Our Scent | Inclusive | Exclusive

I met this woman years ago and she was wearing a really nice scent so I asked her what it was; she replied that it was an essential oil blend. Further inquiry yielded it was her 'own blend', and it was 'private'. Pft, well then. She was weird anyway - and had a haunted basement.

Remember what happened to Jean-Baptiste Grenouille - the protagonist of Patrick Suskind's Perfume: The Story of a Murderer? If you haven't read the book just go to the library and read the last chapter - (I call that technique, How to be Successful in Earning Your History Degree. For shame!).

Anyway, as you know, I'm a huge fan of Le Labo so the appropriate first stop for me on a recent trip to Los Angeles was 8385 West 3rd. I tell you, the last time I had been that excited was in 1978 at the Flintsones Amusement Park.  I was greeted by two gorgeous gals who thought my Vancouver accent was 'cute' (?). My mission was to get a bottle of Musc 25, the LA exclusive scent - which you can only buy online once a year. Well, for Ms. ADHD here, the store was just too much! Thankfully, I was reminded that I'd only traveled with carry on luggage and therefore couldn't bring any liquid over 3 ounces with us on the plane. I opted for the Musc 25 perfume oil and a handful of samples for loved ones. It took everything to hold me back from also buying the Oud 27, Patchouli 24 and Santal 33. Oh well, they have free shipping so there's always online.

Now that I'm back home, (and venturing out into society), people are asking me what scent I'm wearing. Usually, I wear amber resin, or essential oils of cedar and patchouli - which are pretty hard to carry off and folks don't have the wherewithal to scope them out. Where am I going with this post? Where do you think?

So, let's all smell the same - to save ourselves from the fate of Grenouille! It's City Exclusive time online at Le Labo again!

My 6 Gift Wish List

dwarf globe blue spruce

black cable knit sweater (image)

Le Labo Musc 25

These earrings. I had the same ones once but then I was robbed.

Fiorentini + Baker

Sterling Silver Bobby Pins

Before you start your party do this

Light new unscented candles a few hours before, blow them out and add a drop of essential oil. When you light them for your party they'll emit your special scent. Some Chistmasy oils are mandarin, clove, cinnamon, pine and cedar.

btw - Le Labo is doing oils now.

A Smelly Recommendation

Three years ago I came across Le Labo on a trip to San Francisco and became an instant fan. We bought a bottle of Patchouli 24. Le Labo parfum has a nonsynthetic unconventional scent that lasts a long time.

A few months ago I'd heard about their City Scents but didn't want to drop $116 on something I'd never smelled. Imagine my excitement when I received an email update from Le Labo offering them up for $10 each - with free shipping - even to Canada. I bought five and kept two, Poivre 23 (London) and Musc 25 (LA). Both scents are unisex but I've marked the Musc 25 as my own. I would've kept the Vanille 44 (Paris) but it reminded me of a rather trying period in my life and the Baie Rose 26 (Chicago) and Tubereuse 40 (NY) weren't my style so I gave them to Rachel (who in turn bought me another Musc 25 - thanks R!) They smell fab on her!

The scent lasts a long time so I'm sure the little $10 bottle will last me at least six months.

This morning I received a reminder email that the $10 sale is over November 30th. I'm buying the Gaiac 10 (Tokyo) and Aldehyde 44 (Dallas) today.

Le Labo is not an affiliate of mine so this is a completely unbiased opinion. Give them a try.

To Japan

Yokohama, Japan - Spring 1969


Le Labo 100% Proceeds


Kenzo Minami x Ace Hotel 100% Proceeds

James Perse 100% Proceeds


Culture is Not Your Friend 100% Proceeds

near Tokyo, Japan - Spring 2011 from my friend Atsushi



for preparation

The Nose Knows

photo courtesy Le Labo

On a recent trip to San Francisco my husband introduced me to Le Labo (try Barney's in Seattle).  He was very excited because he thought it smelled like Scotch.  

I went on to have the Patchouli 24 (it's unisex) made up for him.  They blend the parfum right there and personalize the bottle for you.  It doesn't smell like patchouli at all - it's more approachable with scents like smoke, leather, birch, and vanilla. 

Le Labo describes the scent as:

A scent filled with danger for those of us who like to walk a tight rope...

Another scent I picked up was This Works: deep calm bath and shower oil .  

You smooth this oil on your body before the shower.  The heat from the water activates the essential oils and - voila - your own aromatherapy session.  The scent lingers all day and the coconut oil leaves your skin super soft.