Everyone loves Le Labo — so I tried 11 of the brand's fragrances and ranked them from worst to best
The reviewer sampled 11 fragrances from Le Labo, a luxury brand whose bottles range from $113 to $1,810. They recorded personal impressions, gathered reactions from friends and family, and tracked how long each scent lasted.
Santal 33, perhaps the label’s best-known fragrance, came in last. The reviewer said it faded substantially after about four hours, making its cost difficult to justify.
Musc 25, generally available at Los Angeles boutiques, was sampled through the brand’s annual September sale of city-exclusive scents. The reviewer found it unsuited to their taste and felt one note seemed too mature for Los Angeles.
Shiu 25, inspired by Beijing and described by the company as promoting balance and calm, also did not work for the reviewer. On their skin, it had a pickle-like quality, though they understood why others might enjoy it.
The article notes that some fragrance fans prefer Another 13 to Santal 33. The reviewer’s rankings are based on personal testing, so readers may want to sample scents themselves before buying.
Key points
- The reviewer assessed 11 Le Labo scents for smell, longevity and value.
- Santal 33 ranked last after fading notably within four hours.
- Musc 25 and Shiu 25 also failed to suit the reviewer’s taste.