Le Labo | Perfume & Candles, Quality & Packaging

Le Labo Fragrances on New York’s Elizabeth St. combines beautiful packaging and presentation with top quality products.  Make sure to walk down Elizabeth slowly though, as the outside of the shop is so understated that you may stroll right on by.

Once at the door, the first thing to catch your eye is the window display of candles. The candles are poured in hand-hammered oxidized tin cans that are housed within a 4 inch thick corrugated cardboard box frame. The packaging is so unique that they’ve patented it. And yes, the candles all smell as amazing as they look (based on the assortment of Le Labo fragrances)- no bait-and-switch here.

Of course, the main product of Le Labo is not their candles, but rather their perfumes. All perfumes are presented in simply shaped bottles with understated labeling- like that you might find in an old biology lab (hence, the name Labo), or in this case, a perfumery lab. Each of the fragrances are made fresh to order. As it was explained to me, the life a fragrance is not eternal and will diminish with age. So, upon ordering, one of the shop’s technicians (who are very pleasant, I might add) will very precisely mix your particular scent from the huge assortment of elements behind the counter.  As each scent is made at the time of purchase, they are also individually labeled with your name- as are the candles (note the name on the candle’s label above).

The founders, Edouard and Fabrice are both transplanted New Yorkers. Born in France, they both worked through the corporate structures of separate companies, before meeting later in life. They were drawn together by their mutual love of perfect scents and by what they mention on their site as “the violent dislike of neckties and for submitting to authority.”
Their personalities definitely come through in the shops and product. Everything, including the staff, are meticulously well-presented, yet very laid-back and approachable.

http://www.lelabofragrances.com/