Le Labo Musc 25 (2008): New L.A. Exclusive {New Perfume}
Described by Le Labo co-founder Fabrice Penot as a "...white ball of musk with a black, dirty center that would be the symbol of the city (L.A.)" the new Musc 25, the latest city-exclusive by the brand has finally been unveiled. The white/black contrast is supposed to evoke the paradox of the existence of sin in the city of angels.This vision was partly inspired by the song Under The Bridge by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Other notes include ambergris, patchouli, rose, amber and vetiver.
A synthetic recreation of a note of human semen was added to illustrate the idea of "dirty", an idea that comes on the tail of Le Sperme Magnifique by Etat Libre d'Orange also euphemistically and officially called Sécrétions Magnifiques (however the smell of it is not euphemistic)...
Musc 25 is moreover said to be based on white musk and to evoke The Body Shop White Musk in passing.
Le Labo fans can note that an upcoming woodsy fragrance is in the works.
How to get the new exclusive will be tricky as the brand loves to play hard-to-get. No phone orders permitted. As usual the city-exclusive are even more expensive than the common offerings of Le Labo.
Will you be glad or will you be sorry it is not easily accessible?
"The concoction, sold exclusively at Le Labo's boutique on West 3rd Street starting today, doesn't come cheap. It's twice as much as the company's other perfumes -- $260 for a 50-milliliter bottle and $400 for a 100-milliliter bottle. Penot says the cost of developing the fragrance and the quality of ingredients justify the price. "Sometimes our oils cost 30% more than what is normally used in a perfume."
Read more in the L. A. Times...
These guys make interesting stuff, but not enough to qualify their outrageous price points and "come chase me attitudes". They are just driving up the price of other brands in that tier of the market, needlessly and without conscience. ATTENTION Ed and Fab please attend: YOU ARE ALIENATING YOU CUSTOMERS AND POTENTIAL NEW ONES BY YOUR RIDICULOUS PRICE POINTS, IN CASE YOU HAVE NOT HEARD WE ARE IN A RECESSION POSSIBLY A DEPRESSION AFTER THE NEW YEAR. LE LABO'S PRICES HAVE INCREASED EVERY YEAR SINCE YOU OPENED YOUR SHOP IN NYC, GIVE US A BREAK YOUR COST OF GOODS IS NOT THAT MUCH (I KNOW WHERE YOU GET YOUR BOTTLES AND JUICE AND OTHER SUPPLIES.) AND SOME OF US LIKE YOUR VISION FOR FRAGRANCE, BUT YOU ARE NOT DRAWING US NEAR WITH YOUR PRICE POINTS BUT FURTHER AWAY. DON'T GET ME STARTED ON YOUR CITY SPECIFIC EDITIONS BULL@#$%!!! HAVE CARE AND A THINK ON IT. THANK YOU.
P.S. HOW ABOUT A SHOWER GEL IN YOUR LINE THAT DOESN'T COST $50.00+++
Thanks for your comment.
I just wanted to comment that luxury brands usually count on the fact that the upper crust of consumers will not change their spending habits and that very exclusive products will continue to sell very well. Now, I am not sure that a Le Labo fragrance is equivalent to a Birkin bag -- in fact it isn't -- but there is this kind of assessment.
But you are right, there are contradictory reports but lately one can read more about luxury labels starting to review their growth estimates. They are still growing but not as much as planned earlier on.
Re: Greg and Marie-Helene's comments.
I have wealthy relatives (net worth near $100M). Even their spending has been affected. AND that of their friends, some of whom have lost 2/3 or more of their net worth in this economy. It's affecting *everyone.*
I'm a well-paid professional. I usually spend several thousands a year on luxury items. No more. And the same for many if not most of my friends/co-workers.
Niche brands are foolish not to take heed, in my opinion.