violet leaves; and Wild Achillea, which sparkles with bergamot entwined with the tangy green sting of nettle and soft white musk.

In keeping with Jo Malone London’s commitment to sustainability, The Highlands collection is manufactured in the UK, with the colognes produced in a location that harnesses solar power and runs on 100% renewable electricity. The classic cream gift boxes are recyclable and made from FSC-certified materials and at least 70% is recycled materials. Additionally, the cream Jo Malone London shopping bags are crafted from FSC-certified paper, with all parts of the bag excluding the handles recyclable in addition to being biodegradable. 

The Highlands collection is available now in Jo Malone London stores and at jomalone.co.uk