Jo Malone ‘surprised and sad’ after being sued for £200,000 for using her name on fragrances

Jo Malone in 2016. The perfumer sold her fragrance brand in 1999 in a deal under which she was blocked from using her name. Photograph: Richard Pohle/RICHARD POHLE

The British perfumer Jo Malone has said she is “surprised and very sad” after being sued for more than £200,000 in damages for using her name on fragrances she created for the fashion chain Zara.

It emerged last month that New York-based multinational Estée Lauder Companies, which owns brands M.A.C, Bobbi Brown, Estée Lauder and Jo Malone London, was taking legal action, claiming the fragrance entrepreneur infringed trademarks.