“In a world where luxury perfumes are mass-produced and sold in places that look like supermarkets, where advertising campaigns try to fool consumers into thinking they are unique even though their ‘one of a its kind’ fragrances are worn by millions across the globe, we believe there is another solution. As a result, Le Labo has decided to take matters - and perfume - back in hand…”

In this day and age a perfume brand like Le Labo for me really is a treasure to behold. A brand where fine perfumers refuse to produce factory-made products, want to create scents that reawaken the olfactory senses, and create these master pieces fresh and on demand.

After a visit to Le Labo’s Devonshire Street store in London recently I have to say I am completely and utterly in love. The atmosphere, the surroundings, the branding, the sales assistant and more importantly the fragrances themselves had me completely in a spin. It was like finding my fragrance home.

 The best thing about the fragrances on offer in Le Labo has to be the level of service and knowledge of perfume itself. The sales assistant spoke to me for the best part of twenty minutes about fragrance, essential oils and their company policies - letting me sniff bottles of their (none animal tested) oils from behind the counter and showing me every fragrance they had on offer. These blends are not only beautifully complex and made using the best ingredients but maybe most importantly are made right in front of your eyes. There is no stock, the essential oils and alcohol are kept separate until you choose a fragrance to buy - and then the magic begins. For perfume fans this place really is heaven.

Patchouli 24 really caught my nose and was definitely worth a second, third and fourth sniff but I have to say that Santal 33 was the scent that wrapped itself around me. I haven’t been able to get it out of my mind since. Santal 33 is a leathery, violet, sandalwood masterpiece that transported me back to every old book I’ve read, library I’ve been in, and vintage leather jacket I’ve owned. It seemed to span my childhood memories of hiding out in my schools library at lunch time, to my adult memories of dancing in a hot, sweaty club at 3am. It was perfect.

Normally in this kind of situation I would rush to Le Labo’s online store and order this fragrance immediately but in this case the atmosphere in the store itself is so incredibly unique that I can’t bare to buy it without getting it from the store itself. It may just be the novelty of watching them mix it in person, or it could indeed be my need for another long conversation about scent with the sales assistant - but either way my need for Santal 33 will have to wait until I can make it back to Devonshire Street.