March 12, 2008

A Case of the Sniffles

Le Labo

You’re an upstanding, well-adjusted citizen of planet earth: responsible, dependable, and utterly prudent in every way.

But using common scents sure gets boring.

Mix things up at Le Labo. Literally. The boutique perfume lab from New York has just opened on West Third Street.

Inside the petite French industrial apothecary, you’ll find a collection of ten core fragrances, including Labdanum 18, Bergamote 22, and the notorious Rose 31. Test each one before deciding on yours. Once you’ve chosen, a technician will use first-rate raw ingredients to compound it right in front of you, pour it into a vintage-looking vessel, and then label it with your name and the expiration date. Bring the bottle back for refills.

Combining the alcohol and essential oils on the spot ensures that the formula is fresh and pure.

And bold enough to knock the others olfactory senseless.

Le Labo, 8385 West Third Street, between South Kings Road and South Orlando Avenue (323-782-0411 or lelabofragrances.com).