10 Best Le Labo Scents That Are Worth the Investment
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If you're here looking for the best Le Labo scents, then you already know that the brand is so much more than its iconic Santal 33. Sure, we all love a sandalwood moment, but there is so much more the brand has to offer — from vetivers and musks to black tea, grapefruit, orange blossom, and everything in between.
If you are new to Le Labo, allow me to give you a quick intro. Le Labo was founded in 2006 in New York by two friends who wanted to revolutionize the perfume industry, adding a little edge to the classic fragrances. If you want something by the book, go to Chanel. If you want something with a twist, come to Le Labo. Since opening its first lab at 233 Elizabeth Street in Nolita, Le Labo has expanded its wings all over the world, opening flagship stores across continents and landing coveted spots in retailers like Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue.
But what makes Le Labo perfumes so sought-after? Well, for starters, it’s their formula. All of the scents are EPD (i.e., Eau de parfums), meaning they will be more intense and last longer than your regular, run-of-the-mill perfumes. The Le Labo offering also includes a travel-friendly liquid balm for alcohol-free application.
Le Labo fragrances also come in really beautiful packaging, which is customized for every customer on location to show not only their name but also the location where the scent was purchased. The only catch? They come with a hefty price tag, so you might hesitate a little before hitting “add to cart.” But let us assure you: Le Labo has to be on the list if you are on the quest to find your signature scent.
To make that journey easier for you, I tested all of the brand’s core fragrances by going through an entire discovery set – which retails for $107 – to test out 17 of the fine fragrances Le Labo scents from the brand’s classic collection (only missing Ambrette 9 and excluding city exclusive scents like Tokyo’s Gaiac 10). As for methodology, I tested every fragrance individually with a spritz on both wrists and each side of my neck and left it for at least 24 hours before showering to test the next one.
So, without further ado, let’s get into the 10 best Le Labo scents and what makes them so special. (Spoiler alert: I might have found my favorite fragrance.)
Our Top Picks
- Best Musky Scent: Lys 41
- Best Oudy Scent: Ylang 49
- Best Floral Scent: Fleur D'Oranger 27
- Best Gourmand Scent: Labdanum 18
- Best Ozonic Scent: Baie 19
BERGAMOTE 22
Notes: Grapefruit, Amber, Musk, Vetiver
Strength: 8/10
Longevity: 8/10Bergamote 22 is really light and citrusy on the skin, as one would expect from its name. I'd describe this one as very balanced — it's not too overpowering that it'll take center stage, but it also won't go unnoticed. It also has moderate lasting power; it stayed on my skin for around eight hours, where I could still tell I had spritzed it, obviously getting fainter as time passed but also a bit more intense and less fresh, which I thought was a nice change given the strength was decreasing. It has some woody elements that definitely become more prominent as time goes by.
Available sizes: 15 ml (0.5 fl oz) for $107, 50 ml (1.7 fl oz) for $235, 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) for $335, 500 ml (16.9 fl oz) for $1095
Other available formats: perfuming shampoo, perfuming conditioner, perfuming body lotion, perfuming shower gel, massage and bath perfuming oil, liquid balm, scented body bar
BAIE 19
Notes: Juniper Berry, Patchouli, Green Leaves
Strength: 9/10
Longevity: 9/10Baie 19 is a truly slept-on Le Labo scent. When I first put it on, it was super soft but still very noticeable. Out of all the fragrances I tested, this was in the top, but it ages in a way that is not too powerful, which, if you are sensitive to smells, might be just what you are looking for. Baia 19 owes its name to the juniper berry in its composition, but the main profile is a lot more woody without being too headstrong. I also thoroughly enjoyed layering this over Ylang 49 for an extra oudy oomph.
Available sizes: 15 ml (0.5 fl oz) for $107, 50 ml (1.7 fl oz) for $235, 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) for $335, 500 ml (16.9 fl oz) for $1095
Other available formats: perfuming body lotion, perfuming shower gel, liquid balm
YLANG 49
Notes: Gardenia, Ylang Ylang, Patchouli, Oakmoss, Vetiver, Sandalwood, Benjoin
Strength: 10/10
Longevity: 10/10As mentioned above, I really liked layering Baie 19 over this fragrance, but I loved her on her own. Out of all the fragrances, this was by far the longest-lasting. It lasted for 24 hours on my skin, and the only reason why I think it stopped is because I exfoliated my skin in the shower. The fragrance profile is just decadent and, dare I say it, rich smelling. It's oudy and mysterious but with a floral edge so you don't get “grandma” but “put together.” It's timeless, classy, fancy, grown-up, and relaxing — basically what I want from a pricey perfume. If you like a perfume that announces your presence every time you enter a room, I highly think Ylang 49 might be right up your alley — it sure was for me, and it might just be my new favorite fragrance now.
Available sizes: 15 ml (0.5 fl oz) for $107, 50 ml (1.7 fl oz) for $235, 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) for $335, 500 ml (16.9 fl oz) for $1095
Other available formats: perfuming body lotion, perfuming shower gel, liquid balm
LYS 41
Notes: Jasmine, Tuberose, Lily, Vanilla, Musk
Strength: 8,5/10
Longevity: 9,5/10Another favorite of mine, but for other reasons, is Lys 41. Lys 41 was the fragrance I gravitated towards when I first entered a Le Labo store, and for good reason: it's your classic floral, clean-smelling scent. The profile is mainly floral thanks to the jasmine, tuberose, and lil, but it also packs a punch with a tinge of vanilla and musk, which becomes more noticeable once the flowers have evaporated and the last remnants have dried down on your skin. This one also lasted almost an entire day on my skin, but a lot more softly than Ylang 49.
Available sizes: 15 ml (0.5 fl oz) for $107, 50 ml (1.7 fl oz) for $235, 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) for $335, 500 ml (16.9 fl oz) for $1095
Other available formats: perfuming body lotion, perfuming shower gel, liquid balm
ANOTHER 13
Notes: Ambrox, Jasmine, Moss
Strength: 3/10
Longevity: 10/10Now, I have something to confess here. I couldn't really smell Another 13 strongly on myself, and upon doing some research, I realized that I was not the only one. The compound of scents is so special that some people just don't seem to pick up on it quite as much, hence the lower strength number.
However, my partner could really smell it on me, and he was obsessed with it. He kept saying, “You smell so good!” multiple times throughout the day. So this is more of a personal choice — if, like me, you can't really smell Another 13, but you wear perfume to smell great for other people, I say buy it. I did try layering this under other scents, and it made them pop really nicely with a slightly sweeter base — and it lasted well over 12 hours on my skin.
Available sizes: 15 ml (0.5 fl oz) for $107, 50 ml (1.7 fl oz) for $235, 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) for $335, 500 ml (16.9 fl oz) for $1095
Other available formats: perfuming shampoo, perfuming conditioner, perfuming body lotion, perfuming shower gel, massage and bath perfuming oil, liquid balm
NEROLI 36
Notes: Rose, Musk, Mandarin, Jasmine, Vanilla
Strength: 8/10
Longevity: 10/10Given that neroli lends its name to this fragrance, I expected the freshness of mandarin and orange blossom to take over the scent profile, but I was surprised to find it is a lot sweeter than I anticipated — but in a really nice way, perhaps thanks to the vanilla in its composition. Despite being on the sweet side, Neroli 36 still smells pretty genderless and, much like Ylang 49 and Lys 41, it has great longevity and projection.
Available sizes: 15 ml (0.5 fl oz) for $107, 50 ml (1.7 fl oz) for $235, 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) for $335, 500 ml (16.9 fl oz) for $1095
Other available formats: perfuming body lotion, perfuming shower gel, liquid balm
FLEUR D'ORANGER 27
Notes: Orange Blossom, Musk, Bergamot, Petit Grain, Lemon
Strength: 7/10
Longevity: 8.5/10Now, if you want the orange punch, Fleur D'Oranger is the one for you. This one smells like straight-up oranges when you first spray it on and then dries down a bit softer. It's definitely not as strong as Neroli 36, but it melted into my skin a lot more, which is why I think it is great for layering. It's fresh and bubbly and smells exactly like your fingernails do after peeling an orange with might. I kept catching whiffs of myself while walking and thought someone was peeling one next to me.
Available sizes: 15 ml (0.5 fl oz) for $107, 50 ml (1.7 fl oz) for $235, 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) for $335, 500 ml (16.9 fl oz) for $1095
Other available formats: perfuming body lotion, perfuming shower gel, liquid balm
PATCHOULI 24
Notes: Birch, Vanilla, Patchouli
Strength: 8/10
Longevity: 8.5/10Patchouli 24 might sound like it would smell like, well, patchouli, but the scent profile has a lot more nuances. When you read the top notes for this one, you might think it's intense, but it's honestly a lot fresher than expected. It was heady upon first spritz, but it immediately lightens when it touches the skin. It's fragrant and leaves a trail without giving you a headache.
Available sizes: 15 ml (0.5 fl oz) for $107, 50 ml (1.7 fl oz) for $235, 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) for $335, 500 ml (16.9 fl oz) for $1095
LABDANUM 18
Notes: Amber, Musk, Labdanum
Strength: 10/10
Longevity: 7/10Out of all the Le Labo scents, I'd say Labdanum 18 is definitely the strongest. Upon first spritz, it's very manly and spiced, which some folks might appreciate. You can definitely smell the amber in the warmness, not so much the sweetness, and there's a side profile that's very woody. It did not last as long as others on my skin, but it definitely packs a punch, so it makes for a great evening perfume if you like the notes.
Available sizes: 15 ml (0.5 fl oz) for $107, 50 ml (1.7 fl oz) for $235, 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) for $335, 500 ml (16.9 fl oz) for $1095
VETIVER 46
Notes: Vetiver, Pepper, Gaïac, Labdanum, Cedar
Strength: 8/10
Longevity: 9/10When I first sprayed Vetiver 46, I felt like I stepped into a church — and not metaphorically. The scent is really spicy and woody but less so than Labdanum 18. That said, Vetiver 46 dried down super nicely and not as churchy, which makes it more of an everyday fragrance in my eyes. The scent also sticks to the skin and makes it last for hours. This one, since it's not as heady, is also great for layering, so if you want a versatile wood perfume, look no further.
Available sizes: 15 ml (0.5 fl oz) for $107, 50 ml (1.7 fl oz) for $235, 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) for $335, 500 ml (16.9 fl oz) for $1095
Other available formats: perfuming shower gel
