Yesterday I spent the afternoon treating myself around London- in hindsight, perhaps a little too much, but you only turn 24 once!. I celebrated my on Tuesday and since I usually hog the whole week, Wednesday became the designated shopping day. My sister also happened to be in town for a conference so she took me and my brother out for steak at Hawksmoor, which was AMAZING. Food baby from Regent Street all the way back home! How I wish afterwards that I did my cardio-shopping post-dinner!
I got a few other bits and bobs too though, resulting in what became a very indulgent day (this included a quick stop at Laduree in Covent Garden too!), but after a tough deliberation, I came to the conclusion that I wanted a new fragrance. It's been years since I actually bought one for myself, and buying perfume is one of those really intimate and personal experiences and so I decided to take my time (the better part of the afternoon actually!) to really stop and smell the roses, so to speak. I wanted something subtle, yet sensuous and earthy for the fall/winter season and so I went to my favourite London spot of all- Liberty's! The store houses one of the most comprehensive, lavish and elegant fragrance selection in the city, with some well-known and some more obscure and niche. Directionally, I went with the latter. I wanted something unusual and unexpected- definitely nothing too commercial either so ultimately, i went for Iris 39 from the renowned parfumers, Le Labo.
If you are not familiar with the brand, it was founded in New York in 2006 by Fabrice Penot and Edouard Roschi who are often described as the rebels of the fragrance world. They are passionate men with subversive streaks and a conscientious outlook in life. Their products are made vegan friendly (which also means they do not test on animals nor do they use ingredients that have been tested on animals.) with natural ingredients sourced directly from the 'fragrance capital of the world'- Grasse, France.
It's a no BS, no supermodel-fronting (or R-Patz-facing. Do not get me started!), chic-to-the-max brand. The names are kept relatively straightforward, giving the customer an upfront clue as to what the fragrance is, essentially. The number alongside the name is an indication of how many ingredients were used to create the perfume. Cool, right? It's so old-fashioned and ironically revolutionary! Le Labo's manifesto against the olfactory descriptions helps secure and bring back the and mystique of the fragrances. Wearing perfume is such a sensory experience that I do agree- one has to smell, feel and experience the bottled up magic. This alone made Le Labo a much more special trip for me. What makes each visit even more special, is the fact that it is not a self-service type of brand. No sir! They will consult with you, give you options, and once you've set your senses on the one- they will mix it and create it for you, BY HAND, ON THE SPOT. How's that for personal?
There were actually three blends of Iris fragrances (different brands) that were up for deliberation and I had to really take my time to make my choice. After all, a great fragrance is not only a cool addition to your dressing table top- it is a premium investment. A luxury. Yes, I could have gone for an Eau de Toilette from some commercial brand, but as a treat I wanted the best. In the end, the subtle elegance of Le Labo's incarnation came out as the winner. Iris is known as the most 'aristocratic' of fragrances with its subtle creamy, woodsy fragrance, and a powdery sweetness that really does give a sense of nobility. It's a little old-fashioned as far as florals go, but that's exactly what I love about it. It also has a sensual richness provided by Patchouli and a warm roundness reinforced by a secret musk recipe. It is a little heady to begin with but after a few hours on the skin, the fragrance blooms into a much more mellow, earthy and sweet scent. Absolutely glorious. As an added birthday treat, Marc (the specialist) slipped in a couple of other fragrance samples for me to enjoy- Ylang 49 (I liked it too as it reminded me a bit of my late grandmother and ylang-ylang garlands during graduation ceremonies in the Philippines) and Santal 33 (a fragrance based on their best-selling scented candle, funnily enough!), each retailing online for £8 per vial.
The packaging further adds to the personalised-prescriptive feel of the brand, with a simple pharmaceutical looking bottle and nothing but a printed label stating the place of creation, the name of the laboratory technician and (ta-dah!) your name! They do remind you that fragrances can last for more than a couple of years, so long as it is kept away from direct light and heat. I was so happy with my purchase, that I actually sprayed some on before going to bed. If I'm going to indulge myself, may as well go the whole way right? :)
This is a 50ml sized bottle, and it retails for £105. The perfumes come in three (or more) size options (10m, 50ml, and 100ml. It also comes in a 500ml decanter size, but I'm not really sure if that's just online or in specialised stores. Just check out their website for more info at Le Labo UK)
Have you tried any of Le Labo's fragrance ranges?
P.S.- It a good brand for those who like non-gender specific fragrances. I hate using the word 'unisex' too, so we'll go by NGS. Personally, I find fragrance transcends gender boundaries anyway. Instead go by mood and the mindset that I am currently in and this is something that is prevalent in all of my posts and the way I live my life in general. Skincare, fragrance, clothes, hell- even cosmetics? For me, it is one hell of a free zone :)
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