Okay, so I’ve been seeing “City Exclusives” from Le Labo all over my TikTok and Instagram feeds. I finally decided to bite the bullet and figure out what this whole thing was about. Turns out, it’s a yearly event where they release fragrances that are only sold in specific cities – pretty cool, huh?
First, I did a deep dive on the Le Labo website, trying to get my head around the concept. I learned that throughout the year, these scents are normally locked to their home city, which is kinda frustrating when you see a fragrance described so beautifully and it is across the globe. But, during a small window (usually the whole month of September) you can order samples or buy them online, no matter where you are. Perfect, right?
So, I started with the samples. No way was I going to blindly spend a ton of money on a full bottle without knowing what it smelled like! I went to the dedicated “City Exclusives” section of their website, and man, there were a LOT of choices. I narrowed it down by looking at notes that I generally like – things like woods, ambers, and maybe a little bit of spice. I ended up ordering samples of:
- Gaiac 10 (Tokyo): Everyone raves about this one. It’s supposed to be all about woods and musk.
- Vanille 44 (Paris): Okay, vanilla is my weakness. I had to try this one.
- Tabac 28 (Miami): This sounded interesting – tobacco, rum, and cardamom. A bit of a gamble, but I was curious.
The ordering process itself was super straightforward. Just added the samples to my cart and checked out. The shipping did take a little while, which was annoying, but I figured it was coming from different places, so I was patient.
The Sniff Test!
Once the package finally arrived, I ripped it open like a kid on Christmas morning. First up: Gaiac 10. It’s one of the most popular and, honestly, it was amazing. Subtle, woody, and definitely something I’d wear every day. Vanille 44 was next. It was nice, a very sophisticated vanilla, but maybe a little too subtle for my taste. I like my vanilla to pack a bit more punch. Finally, Tabac 28. This one was the wild card, and it was…interesting. Definitely smoky and a bit boozy. Not an everyday scent for me, but I could see myself wearing it on a night out.
After wearing each of the samples for a full day, I decided to go for a full bottle of Gaiac 10. It’s just so wearable and unique. The price tag definitely made me wince a little, but I figured it was a special occasion (and my birthday was coming up, so…treat myself, right?). I ordered the smallest size 50ml cause I am not a millionaire. The 100ml just seemed a bit excessive.
The full bottle arrived pretty quickly, and it’s just as beautiful as I expected. I’ve been wearing it constantly since I got it, and I always get compliments. So, yeah, the Le Labo City Exclusives thing? Definitely worth exploring, especially if you’re a fragrance nerd like me. Just be prepared to spend some money – those samples and bottles aren’t cheap!