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Jo Malone London Sea Salt & Bergamot Cologne Review
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If you love fresh, clean fragrances but want something with a little more presence, Jo Malone London Sea Salt & Bergamot Cologne is definitely one to have on your radar.
I was really intrigued by this one because, when I first heard about it, I immediately thought of Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt. That is one of my all-time favourite fragrances, so I was interested to see how this new scent compared.
And actually, while they do have something in common, I think Sea Salt & Bergamot has quite a different personality. It is brighter, more citrusy and, importantly for me, much longer-lasting than Wood Sage & Sea Salt. It also feels a little stronger and louder, with a slightly more masculine edge.
I really do think it’s lovely. But does it beat Wood Sage & Sea Salt for me? Let’s get into it.
What Is Jo Malone London Sea Salt & Bergamot Cologne?
Jo Malone London Sea Salt & Bergamot Cologne is a fresh, citrusy, mineral fragrance designed to be worn by both women and men. It is described as being inspired by the wild waters of the Celtic Sea, combining sparkling bergamot with a mineral sea-salt note and driftwood.
The result is a very fresh, airy and invigorating fragrance, but one that has a little more depth and character than you might expect from something described as a fresh citrus scent.
It is definitely a unisex scent. It works well for me, but I could completely imagine it smelling gorgeous on someone who prefers a more traditionally masculine fragrance.
Jo Malone London Sea Salt & Bergamot Key Notes
The key notes in Sea Salt & Bergamot are:
- Bergamot – fresh, sparkling and quite zingy
- Sea Salt – gives the fragrance its mineral, marine character
- Driftwood – soft warmth
It feels slightly more masculine to me than Wood Sage & Sea Salt.
My Review of Jo Malone London Sea Salt & Bergamot
The Packaging
If you know Jo Malone London, you’ll know exactly what to expect here. The packaging has that classic, understated Jo Malone London aesthetic that I love. It feels elegant and timeless rather than overly themed.
First Impressions
My first thought when I sprayed it was simply that it’s lovely and fresh. The opening is really bright and citrusy, but there is something more unusual underneath it.
That slightly metallic, mineral marine note gives it a coolness that stops it from just smelling like citrus. And actually, I was surprised by how much presence it has.
I think Sea Salt & Bergamot is a stronger fragrance than Wood Sage & Sea Salt. It’s a little louder, a little brighter and has more of an immediate impact. It is still fresh and airy, but it doesn’t feel quite as quiet or understated.
What Does Jo Malone London Sea Salt & Bergamot Smell Like?
To my nose, Sea Salt & Bergamot smells like bright citrus meeting cool, salty sea air. The bergamot gives it that sparkling citrus opening, while the sea salt brings in the mineral, marine quality. Then, as it settles, you get the softer woody element from the driftwood.
There is something almost sharp about it, but in a really lovely, invigorating way. If you love super-fresh, clean fragrances that give you that “I’ve just stepped out of the shower” feeling, but want something a little more interesting, I think you’ll like this.
How Long Does Jo Malone London Sea Salt & Bergamot Last?
This is one of the things that really impressed me. It lasts much longer on me than Wood Sage & Sea Salt.
Obviously, fragrance longevity is personal. It depends on your skin, how much you spray, the temperature, what you’ve applied underneath it and all sorts of other things. But based on my experience, I would say Sea Salt & Bergamot has very good longevity for a Jo Malone London Cologne.
What Is the Sillage Like?
I’d describe the sillage as moderate but noticeable. It isn’t one of those huge fragrances that announces your arrival before you do, but it definitely has more presence than Wood Sage & Sea Salt.
When you first spray it, the bright citrus gives it a lovely lift and there is a noticeable freshness around you. As it dries down, it becomes softer and closer to the skin, but I can still smell it.
For me, the combination of better longevity and slightly stronger projection makes it a very easy everyday fragrance.
Is Jo Malone London Sea Salt & Bergamot Masculine or Feminine?
It’s unisex, and I think it genuinely works beautifully on both women and men. For me personally, it does lean slightly more towards the masculine side than Wood Sage & Sea Salt.
I don’t mean that it smells like a traditional men’s fragrance. It’s more that the bright citrus, mineral freshness and dry driftwood give it a slightly sharper, cleaner character. Having said that, I think I will love wearing it myself.
And I can absolutely imagine it smelling gorgeous on someone who likes their fragrances a little more traditionally masculine.
Jo Malone London Sea Salt & Bergamot vs Wood Sage & Sea Salt
This is probably the comparison most people will want to know about. And yes, they are similar, but they aren’t the same. Both fragrances have that fresh, coastal, mineral quality, but I think Sea Salt & Bergamot has a sharper and more energetic personality.
I still prefer Wood Sage & Sea Salt. I absolutely adore that fragrance. In fact, I think it is probably my favourite Jo Malone London scent. Trying Sea Salt & Bergamot has actually made me think I need to get my Wood Sage & Sea Salt back out and start wearing it all the time again this summer.
If you’ve always thought Wood Sage & Sea Salt was gorgeous but wished it lasted longer, this is definitely one you need to smell.
Read, Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt Review.
Who Will Like Jo Malone London Sea Salt & Bergamot?
I think this will appeal to you if you:
- Love fresh citrus fragrances
- Like clean, uplifting scents
- Enjoy marine or mineral fragrances
- Love bergamot
- Prefer fresh fragrances to sweet or gourmand scents
- Like unisex perfumes
- Want something easy to wear every day
- Love Wood Sage & Sea Salt but want better longevity
- Prefer a fragrance with a little more presence
If you’re a Wood Sage & Sea Salt fan, I would definitely recommend having a sniff. But don’t assume you’ll automatically prefer it. They have a similar coastal feeling, but they have different personalities.
Is Jo Malone London Sea Salt & Bergamot Worth Buying?
I think it is definitely worth smelling. If you already own Wood Sage & Sea Salt and absolutely adore it, I wouldn’t necessarily rush out and replace it. I still prefer Wood Sage & Sea Salt myself.
But if you want something with a similar fresh, coastal feeling and better longevity, Sea Salt & Bergamot is really interesting. It feels like a stronger, brighter and slightly more masculine cousin of Wood Sage & Sea Salt, rather than simply being another version of the same fragrance.
My advice? Definitely have a sniff. If you love really fresh, citrusy, almost sharp fragrances, I think there is a very good chance you’ll love it.
And if you’re a Wood Sage & Sea Salt devotee, you might either discover a new favourite, or have exactly the reaction I did and decide that the original still has your heart!
My Verdict
I think Jo Malone London Sea Salt & Bergamot is really lovely. It’s fresh, bright, clean and incredibly easy to wear, but it has enough of that mineral marine note and woody dry-down to stop it becoming just another citrus fragrance. For me, the biggest surprise was the longevity.
It lasts much longer than Wood Sage & Sea Salt on my skin, and I also think it has a stronger overall presence. It’s a little louder, a little brighter and, I would say, a little more masculine.
Wood Sage & Sea Salt is still my favourite Jo Malone London fragrance. I just absolutely adore it. But Sea Salt & Bergamot is definitely going to appeal to someone who wants that same fresh, coastal feeling with more citrus, more brightness and better staying power.
If that’s you, go and have a sniff.
Where to buy it
Jo Malone London Sea Salt & Bergamot starts at £58 and goes up to £125 depending on the size, and is available now via the links below:
Jo Malone London Sea Salt & Bergamot FAQs
What does Jo Malone London Sea Salt & Bergamot smell like?
Jo Malone London Sea Salt & Bergamot smells like bright, sparkling bergamot combined with a fresh mineral sea-salt accord and driftwood. To me, it has an airy citrus quality with a cool, slightly metallic marine character.
Is Jo Malone London Sea Salt & Bergamot unisex?
Yes. It is a unisex fragrance and works beautifully on both women and men. I personally think it has a slightly more masculine character than Wood Sage & Sea Salt.
Is Jo Malone London Sea Salt & Bergamot similar to Wood Sage & Sea Salt?
Yes, both have a fresh, coastal character, but they are different fragrances. Sea Salt & Bergamot is brighter, more citrusy and more noticeable, while Wood Sage & Sea Salt is softer and more understated.
Which lasts longer, Sea Salt & Bergamot or Wood Sage & Sea Salt?
For me, Sea Salt & Bergamot lasts significantly longer than Wood Sage & Sea Salt. Fragrance longevity varies between people, but I was particularly impressed by the staying power of Sea Salt & Bergamot.
Is Jo Malone London Sea Salt & Bergamot a summer fragrance?
Yes. The bright citrus and fresh marine notes make it particularly lovely for spring and summer, holidays and warm-weather days. I think it could also easily be worn all year round.
Is Jo Malone London Sea Salt & Bergamot masculine?
It is officially a unisex fragrance. Personally, I find it slightly more masculine than Wood Sage & Sea Salt because of its bright citrus, mineral and driftwood character, but I love wearing it myself.
What are the notes in Jo Malone London Sea Salt & Bergamot?
The key notes are bergamot, sea salt and driftwood.
Is Sea Salt & Bergamot better than Wood Sage & Sea Salt?
It depends on what you’re looking for. I personally prefer Wood Sage & Sea Salt because I love its soft, effortless character. However, Sea Salt & Bergamot lasts longer on me and has a brighter, stronger and more citrusy character.
Final Thoughts
If you love your fragrances fresh, bright, citrusy and clean, I think Jo Malone London Sea Salt & Bergamot is absolutely worth a sniff.
It has that gorgeous coastal freshness that Jo Malone London does so well, but with a brighter citrus opening and considerably more presence than I expected.
For me, it is the stronger, brighter and longer-lasting cousin of Wood Sage & Sea Salt. Would I swap my beloved Wood Sage & Sea Salt for it? Probably not. But would I happily wear Sea Salt & Bergamot all summer? Absolutely.