Le Labo Candles

I started buying these candles from a little shop in Nolita must be 15 years ago now. They weren’t anywhere near as expensive. But boy were they amazing, like nothing we’d smelt before. Le labo had originated in Grasse, on the cote D’Azur, but was certainly raised in New York City.

Edouard Rishi and Fabrice Penot opened the store the die hards still love, including me on Elizabeth Stand get this, the really impressive gorgeous store, paper labels, simple printing, cardboard box packaging but without investor backing or any advertising. If was simplicity, quality, homemade, New York Lifestyle all rolled in to one.

I remember the first few times I went in, the fragrance was captivating, beautiful unique blends inthe simplest of packaging made me spend more on one candle I had ever done in the past. I remember burning it for a bit in my small studio apartment and the scent being so overpoweringly beautiful I’d not only blow it out to conserve my investment but my neighbours would comment on how beautiful the hallway in our building smelled.

When I read Jennifer Lopez was buying 100-200 candles a month (according to The Cut) from them I knew it wouldn’t be long before the prices skyrocketed and I would no longer be able to afford them.

In 2014 the inevitable happened and Le Labo was swallowed up by Estée Lauder and today I am still a customer. I am not sure eco sustainable and vegan cruelty free labels are still relevant or accurate though as animal testing is legally required for sale of goods in China.

I couldn’t find out if the founders stayed with the company, several articles written post sale to Ester Lauder 2014 say they still are involved in all product development.

I don’t visit the store as often anymore, the fragrances are still magical, no doubt about it and I am still an occasional customer, but for me, like J Lo, I am now on the look out for the next Le Labo.

Any independent candle makers out there with a product as good I am a customer for you. Candles are big business Estée Lauder’s fragrance category now includes, Tom Ford, Jo Malone London and Le Labo.

Le Labo is a really big niche brand for the make up giant, because even if you’ve heard of Le Labo you probably wouldn’t know who owns it. I like to believe it’s an artisan product for conscientious consumers but I know that’s clever marketing these days and $87 for a 245g candle is really daylight robbery, as artisan large scale is an oxymoron.

I burn a lot of candles. You could say I am a purveyor of room fragrance, diffusers and candles. I have been known to cook oranges and lemons at the holidays for the scent, on a budget.

I am for sure on the look out for the next Le Labo.