For many, Le Labo is not just a perfume, but a memory in bottle form – of a city, a moment or a mood. The New York brand is known for its sophistication, personalized bottles and an olfactory experience that is as individual as its wearers. Newly launched: Osmanthus 19 – another milestone in Le Labo’s exclusive fragrance collection, which takes the brand around the globe.
What do Beyoncé, Sophie Turner. Alexa Chung and Jodie Comer have in common? They have all publicly declared their love for the niche perfume label Le Labo (“the laboratory” in French) in recent years.
Signature fragrance for minimalists
Founded in New York in 2006, the brand stands for quiet luxury, gender-neutral perfumes and a philosophy that, according to its own statement, is located somewhere between wabi-sabi, the Japanese ideal of beauty in imperfection, and the thoughts of American poet Henry David Thoreau. The latter wrote: “Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.” And inspired Gandhi and Martin Luther King to non-violent resistance with his famous essay on civil disobedience.
What else makes Le Labo unique? The iconic fragrances are blended in front of the consumer and individually labeled for them.
From New York to Mexico City – Le Labo’s world tour
Their “City Exclusive” fragrances are particularly popular. These are only composed in certain locations and sold exclusively there. An occasion for many perfume aficionados to take a city trip or two – and take home a very special souvenir.
But as we all know, exceptions make the rule: every September, the highly coveted products are available worldwide: online, in all Le Labo stores and at selected partners such as Jelmoli. A welcome opportunity for all those who are not traveling to Paris, Hong Kong, Seoul or Mexico City to pick up one of the It fragrances
Kyoto in a bottle – the latest “City Exclusive“ fragrance
The latest destination in the “City Exclusive” collection: Kyoto. Inspired by the Japanese metropolis, Osmanthus 19 smells as timeless as the old imperial city itself: of incense, aromatic lavender – and the fruity, creamy notes of osmanthus, the flower that gives the collection its name. It blooms only fleetingly in early winter, when most plants have already gone dormant.
Another plus point for all conscious consumers: Le Labo does not test on animals, or as it says in its own manifesto: “We believe it is more humane to test cosmetics on New Yorkers than on animals.”
You can find more information about Le Labo on their website.
Want to know how Le Labo interprets the scent of another city? Here you can find an article about Coriandre 39 – Mexico in a bottle.
Photos: © Le Labo
