As a longtime lover of Molton Brown‘s bath and body products, I was thrilled at the chance to provide an in-depth review of this iconic British brand. Over my many years as a consumer spanning their haircare, skincare, home fragrance and gifting ranges, I‘ve come to recognize what sets them apart from so many competitors.
Below I detail my own experiences with standout products, dive into comprehensive scent and ingredient guides across top sellers, compare in detail to other premium brands, break down their business operations and provide tips to shop Molton Brown most effectively, whether gifting or self-treating!
My History With Molton Brown
I first discovered Molton Brown during a trip to London in 2016. Wandering the streets of Mayfair, I popped into their flagship store and was instantly enthralled by the sophisticated yet playful branding. I loved reading about the founding story starting out in the back of a salon. The store staff sprayed the iconic Orange & Bergamot fragrance on my wrist and I was hooked – fresh, zesty citrus with a hint of spice truly evoked my memories of London summer days.
While the prices gave me pause initially, I decided to invest in the miniature Delicious Rhubarb & Rose gift set. At only $25 it included a shower gel, body lotion and hand cream allowing me to properly trial the range. The shower gel scent and silky lather impressed while the hand cream relieved dry skin beautifully.
When the set ran out, I took advantage of a holiday sale to restock my full sizes of the shower gel and hand cream. I‘m now on my 5th repurchase of both!
Below I share more thoughts on some beloved Molton Brown staples in my routine spanning bath and shower, body care, candles and gifting sets.
My Molton Brown Product Reviews
Best Shower Gel: Orange & Bergamot
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What I Love: This piquant citrus, herbaceous scent is instantly uplifting. The gel lathers luxuriously and leaves my skin clean, soft but not stripped or dry whatsoever. I alternate using it daily with more indulgent aromas like Delicious Rhubarb & Rose depending on my mood.
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Best For: All skin types including sensitive. Provides a gentle yet invigorating cleanse without irritation.
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Key Notes: Italian Bergamot, Sweet Orange Oil, Cardamom
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Price: $32 for 10 fl oz
Best Body Lotion: Delicious Rhubarb & Rose
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What I Love: The juicy rhubarb and gentle rose scent smells edible. What I appreciate most is how fast-absorbing the lotion is without any oily residue. My skin looks radiant and touchably soft all day. I smooth this on morning and night focusing on dry areas like knees, elbows and heels.
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Best For: Providing long-lasting hydration without clogging pores. Suitable for all skin types.
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Key Notes Rhubarb, Rose, Aloe Vera, Spun Sugar Accord
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Price: $40 for 10 fl oz
Best Hand Cream: Reed Diffuser – Heavenly Gingerlily
This is my favorite room scent from Molton Brown by far. I keep the white reed diffuser prominently on my bedroom dresser. When the scent starts to fade after 1 month I simply flip over the bottle to refresh. The ginger flower (a type of jasmine) smells exotic and sultry while the Tahitian Tiare flower offers a tropical fruit nuance.
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What I Love: Elegant floral aroma not too sweet or overpowering. Slowly fills the whole room. The monochrome bottle looks chic.
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Best For: Bedrooms, living rooms and offices. Transforms the ambience instantly.
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Key Notes Gingerlily, Tahitian Tiare flower, Jasmine Sambac
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Price $110 for a 200mL reed diffuser
Best Candle: Orange & Bergamot
I love having this candle to complete my collection of the signature scent. It fills any space with a sunny vibrance. Burns evenly and slowly too. The orange wax and minimalist jar fit effortlessly into both contemporary and traditional home decors.
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What I Love: True-to-life zesty orange bergamot aroma for 45 hours of burn time. No smokiness.
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Best For: Kitchens, living rooms, bathrooms. Makes a wonderful hostess or housewarming gift.
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Key Notes: Bergamot, Bitter Orange, Vetiver
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Price: $38 for a 22 oz single-wick soy wax candle
Best Gift Set: The Classics
This makes for the ultimate introduction to Molton Brown with their 3 pillar scents featured as shower gels. I love the high quality magnetic closure box too. Festive enough for Christmas or luxurious for a bridal party. The mini 50mL sizes are TSA-friendly for travel.
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What‘s Inside: Orange & Bergamot, Cool Basil & Black Pepper, Bushukan Citrus Infusion Shower Gels
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Price: $55 for a 3 x 1.69 fl oz gift set
How Molton Brown Compares to Popular Competitors
I decided to compare Molton Brown against Jo Malone, Diptyque and L’Occitane by reviewing available product ranges, pricing, USPs and more.
| BRAND | PRIMARY PRODUCTS | FRAGRANCE PROFILES | PRICING | STAND OUT FACTORS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Molton Brown | Bath & shower gels, lotions, hand care, candles, fragrance | Distinctive i.e. Rhubarb & Rose, Coastal Cypress & Sea Fennel | $$-$$$ | High quality lathering & hydrating formulations, memorable scents |
| Jo Malone | Candles, diffusers, hand care, fragrance | Light, floral, fruity i.e. English Pear & Freesia, Peony & Blush Suede | $$$ | Understated scent stories, brand prestige, gifting appeal |
| Diptyque | Candles, diffusers, fragrance | Woodsy, spicy and floral i.e. Figuier, Roses, Feu De Bois | $$-$$$ | Beautifully crafted candles as decorative objects, Parisian heritage |
| L’Occitane | Body lotions, hand cream, soaps | Mostly floral focused on key ingredients like almond, lavender, cherry blossom | $-$$ | High performing nourishing formulas using Provence, France ingredients |
Molton Brown has carved out a distinctive niche fusing quality formulations with sensory escapism across bath, body and home fragrance. Their excellent gifting appeal sets them apart further.
While Jo Malone and Diptyque edge ahead on pure fragrance breadth and artistic branding respectively, Molton Brown holds its own as an affordable luxury brand compared to the competition. L’Occitane comes closest in pricing but has a narrower product range by comparison.
Analyzing The Molton Brown Portfolio In-Depth
Diving deeper into the full Molton Brown lineup, I wanted to highlight hero ingredients, scent profiles and my own thoughts on some star products.
Bath & Shower
Creating enticing aromas to envelope you while bathing and showering is core to the Molton Brown ethos. They use high quality essential oils and botanical extracts for beautifully nurturing yet temptation bath and shower gels guaranteed to awaken the senses.
| PRODUCT | TOP NOTES | WHAT I LOVE | SKIN TYPE | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange & Bergamot Shower Gel | Italian Bergamot, Bitter Orange, Vetiver | Fresh, clean and mood boosting | All | $32 |
| Delicious Rhubarb & Rose Shower Gel | Rhubarb, Rose, Aloe Vera | Sweetly tart and floral, super hydrating | Normal, Dry & Sensitive | $32 |
| Heavenly Gingerlily Bath & Shower Gel | Ginger Lily, Jasmine, Tahitian Tiare Flower | Exotic, sultry, romantic | All | $32 |
| Coastal Cypress & Sea Fennel Bath & Shower Gel | Sea Fennel, Cypress, Lemon | Crisp, herbaceous, Mediterranean escapism | All | $32 |
| Fiery Pink Pepper Bath & Shower Gel | Amazonian Lime, Pink Peppercorn, Nutmeg | Zingy, warmly spicy to energize you | Normal & Dry | $32 |
Hand Care
While Molton Brown first launched with haircare, today they‘re renowned for ultra-rich hand washes and creams. Using premium ingredients like sweet almond oil, aloe vera and allantoin, these products smell good enough to eat! I‘ve found the pumps dispense just the right amount to get fully cleansed and hydrated hands in one application.
| PRODUCT | TOP NOTES | HERO INGREDIENTS | WHAT I LOVE | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange & Bergamot Hand Wash | Bergamot, Bitter Orange, Lemon | Sweet Almond Oil, Aloe Vera | Foaming citrusy gel, feels gentle | $32 |
| Delicious Rhubarb & Rose Hand Cream | Rhubarb, Rose, Vanilla | Glycerin, Apple Water, Rose Wax | Supremely nourishing, fast-absorbing, sweet scent | $30 |
| Japanese Orange Hand Lotion | Yuzu, Green Tea, Cedarwood | Glycerin, Allontain | Fresh yet woodsy aroma, non-greasy finish | $22 |
| Green, Green Grass Hand Scrub | Green Grass Accord, Mint Leaf | Cane Sugar, Sweet Almond Oil | Invigorating exfoliation revealing soft hands | $22 |
Fragrance
While many Molton Brown fans discover them through bath & body ranges first, their master perfumers also design exquisite fine fragrances. Most sport the brand‘s signature vibrant, unexpected scent profiles not commonly found among traditional perfumers.
| FRAGRANCE | KEY NOTES | WHAT I LOVE | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange & Bergamot | Bergamot, Cedarwood, Nutmeg | Crisp, unisex citrus with warmth | $100 |
| Delicious Rhubarb & Rose | Rhubarb, Rose, Lychee | Fruity floral gourmand | $128 |
| Milk Musk | Dairy Accord, Orris, Cashmeran | Comforting with intrigue | $150 |
| Tobacco Absolute | Tobacco Flower, Vanilla Bourbon, Peruvian Balsam | Spicy, musky, exotic tobacco | $190 |
| Pink Pepperpod | Grapefruit, Baie Rose, Cedarwood | Zesty, spicy addictiveness | $128 |
Home Fragrance
Having fallen in love with Molton Brown‘s bathing rituals and body care, I find their reed diffusers and candles round out my top scent stories allowing that signature fragrance to follow me around the house.
The diffusers provide subtle aroma for up to 2 months while the soy wax candles have impressive 45 hour burn times with minimal smokiness. Beautiful vessels to gift or display in any space.
| HOME SCENT | FRAGRANCE INSPIRATION | KEY NOTES | FOR | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange & Bergamot Reed Diffuser | Mediterranean orange groves | Sweet orange oil, Italian bergamot, lemon | Refreshing rooms | $110 |
| Coastal Cypress & Sea Fennel Candle | Windswept British coastline | Cypress, sea fennel, nutmeg | Bathrooms, bedrooms | $38 |
| Heavenly Gingerlily Scented Candle | Exotic tropical flowers | Gingerlily, jasmine, Tahitian tiare | Date nights, living rooms | $38 |
| Tobacco Absolute Reed Diffuser | Fine Cuban cigars | Tobacco flower, cedarwood, vanilla | Dens, offices, man caves | $95 |
Tips for Shopping With Molton Brown
As a long time repeat customer, I‘ve gathered many learnings on how to shop smartly with Molton Brown whether treating myself or buying gifts.
Here is my advice for new customers:
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Subscribe to emails and follow their social media for first access to new product launches, seasonal gift sets and exclusive offers
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Click & Collect online orders from physical stores to avoid shipping fees
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Buy the $55 The Classics gift set first to trial 3 signature scents
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Look out for holiday value sets to stock up on multiple minis
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Add minis to cart alongside full sizes to maximize free shipping minimums
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Shop early for Christmas gifts to get desired products before sell outs
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To layer scents: use shower gels first then apply the matching body lotion after and dab matching perfume as the final flourish
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Invest in the 300mL sizes for shower gels and hand washes for the very best value (and gifts for eco-conscious friends!)
About The Molton Brown Business
Diving into the inner workings of the company itself, Molton Brown employs over 600 staff globally and reported revenues of £117 million (~$150 million) in 2021. They have product development labs in London alongside a dedicated fragrance house.
While born in England, today Molton Brown has significant markets across the Middle East, Asia Pacific and North America with over 40 branded stores across the world in destinations like Dubai, Singapore and Toronto.
At the manufacturing level, 85% of ingredients are sustainably sourced including 100% recycled plastic in packaging alongside carbon neutral production and ethical palm oil sourcing accredited by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).
Final Thoughts on Why I‘m a Molton Brown Ambassador
If you can‘t already tell, I am wholeheartedly a Molton Brown fangirl and proud ambassador. Their distinctive personality shines through across uniquely tempting fragrances and standout formulations you simply won‘t find elsewhere.
As a values-driven Gen Z consumer, I also applaud their commitments to ethical sourcing and sustainability from ingredients through to packaging.
While the price tag is undoubtedly at the luxury end, the sublime sensory experiences Molton Brown offers make every penny worthwhile for me. Their products leave me and my home feeling cared for while transporting me to blissful places with long-lasting fragrances epitomizing affordable luxury treat yourself moments.
