But it all began over 20 years ago when Jo, working by day as a florist and a facialist in the evening and developed her own moisturiser using vitamin E as the key active ingredient. It very quickly became a must-have product and soon after the Jo Malone story became internationally renowned.

Given the popularity of the original Vitamin E cream, it's amazing that it has taken so long for a body version to make an appearance. But now we have Vitamin E Body Balm (£50 - 185ml) and it's been worth the wait. The signature ingredient, vitamin E (which as a powerful anti-oxidant helps protect the skin from the damaging effects of the environment) is the bit that you don't really notice, as it does its job rather quietly.

What you are aware of as you dip your fingers into the sleek black pot, is the rich cocktail of additional ingredients. The blend of avocado – a ntaurally rich emollient – wheat germ oil, sweet almond oil and apricot kernel oil, combine to create a buttery soft, beautiful-smelling, luxurious-feeling cream. There's also a smidgeon of calendula in there, which is known for its soothing properties – so perfect on wind-blown or sun-exposed skin.

The Body Balm is an incredibly concentrated moisturiser, so seems to have an almost instantaneous, deep-down nourishing effect on dry, rough skin. It absorbs quite quickly, but the plumped-up softness it gives to even the most stubbornly dry places – like skins and upper arms – lasts all day, as does the great Jo Malone scent.

www.jomalone.co.uk