Le Labo introduces the Coriandre 39 — the newest City Exclusive fragrance to join the collection, inspired by Mexico City.
There are luxury fragrances, then there are the cult names. Largely thanks to brands like Le Labo, who believe in creating new sensorial expressions that prioritise artistry, soul and nostalgia over mass appeal. These strike a chord for the romantics because aromas head straight to the olfactory nerve in the brain, which is directly connected to the hippocampus and amygdala; this means that memories and their accompanying emotions are especially vivid and details when triggered by a particular scent. It’s probably a no-brainer then that these previously unconventional scents have become the classics in a fragrance cognoscenti’s collection — but while most would immediately think of Santal 33 as a great example, we’d beg to differ that the Le Labo’s City Exclusive fragrances showcase this better.
For the unacquainted, Le Labo’s City Exclusives are scents created in odes to cities around the world, a distinct reflection their unique characters and energy — and only available to purchase there. In other words, this special not just because it is Le Labo’s translation of the city vibe into a fragrance, but also because it is only sold in the very place that you can compare that interpretation with your own. That means no online orders or shipping — until you get to a specific month every year when the full size bottles of each scent become available at all Le Labo labs worldwide.
That month is September, which is fast approaching. After creations inspired by home-base New York, Paris, Seoul and most recently, Shanghai, the fragrance brand looks towards Mexico City for inspiration, and from a particularly humble yet controversial herb — coriander. Or cilantro, depending on where you are from.
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Bringing to mind scenes of convivial spirit, the celebration of rich histories, and a combination of birdsong and urban buzz, the floral-aqautic Coriandre 39 pierces first with spicy lime and aldehydic coriander leaves, before allowing a more vegetal play of the air to follow — crisp, green, yet also floral. The freshness is thus instant, and wears into a grounding, warm musk after drying down.
It’s described to be “a sensory experience that teeters between tranquil and vibrant”, embodying the act of “forest bathing” in Chapultepec — Mexico City’s largest city park. Stately yet exuberant enough to intrigue, the Coriandre 39 stands to become an interesting addition to your fragrance collection, particularly for those who are interested to switch things up for something more unorthodox. After all, how you wear the fragrance on your skin is going to change how you smell with the scent too — this true-blue City in Nature scent is definitely worth a try. If you’re not willing to commit to one City Exclusive so quickly, consider the Discovery Set to see which City Exclusive might better appeal to your nose — there’s bound to be a metropolis for you out here.
Once you are done with this story, click here to catch up with our September 2024 issue.