Jo Malone CBE grew up in south-east London and left school at 13 to care for her mother. She is the founder and creative director of the luxury fragrance brand Jo Loves. She previously founded, and sold, Jo Malone London and left the brand in 2006.
In 2023, Jo moved to the Middle East to seek out adventure. She created a new company in the region and launched a drinks business, Jo Vodka, in 2025.
***
What’s the last treat you bought for yourself?
A Me+Em co-ord. I love it; it’s chocolate brown and white silk, wonderful big palazzo pants and a beautiful shirt, so when I wear it together it looks like a jumpsuit.
Silk wide-leg trouser co-ord
£690 at Me+Em***
Where do you buy your food from?
I love chicken breast with asparagus and Parma ham from Waitrose, and hummus, taramasalata, vegetables and fruit from Marks & Spencer. I always treat myself to whole flesh nectarines and sunflowers when I’m there.
I also love shopping at smaller shops. Jago’s butcher in Chelsea, London, does the most amazing chicken and apricot sausages, and wild boar, which is a family favourite for Saturday lunch with roasted peppers, onions, hot bread and a lovely glass of cold red wine. The Chelsea fishmonger has the best crab cakes you have ever tasted in your life, and he will prepare all your fish! Ottolenghi for salads.
Easy-to-cook asparagus and prosciutto chicken breasts
£6.95 at WaitroseM&S taramasalata
£1.75 at Ocado***
What’s the best present you’ve given – and received?
I donated funds to an elephant conservation project in the Thula Thula wildlife reserve: 12 rogue elephants were rescued and have now formed a herd and have lots of land. They can do so much with such little money. I was rewarded with a little baby hippo who was named Jo!
And a Tiffany star from Gary [Jo’s husband, Gary Willcox]. He bought it for me one Christmas, and I wear it every day. It reminds me how lucky and privileged I am in life, and that my family love me very much.
***
What’s your favourite online store?
I’ve got two: Sous Chef, a foodie website, which has the best ingredients from all over the world: from salts to balsamics, spices to olive oils. If I’m cooking, I always have a look there.
And Camilla – an Australian designer. Living in Dubai, I go on to the Australian website, and never fail to buy something. It’s much cheaper on the Australian website than in the UK.
Kalios petimezi balsamic vinegar
£14.99 at Sous Chef***
What’s your favourite bricks-and-mortar shop?
Ikea. I love wandering through and finding things I can put together and make and get creative with. I love the gingerbread cookies and the food section at Christmas, and the kitchen gadgets.
Ginger thins
£3.95 at Ikea (in store only)***
What’s the gadget you use most often?
A small Dyson vacuum cleaner; it plugs in and is good for cleaning up after lunch or dinner. We have wooden floors rather than carpets, and it’s brilliant for a quick tidy up.
Steamer – love it. Not only do I steam my clothes, but I like my bed steamed every day so the sheets are fresh and clean.
Dyson Gen5detect cordless vacuum cleaner
£599 at Currys £599.99 at DysonClothes steamer
£24.99 at John Lewis £25 at Argos***
What’s the purchase you regret the most?
An electric car because we don’t live in the UK any more. It’s not about the car [itself], it’s more about the cost of it, and the fact that we sold it for much less than we bought it for. But at least we did the right thing for a small period of time. I don’t want a car at all: bus, bike, scooter, tube are all ways of getting to my destination now.
***
What’s the thing(s) you get delivered?
Wine, bed linen (Ava Innes is my current favourite), water, toiletries and olive oil – this is more important than anything; I buy 20 bottles at a time.
Merino wool bed blanket
From £250 at Ava Innes From £250 at EtsyZaytoun olive oil
£15.25 at Oxfam***
Where do you buy your underwear?
M&S – I love four in a pack! But I also love the Eres swimsuits that double up as a body.
Swimwear
£350 at Eres***
What would you buy with £20 – and £200?
£20 – a glass of wine and a croque monsieur. £200 – theatre tickets or a movie night with treats.
***
What’s your ‘saved search’ on eBay/Vinted?
I don’t have one!
***
What item do you buy on repeat?
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream, turmeric pills, vitamin D pills, Chanel lip gloss, beer and olive oil.
Charlotte’s Magic Cream, 30ml
£54 at Charlotte Tilbury £54 at Cult BeautyChanel Rouge Coco gloss
From £34 at Sephora £37 at Boots***
How do you make your coffee at home?
Nespresso machine – we love all the different pods.
Nespresso Vertuo Next coffee pod machine
£165 at John Lewis £149 at Amazon***
What’s your biggest splurge?
Every year we do a family road trip, and this year it was Italy. We did everything: cooking courses, wine tastings, lovely dinners, beautiful hotels – it was a trip of a lifetime, all in just under a week. We are very much about experiences rather than things.
***
And what everyday item do you scrimp on?
I cannot bear food being thrown away. If I’m in a restaurant, I will always take away whatever I can’t eat, and we always have leftovers. I will make meals from nothing.
***
And what’s your greatest vintage find?
I found a beautiful golden butterfly necklace in Italy. The work on it is stunning. It was just a one-off in a little shop, and I’m very happy it’s mine.
* * *
Don’t buy anything until you’ve read the Filter, the Guardian’s home for truly independent product reviews and recommendations. Whether you’re after rigorous tests or shopping inspo, affordable gifts or advice on how to make your belongings last longer, we’re here to help you make smarter, more sustainable choices.
The Filter is packed with trustworthy buying advice on everything from coffee machines to hiking boots, mascara to secateurs. So visit us today and start buying better and smarter, and wasting less.
Explore the Filter
