The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Green Almond & Redcurrant began as a study in contrast. The concept centered on the green almond, with its distinctive bitter note, paired against redcurrant. Redcurrant provided the counterpoint: bright, sharp acidity that could lift the green without erasing it. The result is a fragrance that moves between tart and warm, green and sweet, with an ease that belies its unusual combination. There is a playfulness in the way the tartness unfolds, revealing layers as the scent settles on the skin.
Green almond is rarely the star. Too bitter, too vegetal for most compositions. Here, Bijaoui uses redcurrant's tartness to tame the green, then lets sandalwood and tonka bean smooth everything into cream. The nut doesn't disappear, it becomes the backbone. What could have been aggressively strange instead reads as quietly confident.
The evolution
The opening hits immediately. Green almond and citrus create a sharp, almost astringent first impression, like biting into an unripe nut. Within minutes, redcurrant arrives to brighten the green, softening the bite into something more approachable. Sandalwood weaves through the heart, adding creaminess that tempers the tartness. The drydown belongs to cedarwood and tonka bean, warm, slightly sweet, close to the skin. The whole arc moves from sharp to bright to warm, settling into something quiet and confident.
Cultural impact
Green Almond & Redcurrant divides opinion in a way that reveals its personality. The green almond opening is sharp enough to startle, which makes the warm, fruity drydown feel earned. The fragrance rewards someone willing to trust the journey from green bite to redcurrant brightness to woody warmth. It holds its own among Jo Malone's fruit-themed offerings, striking a balance that is neither overly sweet nor floral. What sets it apart is the way the contrasting notes play against each other, creating something that feels both playful and sophisticated.
The House
Jo Malone LondonJo Malone London is a British fragrance house founded by Jo Malone in 1990 and now owned by Estée Lauder Companies. The brand built its reputation on a signature layering concept that lets wearers combine colognes into personal signature scents. Each fragrance begins with a story, whether drawn from childhood memories, British traditions, or sensory moments. The collection spans delicate florals like Peony & Blush Suede alongside richer compositions such as Velvet Rose & Oud. Known for understated bottles finished with black script lettering and a colored ink matching each scent, the brand maintains a refined British aesthetic across over 30 countries. The house continues releasing new fragrances under Estée Lauder while preserving the creative philosophy Jo Malone established.
The Creator
Mathilde BijaouiBased on her known work, Bijaoui's style leans toward warm, ambery, and slightly gourmand compositions. She seems to enjoy working with spices, woods, and musks, creating fragrances that are both comforting and sensual.
