Lance Carson
Le Labo is a perfumery brand that was created in 2006 by two friends in New York City, USA. The brand styles itself as a pseudo-scientific perfume laboratory, stripping perfumery down to its fundamentals. Le Labo's perfumes are hand-blended and hand-assembled in front of clients, and the brand offers genderless perfumes, candles, and formulas for the body, hair, and face. The brand has gained popularity, with celebrities such as Beyoncé and characters in the movie Red, White & Royal Blue wearing their fragrances.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of creation | 2006 |
| Place of creation | New York City |
| Founders | Two friends |
| Brand philosophy | Anti-hedonistic, anti-poetic, cultivated minimalism |
| Brand image | A pseudo-scientific perfume laboratory |
| Target audience | Discerning buyers |
| Product range | Perfumes, candles, shampoo, lotion, body, hair and face formulas, and a grooming line |
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What You'll Learn
Le Labo was founded in 2006 by two friends in New York City
The brand's name, Le Labo, means "the lab" in French, reflecting the company's pseudo-scientific laboratory image. Le Labo's unique selling point is its focus on the fundamentals of perfumery, with an emphasis on raw materials and natural ingredients. Each fragrance is hand-blended and hand-assembled in front of clients, showcasing the art of perfume-making.
The core of Le Labo's collection is genderless perfumes, with popular scents like Santal 33 and Another 13, a 2010 release with top notes of pear, apple, and citrus. The brand also offers candles, shampoo, lotion, and other sensorial formulas for the body, hair, and face.
Le Labo's founder, Fabrice Penot, has commented on the brand's niche appeal, positioning itself as an alternative to designer brands. He notes that Le Labo's success lies in its aesthetic and unique scents, attracting discerning buyers who appreciate the brand's cultivated minimalism and soulful beauty.
With its New York roots and unconventional approach, Le Labo has established itself as a prominent player in the world of perfumery, offering a fresh and authentic take on fragrance creation.
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The brand focuses on artisanal, hand-crafted fragrances
Le Labo is a niche perfume brand that was created in 2006 by two friends wanting to create a scented revolution in a world of conventional perfumery. The brand focuses on artisanal, hand-crafted fragrances, with a unique pseudo-scientific perfume laboratory aesthetic. Le Labo styles itself as a laboratory, eschewing anything hedonistic or poetic, which is usually associated with perfume, in favour of a cultivated minimalism.
The brand's first artisanal laboratory opened in 2006 in the neighbourhood of Nolita, New York City. The brand chose to open its first workshop on an unassuming and quiet street, at 233 Elizabeth Street, to reveal the backstage of perfume-making. Each fragrance is freshly hand-blended and hand-assembled in front of clients, one at a time, harkening back to the near-forgotten roots of slower perfumery.
Le Labo's perfumes are hand-formulated, with raw materials highlighted and listed on each perfume's webpage, alongside an Instagram-worthy 'deconstruction' of the natural ingredients used within the note pyramid. The brand's core collection includes genderless perfumes and candles, with additional offerings such as sensorial formulas for the body, hair, and face, as well as a grooming line.
One of Le Labo's most notable fragrances is Santal 33, which has been described as a "masterpiece on 'perfect imperfection.'" It embraces the harshness of violet leaf and sandalwood, creating a scent that fills a room and turns heads. Santal 33 has become synonymous with New York and its elite professionals, radiating from the inner city to the suburbs and eventually worldwide.
Le Labo's unique approach to perfumery, with its focus on artisanal craftsmanship and transparency in ingredient sourcing, has helped the brand stand out in the fragrance industry.
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Le Labo's perfumes are genderless
Le Labo was created in 2006 by two friends wanting to create a scented revolution in a world of conventional perfumery. They opened their first lab in Nolita, New York City, USA. The brand styles itself as a pseudo-scientific perfume laboratory, stripping perfumery down to its fundamentals.
Le Labo's core collection features genderless perfumes and candles, as well as sensorial formulas for the body, hair, and face, and a grooming line. Their unique selling point is their focus on raw materials, with each perfume's webpage featuring an Instagram-worthy 'deconstruction' of the natural elements used within the note pyramid.
The brand's best-known fragrance, Santal 33, is described as a masterpiece on "perfect imperfection". It is designed to be polarising, with an embrace of harsh notes such as violet leaf and sandalwood. It is a confident, room-filling scent that turns heads and draws people in.
Another 13 is another popular fragrance by Le Labo, described as a comforting and nostalgic scent. It features top notes of pear, apple, and citrus, with middle notes of ambrette, musk mallow, and jasmine, and base notes of Iso E Super and ambrox, which give it an animalistic quality.
Le Labo's perfumes are designed to be soulful, artisanal, and unconventional, reflecting the brand's New York roots. Their focus on the fundamentals of perfumery and the use of raw materials sets them apart from designer brands, offering an antidote to readymade fragrances.
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The brand is known for its unique, minimalist aesthetic
Le Labo is a niche perfumery brand that was created in 2006 by two friends wanting to create a scented revolution in a world of conventional perfumery. They opened their first laboratory in Nolita, New York City, on 233 Elizabeth Street. The brand's name, which means "the lab" in French, reflects its pseudo-scientific perfume 'laboratory' image.
Le Labo is known for its unique, minimalist aesthetic. The brand styles itself as a departure from the hedonistic or 'poetic' world of perfume, instead cultivating a minimalist approach. This involves stripping perfumery down to its fundamentals and highlighting raw materials. Each perfume's web page features an Instagram-worthy 'deconstruction' of the natural elements used within the note pyramid. This aesthetic is reflected in the brand's packaging and product design, which are simple and understated.
Le Labo's minimalist aesthetic also extends to its focus on artisanal, hand-crafted products. The brand's fragrances are hand-blended and hand-assembled in front of clients, a return to the near-forgotten roots of slower perfumery. This approach is in line with the brand's belief in the "soulful power of thoughtful hands". Le Labo's perfumes are also genderless, further setting them apart from traditional perfumery.
The brand's unique aesthetic has gained a dedicated following, with perfumes like Santal 33 becoming synonymous with New York and its elite professionals. Santal 33's unique scent, combined with Le Labo's aesthetic and style, contributed to its success and helped establish Le Labo as a sought-after brand.
Le Labo's minimalist and artisanal approach to perfumery has allowed it to stand out in a crowded market and gain a reputation for soulful beauty and high-quality, unique fragrances. The brand's focus on simplicity and craftsmanship has helped create a distinct image and a loyal customer base.
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Le Labo's Santal 33 fragrance has been featured in popular culture
In Beyoncé's 2016 visual album Lemonade, the singer is depicted burning two Le Labo Santal 26 candles during the sequence for "Sandcastles". The Santal 26 candle is related to Santal 33 as the former was the prototype for the latter. In addition to Beyoncé, prominent fans of the fragrance include television presenter Alexa Chung, singer Justin Bieber, actress Emma Roberts, Meghan Markle, and Brad Pitt.
Santal 33 also made an appearance in the 2023 romantic comedy movie Red, White & Royal Blue, where the protagonist Alex, the son of the U.S. president, wears the fragrance. The perfume's presence in the film further solidified its popularity, with many viewers associating the scent with the character.
The fragrance has also inspired a song by Mexican musician Peso Pluma, who named a track from his 2024 album Éxodo after the perfume.
Beyond these specific instances, Santal 33 has become a staple in the world of fashion and celebrities, with its unique scent leaving an impression on those who encounter it. Its popularity has sparked both enthusiasm for sandalwood perfumes and a hunt for more affordable versions, with many seeking to capture the essence of Santal 33 at a more accessible price point.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Le Labo is a designer perfume brand. The brand was created in 2006 by two friends wanting to create a scented revolution in a world of conventional perfumery. They offer genderless perfumes, as well as candles and sensorial formulas for body, hair, and face.
Some examples of Le Labo perfumes include Another 13, Santal 33, Ambrette 9, Bergamote 22, and Fleur d'Oranger 27.
You can buy Le Labo perfumes online on their website or at one of their brick-and-mortar stores.
