Today we’ve invited Alexis Wolfer, founder of The Beauty Bean to tell us about one of her all-time favorite little luxuries.
The Little Luxury: Jo Malone: The Art of Fragrance Combining

Relationship status: Jo and I have been casually dating for a long time, exclusively for about a year. Well, “exclusively” is a slight exaggeration. We’re in a relationship, a serious one, but I do occasionally have casual flings here and there with Stella McCartney, Chloe, and Bond No. 9. (Shhh, don’t tell Jo, she’d be offended – and at the end of the day, she is my true love.)

How it works: Unlike many perfumes that are designed to be worn on their own, Jo Malone’s colognes are complex enough to be worn by themselves, yet also uniquely afford you the opportunity to create your own bespoke signature scent. Don’t worry – no technical training required. Just spray on one cologne (or lather on one of their lusciously scented bath and body products), let it dry, and then spray a different fragrance on top.

Advice for the novice: Ok, so not all of the fragrances pair well together. And while a dab of rubbing alcohol will help dissipate the cacophonous combos that could be, my advice for first timers is to stick with Jo Malone’s Fragrance Combining Menu – at least at first. (Although I have to say that my current go-to combo is not on their menu: Orange Blossom and Pomegranate Noir.)

Why it’s worth the splurge: While the 30 mL bottles are $55 at JoMalone.com – and you do need at least 2 in order to appreciate the marvels of mixing – if my math skills serve me right, buying 3 fragrances that all blend well together actually gives you 7 possible cologne combinations, making it quite the deal.

Biggest bonus: For every additional bottle you buy, you add exponentially to your collection of possible scents.

The only downside (because no relationship is perfect): You’ll want them all. I do.

Hot Stone Scale: 6 out of 6 (because 10 was not an option)

This Little Luxury Report was brought to you by: Alexis Wolfer, The Beauty Bean