Le Labo Monday: A little late summer bummer

Le Labo
Nearly every year in August and September, Luckyscent has been offering the Le Labo City Exclusives scents for sale in full-size bottles and also samples. This line can only be purchased in the Le Labo boutiques themselves, so the exclusivity on them is pretty tight.

Not long ago, I called the L.A.-based perfume boutique and was told that they wouldn’t be offering the City Exclusives line for sale this year. I was rather disappointed because I’d been saving a bit here and there and was seriously thinking about purchasing a bottle. The nice thing about buying a bottle is that you can get them refilled at a discount. Oh, well, I guess that’s life. Money saved for the teen’s expensive senior year of high school, and frankly, I would have experienced some major agony trying to decide which of my two favorites to buy. Plus, in the back of my head there’s a little voice that tell me, “Say what? You don’t have any business buying a full bottle of anything! You couldn’t even use up all the stuff you do have if you lived to be 100!” So there’s that.

Thankfully, Surrender to Chance offers these beauties in samples and decants or I’d really be up a creek without a paddle. I’d hate to go through a summer without the refreshing New York City exclusive Tubereuse 40, or a winter without the cuddly beauty of Vanille 44, the Paris city exclusive. And Gaiac 10 (the Tokyo city exclusive) is as soothing and calming as they come.

The mainstream Le Labo line is available online at several venues, including Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue. If the line ever does appear in brick-and-mortar stores my area, I’d really like to try some of their body products, solid perfumes, etc.

What about you? What are your favorite Le Labo scents? Did you ever spring for any of the City Exclusives or are there any that you are longing for?

  • March says:

    They’ve opened a Le Labo area in our Nordstrom, which shocked me. And there’s never anyone there, which means I could go play and nobody would bug me!

  • Eldarwen22 says:

    The only ones that I have tried were Labdanum18 and Aldehyde44. They smelled like stripped down versions of Shalimar and no 22. For the price, I could have that money better spent elsewhere. Labdanum18 was pretty good and almost full bottle worthy early on but there was a cola note I couldn’t get past.

  • AnnieA says:

    Have the patchouli one and the Amsterdam one is nice but not worth the big bucks. With pjm on the annoying factor.

  • Brigitte says:

    I have had a few samples sent to me by some perfumistas but honestly I don’t even remember which ones I tried! A trip to SAKS in NYC proved fruitless for sampling as the SAs completely ignored me when I approached the counter. All in all this is not a niche house I am that interested in which is just as well given the prices.

  • Portia says:

    I really like the idea of Le Labo and have tried most of them Ann. I even bought a couple of their Travel Bottles and like to by the Sandal 33 for gifts because everyone loves it. Still searching for the one to make me really reach for my wallet though.
    Did you know that our very own Tom gave them some LA fragrance pointers?
    Portia x

  • Rina (NOT in CAN) says:

    Nord and Barney’s also carry the Cities during Sept. but I was bummed that they don’t get the oils and balms like the LL boutiques do. I saved a year of Nords notes for the balm but now have to find something else to spend them on before the end of the month… I SOOOO want the MdC balm but $164 for 7.5ml without a subsidy is a no go.

  • Pklagrange says:

    Ylang is one of my go to scents and I also own vetiver and Lys. I always get compliments when I wear this line. I love how twisty the scents are – never a straight forward take on the lead scent. None of the City scents ever demanded that I own them.

  • Kathleen says:

    I’m not a big fan of Le Labo; however, Labdanum and Ylang are nice to sample I don’t think I’d ever wear them as my fragrance so no full bottle purchase for me. Isn’t it kind of fun to save money and not love a fragrance?

  • MMKinPA says:

    My only Le Labo experience was a hotel with Rose 31 toiletries ?. Didn’t really groove on that one and have not had the chance to try any others (no Pittsburgh city exclusives either!)

  • Tara C says:

    I like several of the exclusives & own Vanille, Gaiac and Poivre. I also own and enjoy Vetiver, Ylang, Oud and Labdanum. Too bad Luckyscent is not offering them this year, I was wondering why I didn’t see it on their splash page yesterday when I wanted to order samples. Not that I need any more perfume!

  • pjmcbride says:

    I’ve only tried 3 Le Labos–Iris 39, Rose 31, and Vanille 44–and haven’t been impressed. I’ve been tempted to try Guaic 10, but since they’re not doing the Luckyscent deal this year, I will have to do without Le Labo, unless they do a city exclusive for Evansville, Indiana. (Can you tell I find the exclusivity irritating?)