Helen Mirren's go-to perfume offers a subtle, citrusy scent that's so chic for spring

Helen Mirren's perfume of choice is as elegant as you'd expect from the actor - and deserves a spot in your scent collection...

Helen Mirren is pictured with a long bob hairstyle and wearing a black top and pink-red lipstick whilst attending the 37th Annual American Cinematheque Awards Honoring Helen Mirren, Kevin Goetz And Screen Engine at The Beverly Hilton on February 15, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California/ in a beige and blue gradient sunset-like template
(Image credit: Getty Images/Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Looking for a new signature this spring/summer season? Helen Mirren's perfume is the perfect blend of tangy fruits and delicate, leafy greens that smells "gorgeous," according to the star herself...

When it comes to selecting a scent from among the list of best long-lasting perfumes, it can be helpful to go by recommendation, especially when the said recommendation comes from Dame Helen Mirren. And as it happens, the actor is currently enjoying a blend developed by none other than Jo Malone - who as a brand, houses several of the best perfumes for women in their collection.

Mirren's go-to fragrance though is perhaps one Jo Malone perfume that may not have crossed your radar yet but with its warm, zingy and herbaceous notes, we'd wager it'll soon be a firm favourite in your springtime rotation...

The 'natural' and subtle Jo Malone scent Helen Mirren loves

So what is this fabled scent you ask? Sharing the contents of her beauty bag (or "swagger bag" as Helen Mirren dubs it) in a video for Harper's Bazaar, the actor revealed that Jo Malone's Blackberry and Bay cologne is her current go-to. She said: "My perfume, which is a Jo Malone, I love all the Jo Malone perfumes, they're wonderful. This is Blackberry and Bay - lovely."

Mirren then went on to describe it as 'gorgeous' before adding, "You don't overpower anyone with it, they're just sort of natural, human-somehow... human perfumes, if you know what I mean? Not too heavy."

Blackberry and Bay features a minimalistic blend of juicy blackberry and subtle but aromatic bay leaves, which are then grounded by rich cedarwood, adding a warmth and intensity to the fruity top notes. It's botanical and slightly heady but as Mirren explains, in no way overpowering.

If you're someone who favours grown-up fruity perfumes or gravitates toward lingering woody notes, this could very well be the spring/summer scent you've been searching for. Equally, the Barbie star described it (and Jo Malone perfumes in general) as smelling very human, so if you're a lover of skin scents or more subtle, hard-to-pin-down fragrances, Blackberry and Bay may also strike all the right notes with you.

Plus, for £55 for 30ml (or £118 for 100ml if you're planning to make it a permanent addition to your perfume shelf) it's very affordable for such a premium-smelling scent.

Our 3 similar fruity and floral picks

In case you're already a fan of Jo Malone's Blackberry and Bay cologne or perhaps want to extend your fruity and fresh scent collection even further, we've rounded up a few other fragrances to try...

Naomi Jamieson
Digital Beauty Writer

Naomi is a Digital Beauty Writer from woman&home, where she covers everything from skincare to fragrance but specialises, particularly, in makeup and nail trends. Through her work, Naomi gets to share her trend expertise and share her own shopping recommendations and product reviews. Previously, she worked as a Lifestyle News Writer for My Imperfect Life magazine, where she used her savvy for TikTok to bring readers the latest beauty buzzwords, fashion movements and must-have products. 

Before that, Naomi split her time between both GoodTo and My Imperfect Life, whilst training for her Gold Standard diploma in Journalism with the NCTJ, for which she earned a Distinction. Interestingly though, Naomi actually has a background in design, having studied illustration at Plymouth University but leapt into the media world in 2020, after always having a passion for writing. Now, when she isn’t reporting on the best perfumes and latest beauty releases, you can find her drinking copious cups of coffee, drawing and probably online shopping...