Le Labo's New Lavande 31 Is Unlike Any Lavender You've Smelled Before

While lavender is a lovely smell, it's not necessarily something I find particularly sexy. It's not the first thing I would think of to spritz on as a perfume — it's typically relegated to candles, soaps, and drawer sachets. To me, it's slightly old-fashioned. So when I first heard that the newest addition to Le Labo's Classic Collection would be a lavender perfume, I was a bit perplexed. That said, Le Labo is my most beloved perfumery (all my everyday signature scents are Le Labo), so I held back my judgment until I could actually get my hands on it.

When I did smell Le Labo Lavande 31 Eau de Parfum ($230), I have to say I let out an "ohh!" of surprise and delight. Yes, this fragrance is undoubtedly lavender-heavy, but in true Le Labo fashion, it totally reinvents what you'd normally consider a lavender scent. Keep reading for my full thoughts on this addition to the category.

Le Labo Lavande 31 Eau de Parfum

From

$230

$230 at lelabofragrances.com

What I like about this fragrance might be a little confusing — essentially, I like that lavender takes kind of a backseat to other elements. When combined with bergamot and neroli essential oils — which are admittedly my two favorite fragrance notes other than jasmine — the lavender becomes more fresh than skewing syrupy-sweet. Something I also typically don't like about lavender fragrances is the powdery note; the sharp, hit-you-in-the-back-of-the-nose-ness of both bergamot and neroli works to combat any hints of Grandma's powder box.

Lavande 31 is also set apart from the traditional lavender pack when given the classic Le Labo treatment — undertones of amber, musk, and tonka. I found that after letting the fragrance settle onto my skin, those warmer notes really came to the forefront.

And since I'm a Leo I also must note how many compliments I've gotten while wearing Lavande 31 (attention, yay). Most comments started with, "What . . . is that scent you're wearing?" Followed by, "I've never smelled anything like that before." The proof is in the lavender pudding, as they say.

At $230 for a 50-milliliter bottle, I would definitely consider this fragrance — and all of Le Labo's options — to be a luxury perfume. That said, I do think Lavande 31 is a pretty unique fragrance — I've truly never smelled a lavender-based perfume quite like it. I also think it lasts quite a long time on the body, so you get a good bang for your buck per spritz.

Rating
★★★★