Blog Science: We Try 16 Different Le Labo Scents in One Night.

Months ago I got an email from a really lovely reader who told me she'd bought a 16-sample Le Labo Discovery Set and would I like to be it's next recipient? Why yes, yes I would. (Thanks again, Betsey!) I tried out several but I am very sensitive to scents and there's nothing so off-putting as going through the day wearing a fragrance that's Not For You. I held onto the set until my recent visit with Marianne so we could test them all together. For Science. Blog Science.

In our very (un)scientific approach we decided to spray each one on a strip of paper and record our thoughts. (I know this isn't the optimal way to test a fragrance because body chemistry but we needed to get it done.) Because we're not animals, we also grabbed some coffee beans to rest our poor noses between takes. We destroyed Marianne's cozy TV room in the process, just FYI.

Our voting system:  

Liked it: ✓ 
Neutral or undecided: − 
NOPE: ✖️

Ambrette 9 (Notes: ambrette seeds, white musk, pear)

A: ✓ M: −

Thoughts: 
M: I don't dislike it, I just don't know what it is
A: I'm not sure if it's me but it's soft and nice (Note: I tried this on a few days ago and it's definitely an inoffensive, subtle fragrance)


Another 13 (Notes: ambroxan, jasmine petals, musk, moss, woody ambery notes)

A: ✖️ M: ✖️

Thoughts: 
M: Oh, I don't like that
A: It smells like a dude


Bergamote 22  (Notes: bergamot, grapefruit, petitgrain, orange blossom, cedarwood, vetiver, musk)

A: ✖️ M: ✖️

Thoughts: 
M: I like that smell but I don't want to smell like that
A: It's sharp and green


Fleur d’Oranger 27  (Notes: bergamot, lemon, petitgrain, orange blossom, jasmine, vetiver, musk)

A: ✖️ M: ✖️

Thoughts: 
M: Old lady candy
A: Old fashioned for sure


Iris 39  (Notes: lime, iris, rose, ginger, patchouli, civet, musk)

A: ✖️ M: ✖️

Thoughts: 
M: Oh no, oh no I got in on my fingers
A: Oh GOD NO


Jasmin 17  (Notes: bitter orange, jasmine sambac, neroli, orange blossom, sandalwood, amber, musk, vanilla)

A: ✓  M: ✓ 

Thoughts: 
M: This is nice and summery
A: Oh, I really like this one


Labdanum 18  (Notes: cistus labdanum, patchouli, castoreum, tonka bean, vanilla)

A: ✖️ M: ✖️

Thoughts: 
M: That smells like Cinnabar
A: What is this??


Lys 41  (Notes:- Top: tiare flower.- Middle: jasmine, lily, tuberose.- Base: woody, musks, vanilla )

A: − M: −

Thoughts: 
M: Soapy, could be nice one
A: Fresh, not sure it's for me


Neroli 36  (Notes:- Top: mandarin, calone, orange blossom, salt crystal, watermelon.- Middle: jasmine, neroli.- Base: woody, musk, tonka bean, vanilla)

A: ? M: ✖️

Thoughts: 
M: Slightly powdery?
A: I literally can't smell anything. Now my nose is itchy


Oud 27  (Notes: black pepper, cedarwood, guaiac wood, oud, patchouli, saffron, incense)

A: ✖️ M: ✖️

Thoughts: 
M: Smells like fancy cleaning solution
A: *silent grimace*


Patchouli 24 (Notes: leather, patchouli, birch, tar, vanilla)

A: ✖️ M: ✖️

Thoughts: 
M: Oh my God, I hate that
A: Hard no from me


Rose 31 (Notes: rose absolute, cumin, vetiver, musks, cedar, agarwood, olibanium, amber, guaiacwood, cistus)

A: ✓  M: − 

Thoughts: 
M: Not my jam, but nice
A: It actually smells like real roses, which is nice


Santal 33 (Notes:- Top: violet accord, cardamom.- Middle: iris, papyrus, ambrox.- Base: cedarwood, leather, sandalwood)

A: ✓  M: ✓

Thoughts: 
M: Smells different on paper but I love it (of course)
A: On paper I definitely get the dill note. I love it but it smells like you, not me


Thé Noir 29 (Notes: bergamot, fig, bay leaves, cedar wood, vetiver, musk, black tea leaves)

A: −   M: ✓

Thoughts: 
M: I like that, it's spicy
A: I want to try it on me before judgement (Note: I did! It's really interesting and spicy but not warm enough for me. I prefer Jo Malone Nutmeg and Ginger.)


Vetiver 46 (Notes: sandalwood, vetiver, clove, black pepper, amber, incense)

A: ✓  M: ✓

Thoughts: 
M: Spicy but sharper, old school cologne
A: Smells like incense -mysterious


Ylang 49 (Notes:- Top: citrus accord.- Middle: gardenia, ylang-ylang.- Base: patchouli, sandalwood, vetiver oakmoss, benzoin)

A: ✖️ M: ✖️

Thoughts: 
M: Ugh gross no
A: Licorice but soapy, no

That was a lot! There are a few more I intend on trying on myself and then I'll send the box to Marianne for similar purposes. After that, who knows? Perhaps one of you wants it? 

PS. The Aftermath

M: Chris had to take the trash out early FYI

A: Hahahhaaa

M: The perfume did... bad things in the trash

A: Sorry for ruining your house.

M: That was so intense

A: You're selling it anyway?

M: hahaha. Realtors notes: strong odor

M: But expensive smelling

A: FANCY strong odor

M: Sold