Key facts
- Le Labo's city-exclusive fragrances are typically only available for purchase in person at boutiques worldwide.
- The brand offered its 19 city-exclusive scents for online purchase in September.
- A discovery kit with five sample scents was available for $65.
- Individual fragrances range in price from $13 to $1,810.
- The Los Angeles-exclusive fragrance, Musc 25, was described as initially sweet with hints of citrus and florals, but turned musky and settled into a strong powder scent.
- The Beijing-exclusive fragrance, Shiu 25, features notes of iris, frankincense, and Shiu wood, described as dark, earthy, and floral.
- The Tokyo-exclusive fragrance, Gaiac 14, was described as fresh, woody, and slightly floral, with a scent that lingered for a good amount of time.
Luxury fragrance brand Le Labo, founded in 2006 by Fabrice Penot and Edouard Roschi, is known for its city-exclusive scents. These fragrances, inspired by iconic cities like New York, Paris, and Tokyo, are typically only available for purchase in person at Le Labo boutiques around the world. However, for one month each September, the brand makes all 19 of its city-exclusive fragrances available for purchase on its website, allowing customers worldwide to experience the scents without travel. A discovery kit, priced at $65, was purchased by the author to sample select fragrances, with individual bottles ranging from $13 to $1,810 depending on size. The author ranked the sampled scents from worst to best, noting that the brand was unaware of the review prior to its publication.