So for the first time in a while I ventured over to ScentBar. In a while because it’s been frankly hotter than hades here in LA every weekend fir months and the AC in my car is more of a cool whisper that the arctic blast that the Cadillac boasted. But Monday was finally under 80 and I was sick of watching Judge Judy so off I went.
First some ScentBar news. They are opening a second store in the Arts District just east of Little Tokyo in downtown LA. They told me it should be open soon, but is more like the former location of the present store in that it’s going to be small, and not be as well stocked as the Beverly Blvd location. But if you’re in downtown or live in Pasadena or someplace east I’m sure it will be worth a stop.
So onto Le Labo..
Le Labo as you know does this whole thing where they mix the juice in front of you, personalize it, and put an expiration date on it. The former two are kind of goofy but what the heck. The last one is idiotic. I’m here to tell you that if you keep a bottle of scent in the dark and not subjected to extreme temps it will last years if not decades. I have some Le Labo scents that are from when they opened on 3rd street almost ten years ago and they haven’t turned or dried out or run amok. So there.
Notes: (from LuckyScent) Black tea leaves, bergamot, fig, cedar, vetiver, bay leaf, musk
I actually get a lot more bergamot and bay leaf than black tea initially, but then I have always found with Le Labo that the note they list in the name isn’t always the predominant one. I do eventually get to the black tea and the cedar and it’s all very nice. But it reminds me of something else that I can’t put my finger on, and although I hate tho write it, it’s not making my credit card magically levitate like some of the others in the line. If you’ve tried it please let us know in the comments.
Thé Noir is available at Nordstrom and Barneys as well as at Le Labo stores and ScentBar, at $180 for 1.7 oz or $265 for 3.2. I asked for and received my sample from ScentBar. Image: Nordstrom.
I found it pleasant, bought a decant but no need for a full bottle. It was quite figgy on me.