I grew up in a council house & was my family’s breadwinner at 11 – then founded two billion-dollar brands
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SHE created one of the most well-known perfumes in the world, but not many know Jo Malone's impressive backstory. Often described as an English scent maverick, the 61-year-old has created two billion-dollar brands, leaving a significant legacy in the industry.
![[Jo Malone speaking at an event.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/founder-jo-loves-jo-malone-613272204.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
However, her journey was far from easy, having grown up in a council house and becoming the family breadwinner at the tender age of 11. Speaking on Abbey Clancy’s podcast Exhibit A, Jo Malone CBE shared surprising insights into how she managed to build two enormous businesses despite starting with nothing.
![[Camilla, Queen Consort, at a Medical Detection Dogs reception.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/reception-majesty-met-clients-medical-880921995.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Jo, who considers herself a ‘scent artist and a survivor,’ says: “What I love the most is that my name is very famous, but I’m not. So I am able to live this incredible life. “Sometimes I might have people recognise me. “But my name is more famous than my face, and I think that is a really wonderful privilege to have.”.
![[A hand holding a Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede scented candle.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/pov-male-hand-shopping-new-965501402.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Jo grew up in a council house, in Bexleyheath, London and describes her family as similar to the British sitcom The Royal Family. Speaking to Abbey, she says: “I had two very creative parents. “My dad was the most amazing artist, and he would paint in our sitting room, there would always be an architect's board up, and he would be painting and all the brushes.”.
![[Jo Malone, founder of Jo Loves, speaking at a Women in Business event.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/jo-malone-founder-jo-loves-166662021.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
She continues: “We lived in a two up, two down on a council estate. “Whenever I say that, and go round the world telling my story, everyone assumes I must have lived in a Downtown Abbey estate. “And it’s like no, it was very much a two up and two down.
![[Woman speaking into a microphone.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/founded-two-billion-dollar-brands-965499478.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
