Vacationing in the Maldives is dreamy enough, but Naladhu Private Island ups the ante by collaborating with fragrance brand Jo Loves to unveil a unique, immersive and — need we say — thoroughly luxurious villa experience
There are essentially two types of vacationers: those who want to do nothing, and those who want to do everything. Thankfully, the latest offering by Naladhu Private Island in the Maldives allows you the luxury of both. Located in the South Malé Atoll, which is just half an hour by speedboat from Velana International Airport (doing away with the need for a pricey seaplane ride), Naladhu Private Island recently made waves in the hospitality and beauty spheres by being the first resort in the world to debut the Green Orange & Coriander amenities by Jo Loves.
A bodu beru drummer waiting to welcome guests
Becoming Jo 2.0
But first, the backstory. Beauty industry watchers know how Jo (it is tricky to publish her full name due to legal constraints) founded her original, eponymous brand in 1990 to critical acclaim, before selling it to Estée Lauder in 1999. Following the sale, she remained with the cosmetics conglomerate as creative director before eventually parting ways completely in 2006. A non-compete agreement had been put in place, preventing Jo from creating a new fragrance or skincare line for five years.
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So, when the time was up, a new fragrance and lifestyle brand, jauntily called Jo Loves, was duly launched. After all, one of her most famous quips is: “Designing fragrance is who I am. It makes my heart beat.” And what is a heart for if not to beat for the things it loves?
Jo’s reputation obviously preceded her and things quickly took off, as predicted. Today, the Jo Loves flagship store is entrenched in the heart of London’s posh Belgravia, while her products can be found all over the world — in all the top shops (Space NK, Harvey Nichols and Sephora, among others) and the toniest hotels; from The Goring in London (where Kate Middleton famously spent a night before becoming the Duchess of Cambridge) to the Park Lane New York.
The hotel raising the bar by quite a bit, however, is not a big, swanky property in a major capital city but a bijou, 20-key resort in the middle of the Indian Ocean. But then again, if you have visited Naladhu Private Island, you would not be surprised. Those who opt for a discreet but divine brand of hospitality would set great store by Naladhu’s brand of barefoot luxury, which combines rustic elegance with the precious feeling of being far away from the world — and yet completely at home.
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Home away from home
To celebrate being first in the world to debut Jo Loves’ Green Orange & Coriander treats for its guests, Naladhu has gone a few steps further with the Jo Loves House. Offering a singularly immersive experience, one of Naladhu’s 13 luxury ocean houses (the brand prefers to name its expansive villas as such, as having its guests feel at home is top priority) was commandeered for this purpose. Also called House 12 or Thanburu, named after the beach morning glory that grows on its grounds, the 300 sq m Jo Loves House is sprawling, complete with a private swimming pool and oceanfront terrace (with sunrise views), and can comfortably accommodate two adults and two children.
Soak or swim, the choice is deliciously yours
But first, let us not forget the Naladhu welcome. In typical Maldivian fashion, guests are met at the jetty and greeted by the rousing beat of the bodu beru drum. Less typical is Naladhu’s bespoke touches, such as walking on freshly-scattered rose petals all the way to the villa while sipping from a young coconut, or the striking of a gong to officially signify that the vacation has well and truly begun.
To those with an ear for languages, it would seem that Naladhu — nala (beautiful) and dhu (little island) in the Maldivian language of Dhivehi — is most appropriately named.
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Circumnavigating it takes less than half an hour and it combines the wild waves of the great ocean to one side and the serenity of a picture-perfect lagoon to the other. Both a kuwaanu (storyteller) and houseboy is assigned to be at your beck and call throughout the stay; the latter ensures everything is spick and span, the former in charge of making moments as magical as possible, and whose tasks might include securing a private beach for a picnic or to arrange a special sound healing session to ensure that you leave — not just rested — but reinvigorated.
The main difference between Naladhu’s houses and the Jo Loves House is a matter of colour, plus a few swish little extras. Accented with verdant splashes — from cushions to bed runners — to recall the signature notes of green orange and coriander, accompanying in-room canapés are inspired likewise. Even the pool towels sport cheerful green and white stripes. Guests are also gifted a 50ml Jo Loves Green Orange & Coriander fragrance, Fragrance Paintbrush (the nifty device, one of the brand’s bestsellers, smoothly applies aromatic gel directly onto skin) and a copy of Jo Malone: My Story.
Despite the paradisiacal setting in the Maldivian tropics, Green Orange & Coriander was, in fact, inspired by a snowy day in New York’s Central Park, where Jo and her family had sought refuge in a brasserie. The scent now encapsulates that cosy, wintry moment, of being surrounded by loved ones as the aroma of coriander comes wafting from the kitchen. In short, warm and uplifting! Apart from the full array of Jo Loves amenities on tap, almost all of which are bottled in refillable dispensers made from OceanBound material, you may also ask your kuwaanu to run you a bath using Jo Loves’ Pomelo (the first fragrance under her new label) sels de bain, before retreating to the shower space that doubles up as a private steam room.
“I am thrilled to see Green Orange & Coriander launch at Naladhu Private Island in the Maldives,” says the fragrance designer. “The scent holds so many treasured family memories for me in New York City with my husband and son, Gary and Josh, many years ago. I hope it can bring the same love, warmth and laughter to everyone staying on the island.” As the Jo Loves House by Naladhu experience is all about togetherness and quality time with loved ones, a special Geepas popcorn machine is also provided, ensuring easy and appropriate snacking for movie nights.
The Jo Loves House experience extends beyond the villa’s luxurious confines — all the way to the beach, where a private cabana and a pair of sunloungers await, again differentiated by striking shades of green. Gilding the entire Jo Loves House experience further is a complimentary 60-minute signature massage, all-day breakfast, and dinner at The Living Room, Naladhu’s main restaurant; a coral planting session; a private sunset cruise with gourmet canapés on board the resort’s Sunseeker yacht; and snorkelling with rays and nurse sharks.
“It’s been exciting to watch the transformation of Naladhu’s Ocean House into the Jo Loves House, which elevates our guest experience even further,” says Michael Parker, complex general manager of Naladhu Private Island. “Our team continuously strives to ensure guests leave the island with memories they will cherish and share for years to come.”
Swimming with the sharks
One of the most exhilarating experiences you can have while staying at Naladhu
Not limited to those staying at the Jo Loves House, any guest of Naladhu Private Island can sign up for a snorkelling experience with nurse sharks. Operated by Aquafanatics, a premium dive and watersports centre with multiple locations throughout the Maldives, the two-hour-long experience begins with a 30-minute speedboat ride from the resort to Fushi Dhiggaru Falhu. Your kuwaanu would have already enquired about your shoe size prior, so as to have your fins and mask all ready for the expedition.
For those who worry about triggering a bout of galeophobia (the fear of sharks), nurse sharks are famously docile. To assuage your fears even further, nurse sharks have little mouths (no fear about big, wide-open Jaws-like traps then) which lie just under their chins for sucking and gobbling up small prey such as crabs, sea urchins and shrimp. Although they are massive (typically 2.5m to 3m long), nurse sharks are sociable and non-aggressive, while their whisker-like barbels — which help them detect prey on the ocean floor — make them appear less threatening, comical even.
As the area attracts several boats that sometimes dump fish scraps to ensure their motley crew of holidaymakers get a glimpse of at least one finned creature, other marine animals have cottoned on that there’s food (and fun) to be had regularly. So while nurse sharks are the main highlight, it is common to find the waters teeming with other opportunistic reef fish as well as several varieties of rays. Turtles, however, are a rarer sight.
The best bit? It does not end once you are recalled back to the boat. Always keep your eyes peeled when on boat rides, as it is not uncommon to spot pods of dolphins or, if it is your lucky day, a manta ray breaching.
The Naladhu x Jo Loves House collaboration will run until June 2026. A stay at the Jo Loves House is bookable with a minimum of four nights, with prices starting from US$2,000 ($2,565) per night on a half-board meal plan, inclusive of experiences for two (naladhu.com)
