Le Labo’s manifesto states that the future of luxury lies in craftsmanship, and we could not agree more. The brand has demonstrated the wonders natural ingredients can create over so-called explicit ingredients used by some other brands that cost hundreds and thousands of dollars.
The popularity of Le Labo does not only come from the unique appeal; the creators have truly made a stunning discovery into combining some of the most intrusive and delicate notes that will leave anyone that encounters you desiring for more.
In this article, we’ll discuss some of the most iconic, signature scents of this century from Le Labo that will captivate your senses.
Le Labo Scent Top Picks
- Most popular & best selling Le Labo scent: Santal 33
- Best smelling Le Labo scent: Fleur D’Oranger 27
- Best Le Labo scent for women: Rose 31
- Best Le Labo scent for men: Another 13
- Newest Le Labo scent: Rose 31
Watch our selection of the best Le Labo perfumes in this video:
These are the Top 10 Best Le Labo Scents Right Now
“The beauty of fragrance is that it speaks to your heart…and hopefully someone else’s” – Elizabeth Taylor.
Whether it’s to conquer the day or someone’s heart, the right fragrance can be an ally in any of your conquests. Here are the top 10 scents from Le Labo that are perfect for men and women.
1. Le Labo Santal 33
Santal 33 is Le Labo’s most iconic scent. It has a mild woody and aromatic fragrance that both men and women can wear with any attire. The genius behind the fragrance is Frank Voelki. Launched in 2011, it dons a rich, springy note which has been made fine in this signature scent of the brand.
The fragrance contains Virginia Cedar, papyrus, sandalwood, cardamom, leather, amber, iris, and violet. The initial silage is very strong, slowly diminishing into more complex in a note developed over time.
It has a smooth and sweet leathery smell and is a right pick for both men and women. Wear it in formal settings or pair it with your club attire – you will never go wrong.f
Talking about its packaging, it is classic and simplistic. The vintage labeling and glass case is a signature mark of Le Labo.
2. Le Labo Another 13
Another 13 is the child of collaboration between Another Mag and Le Labo. Twelve different ingredients make for a complex, rich scent with excellent silage. It is very long-lasting and perfect for long outings.
The scent contains ambrox as the middle note, which makes it sophisticated and layered. There is a slightly minty and woody note after the initial whiff. The scent is clean and sexy.
The silage of the scent can be described from moderate to enormous, and you will get layers after layers of complex notes as time passes.
It is an ideal pick for men and can be worn daily. As for the packaging, it has the same white label with vintage black lettering, which is the signature of the brand.
3. Le Labo Fleur D’Oranger 27
Launched in 2006, this unisex fragrance is perfect for urban men and women. It is a floral fragrance that was created by Francoise Caron. It has the sharpness and zing of orange peels, but the inner notes get more complex than that. You will smell the flowers but also the leaves and stems and the tree. Overall, it is incredibly fresh and unique – an unapologetic smell for the confident men or woman.
The scent contains the notes of lemon, orange blossom, petitgrain, and bergamot. The sillage of the fragrance is not very potent. A couple of hours after putting it on, it will become a very soft scent, so you might have to reapply as necessary.
Are you looking for a fragrance for an evening date? Simply choose this one, and you are ready to rock. Perfect for an evening date or short event.
Besides the iconic Le label packaging and vintage labeling, the fragrance itself comes in pale orange color, reflecting the scent perfectly.
4. Le Labo Bergamote 22
Daphne Bugey is the creator of this divine aroma. It is a woody unisex fragrance suitable for men and women, but the musk is perfect for men looking for a signature scent. It is in complex, multidimensional scent with a tinge of citrus for those who like a little touch of freshness in their scents.
Although the scent is unisex, the combination of amber, musk, and cedar mix is perfect for men who want a little finesse. If you plan to go to a date, meeting, or event, the bergamot will give your attire the perfect compliment.
The featured scents in this perfume are musk, grapefruit, Amber, orange blossom, petitgrain, bergamot, cedar, and vetiver. The sillage is soft to moderate and makes for an extremely elegant projection. The first hour is the high projection time, followed by three hours of projection within arm’s length. The total longevity of the scent lasts around 10 hours. But the performance can vary depending on the level of exposure and activities.
The packaging of Le Labo Bergamote 22 is lovely as usual, and you get the vintage vibe that is unique to the brand. You can buy small sample sizes for traveling requirements as well.
5. Le Labo Thé Noir 29
Thé Noir 29 is a strong scent for men who love the rustic, vintage vibes. Although many people speak about unexpected notes, such as dried tobacco to animalistic notes, the ingredients’ balance in this fragrance is unique and exquisite. The cedar and musk make for an excellent combination that is only enhanced by the other ingredients like fig, cedar, and black tea.
The fragrance is perfect for men who love drastic perfumes. It is excellent for pretty much any occasion. Even women can experience the magic of the Noir because the herbal freshness of the fragrance is addictive.
The performance of the fragrance is moderate to heavy. It is extremely powerful, and it is a long-lasting fragrance that will get you through the day.
The packaging is sleek, white with a silver cap that represents the elegance of the black tea.
6. Le Labo Tonka 25
This is another Daphne Bugey inspired scent that was created in 2018 and has become immortal in the history of the brand. As with the brand’s trend, this is another unisex fragrance that dominates conversations with the Atlas cedar notes. Styrax, Atlas Cedar, Tonka bean, vanilla, and orange blossom create an exquisite combination of scents. There is a slight powdery quality to the scent, with a woody hint.
For men or women, the Tonka 25 Eau de parfum is suitable for anyone. Considering that it does not last extensively, this is suitable for short events.
The fragrance has a medium performance and silage that develops over the first hour. By the end of the first hour, the true potential of the woody, nutty tonka bean comes out.
The packaging has a golden sheen to it, along with the trademark labeling and customization.
7. Le Labo Ylang 49
Are you heading out for a long day? Le Labo Ylang 49 is the perfect pick. Frank Voelkl is the note behind this scent, and it is an exquisite creation that is suitable for women. The fragrance was launched in 2015 and has an amazing dry down that lets the gardenia’s strength come out.
The smell is pleasant to women. It contains ylang-ylang as the base note, and others include Tahitian gardenia, oakmoss, patchouli, vetiver, benzoin, and sandalwood.
The sillage of the fragrance ranges from heavy to enormous. You can spray in the morning and still get compliments by the end of the evening.
The packaging is lightly golden, in a glass bottle that is customized with your name on the label.
8. Le Labo Rose 31
Daphne Bugey is the nose behind the Rose 31 scent. It was launched in 2006 and is another unisex option out of Le Labo that caters to both him and her. Many consider the smell to be on the sexier side with the hints of the rose and spicy wooden notes.
Ideal for women, the fragrance flaunts notes of musk, guaiac wood, labdanum, agarwood, olibanum, and, most importantly, rose. The sillage of the Eau de parfum is moderate. While it won’t last as long as the previous picks, it is still a strong performer that keeps developing the notes after hours.
It can be worn daily or on special events and comes in attractive packaging. Rose 31 is marked on the label with pride and craft. It has the same name customization option as well.
9. Le Labo Musc 25
This Frank Voelkl inspired, a golden bottle of wonder, not only contains some wondrous and nostalgic ingredients; it is also fresh, clean, and floral. While the floral notes settle, the labdanum is revealed, making Musc 25 a perfect unisex fragrance.
Some of the perfume’s prominent notes are lily of the valley, vetiver, cedar, rose, ambergris, musk, patchouli, and aldehydes.
Le Labo Musc 25 scent doesn’t have very strong sillage, which is expected considering it is aimed for finesse. That said, it is a perfect fragrance for fine dining or special occasions.
The silver cap strikes a contrast with the Musc 25 perfume’s gold elixir and makes it lucrative.
10. Le Labo Ambrette 9
From Michel Almairac, the Ambrette is a perfect unisex aroma that hints at a unique musk and fruit combination, with a very sublime floral undertone.
The scent exhibits notes of musk, aldehydes, ambrette, lemon, fruity notes, Amalfi, and amber. The silage of this scent is quite soft to barely moderate, depending on skin type and exposure. You can wear it daily or on special occasions.
Choosing Your Le Labo Scent
Linear and Nonlinear Fragrances
Some scents will remain the same from the moment you apply them to your skin to the moment they wear off. These perfumes are called linear fragrances. Other scents that are nonlinear will change and develop complex notes over time. Thus, choose a fragrance depending on your requirements. Le Labo fragrances are usually nonlinear and will create a complex aroma 4 hours after application.
Notes of the Fragrance
Top notes of fragrances are usually made of a light smell that immediately hits your nose once you apply it. This can last from any time between 15 minutes and two hours. The top note defines the main smell of the fragrance and can be fruity, woody, floral, spicy, and so on.
The middle note will last for almost three to five hours after application and contain some heavier notes like cinnamon, cloves, jasmine, and grass. The base note develops at last and can linger on your body for 10 hours or over. These notes can be bold such as tar, leather, smoke, moss, sandalwood, and mask.
Type of fragrance
Fragrance is a generic word for perfume. It comes in different forms and concentrations. In general, they fall into these categories:
Eau de Cologne – These fragrances are infused with 2 to 4% perfume oils blended with water or alcohol. They usually last for around 2 hours.
Eau de Toilette – A composition that is meant to be only spread lightly. There is 5 to 15% pure perfume dissolved into alcohol, which lasts for three hours.
Eau de Parfum – Eau de Parfum contains about 15 to 20% pure perfume essence and a single application last up to 8 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions on Le Labo Perfumes
How long do Le Labo perfumes last?
When kept in a cool, dark and protected environment, Le Labo perfumes will last for over 50 years.
Are Le Labo perfumes natural?
Le Labo fragrances are usually 80 to 85% synthetic.
Are Le Labo fragrances Unisex?
Most of the Le Labo perfumes are unisex. If you want something exclusively for men or women, you can go for some more masculine or feminine notes.
How much is Le Labo perfume?
The bottles can be anything from $40 to several hundred dollars.
Are Le Labo perfumes worth it?
Perfumes are a truly individual selection. What can feel iconic for one might not be suitable for the other. Le Labo fragrances come highly recommended by the fragrance community – both men and women.
Can you return Le Labo perfume?
Yes, but it depends on the store policy from where you purchased the Le Labo perfume and the condition of the return.
The Story of Le Labo
Fabrice Penot and Eddie Roschi are former L’Oreal Paris executives who started their fragrances in 2006. When they started up, they had a small collection of 10 fragrances and a single sandalwood candle. The brand’s cult fragrance, santal 33, comes from the Santa 26 candle, which almost did not get made. If that had not have happened, Le Labo would not be the brand it is today.
At the time, the brand did not yet have its signature scent, which gives it its name today. There was no santal 33. Ironically, both of these creators and inventive geniuses almost created this signature scent, and they did not feel this was one of the best fragrances. Instead of adding it to the existing collection, they created the santal 26 candles with it. They dropped every last penny they had into this santal 26 and made no sale for the first year.
It was not until they gave it away to the Gramercy Park Hotel that the guest started noticing the distinctive and unique smell of Santa 26 and started dropping by the store. And the rest was history.
In the first couple of years, the candle only represented almost 70% of revenue of the brand. Only then did these creative geniuses caught up with the idea of Santa 33, and we are forever grateful for that.
Ever since then, they have gone on to work with many iconic scents like Frank Voelkl, who is the inspiration behind santal 33. Today, this scnet has become so iconic; you cannot walk two steps into NYC without smelling it. The cult popularity of the brand comes from this fragrance only.
Later in 2014, Estee Lauder companies acquired Le Labo for about $60 million. Both creators are still involved with the brand and work with other designers to create new scents.
Final Thoughts on Le Labo Fragrance
Perfumes have a way to circumvent your visual appearance. That is why picking the right fragrance is as crucial as choosing the right attire. It can set the tone of your presence and start conversations. We hope this article inspired you to try one of the iconic signature scents Le Labo has to offer.
