The British perfumer Jo Malone has said she is “surprised and very sad” after being sued for more than £200,000 in damages over the use of her name on fragrances she created for the fashion chain Zara.
The legal action was first reported last month, when it emerged that New York-based Estée Lauder Companies was taking proceedings against Malone. The multinational owns brands including M.A.C, Bobbi Brown, Estée Lauder and Jo Malone London.
According to the company, the fragrance entrepreneur has infringed trademarks by using her name in connection with the Zara collaboration. Estée Lauder Companies claims the arrangement breaches a long-standing naming agreement.
The dispute centres on fragrances linked to Zara and the use of Malone’s name in the marketing or branding of those products. The case has drawn attention because of Malone’s long association with the fragrance industry and the commercial significance of the Jo Malone name.
Malone’s public reaction to the lawsuit was measured but emotional. She said she was surprised by the action and said it made her very sad. The comments come as the legal dispute moves forward between the perfumer and the company that owns Jo Malone London.
Estée Lauder Companies has not only argued that its trademarks were infringed, but also that the use of Malone’s name on the Zara fragrances violated an existing agreement that had governed how the name could be used. The company’s claim sets up a dispute over brand identity, naming rights and the commercial use of a personal name that has become closely linked with premium fragrance.
Jo Malone is one of the best-known names in British perfume. Her name has become a major brand in its own right, both through her earlier work and through Jo Malone London, which is now owned by Estée Lauder Companies. That connection makes the current legal dispute particularly notable, especially given the claim that the issue concerns the use of her own name on products she created outside the Estée Lauder group.
The case highlights the complex relationship between personal identity and brand ownership in the fashion and beauty industries, where names can carry both creative and commercial value. For now, the matter remains a legal one, with Estée Lauder Companies pursuing damages and Malone expressing surprise and sadness at the decision to sue.
