Every Le Labo Perfume, Reviewed
The Definitive Guide to Every Le Labo Perfume, by Personality Type
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When it comes to the fragrance world, few brands have been able to claim that coveted cult status. Le Labo is in that small field of elite perfumers, perhaps most well-known for the scent Santal 33 (if you don't know it by name, you'd definitely recognise the sandalwood-heavy smell). The brand was founded in 2006 by L'Oréal alums Fabrice Penot and Eddie Roschi — their first collection launched with 10 fragrances and one candle (which would later become the inspiration for the Santal 33 perfume).
Hand-blended perfumes that are individually mixed in the shops for each customer and personalized labels with the date and place of the formulation set the brand apart, as does a cute message written by the customer. Even after being acquired by beauty behemoth The Estée Lauder Companies in 2014, Le Labo has managed to hang on to its old-world, small-batch mentality — along with some damn good-smelling perfumes.
That being said, stepping into one of the stores (and choosing a signature scent in general) can be a tad overwhelming, so I did the down-and-dirty job of smelling for you. And I even went so far as to match each scent with a personality type or vibe you may be trying to capture. Ready? Read on for my review of all 17 scents from the current Le Labo Classic Collection.
Note: You may notice that Iris 39 and Oud 27 are not on this list. They are currently out of stock, and the brand does not have plans to restock at the moment.
Le Labo Ambrette 9: For the Botticelli Babe
Le Labo Ambrette 9 ($220)
Calling all soft girls: Ambrette 9 is here for your dreamy aesthetic. Sweet without being cloying, this formula is all about the juicy white pear. All you need to complete the vibe are delicate, long curls, a pink flush to the cheeks, and a plan to meet your secret lover in the rose garden.
Le Labo Bergamote 22: For Embracing Your F*ckboy Era
Le Labo Bergamote 22 ($220)
OK, I may be biased because I just got dumped by someone who wears Bergamote 22 . . . that being said, I know a lot of very hot people who wear it. And don't get me wrong, being in your f*ckboy era doesn't have to be a negative thing — f*ckboys are alluring for a reason. Bergamote 22 is subtle, clean, and leaves you wanting more in the sexiest way possible. Spritz and prepare to swipe right.
Le Labo Fleur D'Oranger 27: For Visiting the White Lotus (In Your Dreams)
Le Labo Fleur D'Oranger 27 ($220)
Fleur D'Oranger 27 is the height of Italian decadence. It's al fresco dining in an orange grove overlooking Lake Como. It's holding on tight to the rippling torso of some young Sicilian heartthrob as you speed through the winding streets on a cherry-red Vespa. It's bottomless ice-cold Negronis and luscious seafood towers. Smells like you're livin' the dream.
Le Labo Neroli 36: For the Wannabe Surfer Babe In All of Us
Le Labo Neroli 36 ($220)
If Kate Bosworth smelled like anything (other than zinc oxide and Sex Wax) in "Blue Crush," it would have been Neroli 36 — it's sunny and warm, but also a little spiky. A hint of salt, a dash of fresh orange blossom, and a bit of musky jasmine make this perfume the ultimate so-cool surfer chick we all wish we could be. Or maybe I'm just projecting . . . Either way, Neroli 36 totally rips, brah.
Le Labo Lys 41: For Falling Asleep On a Beach Lounger
Le Labo Lys 41 ($220)
Some people think Lys 41 is a classic bridal scent, but I'd argue it's better suited to the honeymoon. As someone who grew up on the beach, Lys 41 is wildly nostalgic; to me, it smells like a ridiculously chic version of sunscreen and virgin Pina Coladas. It's what I think Kramer pitched to Calvin Klein (IYKYK). I slather myself in this scent all summer long — I could honestly bathe in it. It's pure sunshine in a bottle and is best paired with a deep tan.
Le Labo Jasmin 17: For Embodying Quiet Luxury
Le Labo Jasmin 17 ($220)
Jasmin 17 is like if Gwyneth Paltrow and Amal Clooney had a baby and decided to distill it into a fragrance (sounds like something that would show up on Goop, amirite?). She's effortlessly sophisticated, loves a neutral, and is, in a word, rich. This scent will make you feel like several million bucks ($200 million, to be exact) without being overly vocal about it.
Le Labo Thé Matcha 26: For Making Your Ex Regret Their Choices
Le Labo Thé Matcha 26 ($220)
You know the feeling when you see your ex for the first time and you realise you won the breakup? Like, you're just radiating "I'm-cooler-than-you" energy? Thé Matcha 26 is what you want to be wearing in that moment. It's slightly cosy and toasty (reminding them of what they once had) but also mysterious and juicy (underlining your unattainableness). Thé Matcha 26 is unforgettable, just like you.
Le Labo Ylang 49: For Seeing You At the Wedding
Le Labo Ylang 49 ($220)
Of all the core Le Labo scents, IMO, Ylang 49 is the most femme. It's a whole bouquet of white flowers — scratch that — expensive white flowers that fill you up with a kind of sensory bliss. Ylang 49 is highly luxurious; it's essentially dripping in diamonds. It's the perfect match for the rock on your finger.
Le Labo Baie 19: For Pretending That's Just Your Natural Smell
Le Labo Baie 19 ($220)
Baie 19 is full-on Amanda Buffamonteezi - you know, the old roommate on "Friends" (played by the iconic Jennifer Coolidge) who claims, "It's not perfume, it's me, it's my natural scent!" Baie 19 is like that lingering grassy scent left behind after a sunshower — according to the brand, there's a word for this scent: petrichor. Baie 19 hints at being a perfume without totally admitting to it.
Le Labo Rose 31: For the Person Who Can't Be Defined
Le Labo Rose 31 ($220)
Rose 31 is ambiguous: is it sweet or musky? Is it classic or utterly modern? Fluidity is the name of Rose 31's game, and it refuses to be put in a box. It's unlike any other rose scent (pepper and cumin are part of its DNA) and dares you to find a rival to its complexity. This rose is beautiful, but also a little thorny, in the most seductive way.
Le Labo Patchouli 24: For the Person Who Just Finished "Daisy Jones and the Six"
Le Labo Patchouli 24 ($220)
We get it, you're in your Stevie Nicks era. But rather than going full-on nag champa incense sticks and resinous musk, Patchouli 24 gives you a more palatable version of hippie chic. It still gets to the core of classic patchouli oil but takes the scent out of the '70s with the addition of smoky birch. Janis Joplin would approve.
Le Labo Vetiver 46: For the National Merit Scholar Who Also Smokes
Le Labo Vetiver 46 ($220)
Let's just say you're a bit of a conundrum. You can give a deep-dive explanation of cloud technology off the top of your head, but also might be deeply stoned at any given moment — no one can really tell. Whatever, it works. Vetiver 46 is like that: it starts out almost overwhelmingly smoky and spicy (screaming "MANLY!") but just when you think you've got a handle on it, you get a whiff of warm, soothing amber and vanilla. It's a character, for sure.
Le Labo Labdanum 18: For Not Giving a F*ck
Le Labo Labdanum 18 ($220)
You run hot and aren't afraid to show it. In fact, it's why people love you. Labdanum 18 is here to support you in all your glorious intensity. It's giving Big Red spicy cinnamon meets gigantic bear hug — bold is your brand and you lean into it.
Le Labo Tonka 25: For Wrapping Yourself In Cashmere
Le Labo Tonka 25 ($220)
Mmm, Tonka 25 is just so cosy (and not just a little bit sensual), it makes me want to put on my nicest oversized cashmere sweater and curl up with a frothy cappuccino next to a roaring fire. Actually, swap the coffee for a large man and you've got more of a Tonka 25 situation. It'll take date night to the next level, whether you're solo or next to another warm body.
Le Labo Thé Noir 29: For Telling the World You're a Fashion Girlie
Le Labo Thé Noir 29 ($220)
I'm making a prediction: Thé Noir 29 is the new Santal 33. There, I said it. Like Santal 33, it's totally intoxicating; it's not too sweet, not too spicy, not too sandalwood-y, not too musky — juuust right. A mix of smoky black tea, pine needles, and fig, it's teed up to be the next cult classic fragrance. Be prepared for every street in NYC to smell faintly of it.
Le Labo Santal 33: For the Person With a Memory Box
Le Labo Santal 33 ($220)
Where to begin with Santal 33? There have been think pieces dedicated to unraveling its cult-status; you've probably dated someone who wears it; and/or it's come to define specific moments in the timeline of your life. The person who keeps wearing it may be a bit obsessed with nostalgia, and that's OK. It's a scent that transports you to another place or perhaps another person, and while it may be a little played out, it's still undeniably a damn good perfume.
Le Labo Another 13: For Exuding Pure S-E-X
Le Labo Another 13 ($220)
Is it weird to be sexually attracted to a scent? No. . . Right? Another 13 is just full-on pheromones; it begs for skin-to-skin contact. The brand describes it as an "addictive dirty potion" (cue the hot face emoji), grounded by ambroxyde, a synthetic animal musk, and rounded out by hypnotizing jasmine and moss. Wear it on date three, or anytime you wanna get lucky.
