LE LABO
LAVANDE 31

2023

bergamot
neroli

lavender

amber
musk
tonka bean

‘Le Labo, creator of luxury perfumes, takes us on a new sensory journey with Lavande 31, a daring reinterpretation of lavender that shakes up our memories and transforms the traditional perception of this floral note. Lavender, often associated with cozy domestic scenes like our grandparents’ bathroom or the hair salon of our childhood, takes on a whole new dimension here. With Lavande 31, Le Labo rehabilitates this olfactory note, by modernizing it, to give it back its letters of nobility. Infused with essential oils of bergamot and neroli revealing an unsuspected freshness. This combination reveals a lavender of great purity, of which only the flower buds are distilled, giving this creation an unprecedented verticality and richness. The base of the perfume, a true signature of Le Labo, revolves around amber and musky notes, intertwined with notes of tonka. This delicate association gives the fragrance a unique classic regressive imprint, evoking both purity and savagery. This audacious composition highlights Le Labo’s desire to push the boundaries of traditional perfume, to offer its customers an unparalleled olfactory experience. Lavande 31 reminds us that perfume is an art, and that familiar notes can be reinvented to create olfactory works of art that awaken the senses and spark the imagination. Welcome to a new reality, one where lavender isn’t what you thought it was. With Lavande 31, Le Labo redefines the olfactory field of lavender, offering a sensory journey that revisits the familiar to create something exceptionally new and daring. Le Labo, by rethinking lavender, once again demonstrates its ability to create new and avant-garde fragrances that defy our expectations and expand our olfactory universe. Lavande 31 is more than a fragrance, it’s a sensory exploration that resonates within us, reviving memories and creating new ones.’ – Le Labo

As someone who isn’t the biggest fan of lavender, I have to say that Lavande 31 is a solid take on the note. And while I initially found Lavande 31 a bit generic, after more testing, I think it’s one of the better Le Labo releases around its time.

I think Lavande 31 does an excellent job at combining the ‘retro masculine cologne’ lavender and the more modernized and warmer take. In retrospect, I feel that Le Labo’s line may be the perfect place for a fragrance like this; the brand tends to feel quite minimal, sharp, almost industrial and for me, that fits a lavender fragrance well.

The citrussy overtones in the first hour are pleasant and the slowly sweetening drydown doesn’t take too much away from the feeling that you want to get from an aromatic fragrance. It feels rather simple; the way most lavender ‘eau de colognes’ do, but in this case, I don’t mind.

My main complaint would be that the neroli adds a soapiness that’s too dominant for my taste at times during the wear. It’s a must try for lavender lovers, but it may equally be one to shun for neroli ‘haters’. After the opening, neroli becomes about as prominent as lavender.

I prefer Tom Ford’s Beau de Jour and I’m happy enough to stick to my vintage bottle of Dolce & Gabbana Pour Homme when it comes to lavender, but Lavande 31 is a great option if you don’t mind the neroli. I think it leans less clearly traditionally masculine than the Tom Ford or Dolce & Gabbana and it warms up more. Thumbs up.