10 Le Labo Scents That Are Low-Key Better Than Santal 33 (There, I Said It)
Photo:
@emmahoareau
Photo:
@anna__laplaca
In the UK you can get a discovery set with five of Le Labo's most popular fragrances, including Rose 31, AnOther 13, Bergamote 22, Santal 33 and Thé Noir 29. Each sample is 1.5ml.
Fragrance Family: Floral
Key Notes: Rose, musk, mandarin orange
My first impression of Neroli 36 was how utterly sophisticated it made me feel. This is the kind of soft and delicate floral fragrance I can imagine myself wearing as the ultimate put-together older version of myself, you know? It's a lovely floral that's clean, light, and a bit sweet, but certainly not overpowering.
Fragrance Family: Floral
Key Notes: Jasmine, musk, sandalwood, vanilla
I'm not normally drawn to floral scents as they don't feel very "me" but that being said, I was instantly drawn to Jasmin 17. It offers something more complex than your basic floral scent thanks to notes like sandalwood and musk while still being really light and lovely—overall a well-balanced scent. This would be a perfect spring fragrance and it makes me want to throw on my favorite puff-sleeve dress and sandals for a walk.
Fragrance Family: Floral
Key Notes: Bergamot, petitgrain, lemon
Okay, I know I said florals weren't typically my thing (I'm more drawn to musk scents) but wow does Fleur d'Oranger 27 delight. It's a true orange blossom scent that's rich and creamy and, to my surprise, was one of the longest-lasting of the florals I tested. It only began to fade after about eight hours of wear which definitely impressed me.
Fragrance Family: Aromatic
Key Notes: Ambrette seed, citrus
It's hard to describe this fragrance since it's such a light, delicate scent but it really pulls you in. The best way I can describe it is this: think of someone you know who just always smells really good, not like they're wearing a fragrance, but they naturally smell good—that's Ambrette 9 in a nutshell. It's sort of like that fresh, clean feeling you get when you step out of the shower. It's an immediate yes from me.
Fragrance Family: Citrus
Key Notes: Bergamot, amber, musk, grapefruit, vetiver, petitgrain, vanilla, orange blossom, cedar
Bergamote 22 is the perfect fragrance for the dead of summer. It's a cooling citrus scent that's like a freshly squeezed cocktail of bergamot and grapefruit that jolts you out of the heat slump.
Fragrance Family: Fresh
Key Notes: Patchouli, juniper berry, ozonic notes, musk, green leaves, ambroxan
Fresh and clean with hints of spice, this would be a great everyday scent to wear as it felt ultra-versatile.
Fragrance Family: Musk
Key Notes: Ambergris, ambrette, musk, pear, amyl salicylate
I may be biased because this is actually a scent I've been wearing for a few years now, but I will say it's not for everyone. It's the brainchild of Le Labo and AnOther Mag but unlike the brand's city exclusive scents, this one was adopted into its permanent line, making it widely available throughout the year.
My mom sniffed it once and told me she thought it smelled bad although maybe that's on purpose as others have classified the fragrance's simplistic scent profile as "industrial". It's one of those unisex fragrances that will surely earn you compliments if you can pull it off.
Fragrance Family: Floral
Key Notes: Rose, cumin, vetiver, cedar, oud, musk, guaiac wood, olibanum, labdanum
A deep, earthy rose, I was surprised to like Rose 31 so much. It's a departure from the overly sweet and girly perfumes of my teenage years. It's the type of fragrance you want to keep sniffing every five seconds, it's just that good.
Fragrance Family: Woody
Key Notes: Bergamot, fig, bay leaf, cedar, vetiver, hay, tobacco
I first caught a whiff of this scent on my friend Sam who is one of those people who is cool without trying and I think it describes the scent perfectly. It has this deep intensity to it that's a bit intoxicating in the same way that Santal 33 is. It's distinctive and sophisticated, so I would say this reads like a really alluring scent to wear on a date or out to dinner as it strikes me as being perfect for going out at night.
Fragrance Family: Woody
Key Notes: fig, vetiver, cedar woods, bitter orange.
The words earthy and approachable are what come to mind when I think about the THÉ MATCHA 26. Much like the famous tea, this scent is derived from the perfume and is a calming, clean option from the brand. One to spritz on a cosy jumper late Sunday night catchups, a scent that can only truly be appreciated up-close and personal.
