7 Best Le Labo Perfumes, According to a Beauty Editor

Key notes: Bergamot, fig, bay leaves, cedar wood, vetiver, musk, black tea leaves

This is, hands down, my favourite Le Labo fragrance of all time. Can I let you in on an insider secret? It’s also one of Sienna Miller’s go-to scents. It’s deep, dark and sexy, with this beautifully rich, sweet undertone. It’s by far the most expensive-smelling Le Labo perfume I’ve tried, which is why I reserve it for special occasions. In fact, whenever I wear this to dinner or drinks, my friends always compliment me on it.

It opens with fresh notes of bergamot and bay leaves, before a heart of cedar wood and vetiver envelops the senses in a woody aroma. A base of black tea leaves adds an intriguing smokiness, whilst sweet fig remains constant throughout.

Key notes: Cardamon, iris, violet, leather, musk

I mean, we have to talk about Santal 33, don’t we? I’ll be honest, I didn’t want to like this scent, purely because so many people wear it. But after one spritz, I fell in love. It’s fresh, earthy and musky, with this undoubtedly cool, laidback appeal that reminds me of a hipster hotel lobby in New York. A base of leather and musk adds impressive depth, allowing it to linger on the skin like your favorite leather jacket. I think I’ve reached for this pretty much every day since adding it to my collection.

Key notes: Orange blossom, mandarin, aldehydes, tonka beans, musk, vanilla

If you like warm, floral fragrances, then this is the Le Labo scent for you. “My first impression of Neroli 36 was how utterly sophisticated it made me feel,” says Who What Wear US senior editor Anna LaPlaca (who is also a big fan of Le Labo perfumes). “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.”

Key notes: Matcha tea accords, fig, bitter orange, vetiver, cedarwood

Yes, you can now match your fragrance to your favourite drink. As comforting as a hot mug of matcha on a cold winter’s day, this scent feels clean, calm and cosy. Notes of matcha tea accord add a green, earthy element to the perfume, but it also creates this warm, somewhat milky aroma that is enhanced by woody notes of cedarwood.

Key notes: Ambroxan, jasmine, moss, ambrette seeds absolute

This fragrance was created in 2010 in collaboration with Jefferson Hack, editor-in-chief of AnOther Magazine, and it’s definitely one of the brand’s most talked-about scents.

“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,” says LaPlaca. “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. It’s one of those unisex fragrances that will surely earn you compliments if you can pull it off.”

Key notes: Centifolia rose, cumin, vetiver, cedarwood, musk, guaiac wood, olibanum, labdanum

Rose perfumes aren’t for everyone, but this rich, deep take on the scent is by far one of the best rose scents I’ve come across. It seems that LaPlaca agrees. “I was surprised to like Rose 31 so much,” she says. “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.”

Key notes: Bergamot, amber, musk, grapefruit, vetiver, petitgrain, vanilla, orange blossom, cedar

Last but by no means least, the ultimate uplifting, fresh-smelling scent. Citrusy notes of bergamot and grapefruit mingle with warming vanilla and cedar to take you on an olfactory journey like never before. My friends tend to reach for this in the summer months, but in my opinion, it’s the perfect aroma to awaken the senses on a cold, grey morning.