The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Every Jo Malone London fragrance begins with a story. Honeysuckle & Davana, launched in 2018, is no exception. The wildness of honeysuckle winding through the English countryside, climbing, twisting, ever more alluring after dark, is the heart of this composition. Anne Flipo translated that imagery into something wearable: the flower's heady sweetness tempered by davana's unexpected fruity brightness, grounded by moss into something that smells like the living, breathing outdoors rather than a perfumery counter. The result is a fragrance that feels both untamed and refined, British hedgerow at golden hour, bottled.
What makes this composition interesting is the pairing itself. Honeysuckle rarely anchors a fragrance as a named note, it's more often a supporting element in floral absolutes or described as a background warmth. Davana brings its own surprises: a sharp, fruity quality that reads almost medicinal, slightly camphorated, nothing like the sweet honeysuckle it accompanies. Moss completes the picture with an earthy, green depth that extends the wear far beyond what most floral fragrances attempt.
The evolution
The opening announces davana first, bright, aromatic, slightly camphorated. It surprises before the honeysuckle arrives. And when it does arrive, it arrives properly: sweet, indolic, heady. Almost too much honeysuckle on its own, but the rose and davana keep it from tipping into cloying territory. The transition from top to heart happens within minutes, davana recedes, honeysuckle takes over with a creamier, softer quality. Then the moss begins to speak. What seemed like a straightforward floral gradually deepens into something with real green, earthy character. The drydown is where this fragrance earns its reputation. Moss takes over, cool, damp, slightly bitter. The honeysuckle doesn't disappear but becomes a warm undertone beneath the green. This is the phase that lasts. The sillage settles to moderate, close to the skin, present without announcing itself.
Cultural impact
Honeysuckle & Davana earned Fragrance of the Year at the Fragrance Foundation Awards in 2019. The combination of davana's medicinal, slightly camphorated note with classic English hedgerow honeysuckle creates something unexpected. Davana brings an herbal complexity that cuts through the sweetness, while the honeysuckle adds a lush, romantic quality that feels both familiar and distinctive. The pairing feels grounded yet blooming, offering a different kind of floral experience for those who appreciate botanical nuance. The award reflects how these two notes work together to create something memorable rather than predictable.
