The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Mathilde Bijaoui built Green Almond & Redcurrant around a sensory contradiction: the moment when morning brightness softens into afternoon stillness. Green almond, bitter and vegetal, anchors the heart. Redcurrant adds tartness that reads almost wine-like, not sugary. The brief was simple on paper: something green, something fruity, something warm underneath. What emerged is a fragrance that refuses to be merely pretty. Citruses and redcurrant open sharp and lively, then hand off to that green almond heart that gives the scent its unusual edge. Tonka bean and cedarwood settle quietly in the base, keeping the whole composition close to the skin.
Green Almond & Redcurrant stands apart from much of the Jo Malone range. Where most of the brand's fruity scents lean into sweetness and florals, this one leans into bitterness and green, making it one of the more unusual entries in the collection. The green almond note is neither nutty nor edible in the traditional sense. It's vegetal, slightly bitter, almost stem-like. Redcurrant here isn't the jammy raspberry note found in other fragrances. It's tart, bright, with a quality that recalls wine more than candy. The tonka bean in the base softens everything into warm creaminess, while cedarwood grounds it with quiet woody depth.
The evolution
The opening hits with citrus and redcurrant, tart and immediate. The green almond arrives within minutes, shifting the character from fruity to vegetal and slightly bitter. That bitter edge is the tell. It reads as medicinal on first spray, but it settles. Over the next few hours, the tonka bean softens everything into warm creaminess. Cedarwood arrives last, quietly woody, adding depth without weight. The redcurrant fades first, then the green almond, but the tonka-cedar combination lingers. The drydown is intimate, close to the skin, projecting softly for 6-8 hours on most skin types.
Cultural impact
Green Almond & Redcurrant represents an unusual entry in the Jo Malone range. Where most of the brand leans into approachable florals and sweet fruits, this one leans into bitterness and green, making it a quieter choice for those who want something that doesn't announce itself. The moderate sillage suits intimate settings, and the unusual green almond note has divided wearers: some find it medicinal and off-putting, others find it the most interesting thing Jo Malone has done in years.
