Perfume Review: Aldehyde 44 by Le Labo
Le Labo, the hip, New York based fragrance line, has come up with what they seem to think a brilliant idea of exclusivity: creating city-specific perfumes, namely, they’re only available for purchase in that city and require your physical presence. The first one, Tubereuse 40, was crafted for New York where it can be purchased at Barney’s or Le Labo boutique. The next one in line is Aldehyde 44 to honor the city of Dallas and its newly reopened Barney’s. What’s behind this incongruous idea is beyond me. Do they want us to travel to these cities to help the economy? Do they want us to simply suffer over not being able to even place a phone or online order? Or is it simply a random, whimsical concept? I’m afraid I don’t have the answers. What I do have the answer to, though, is the question whether the perfumes are good - yes, they are. Moreover, the city-specific ones leave a much better impression on me than their regular range. Such is the case with Aldehyde 44 - it is the best Le Labo scent so far. End of rant, for the scent’s sake alone (for now).
As the name suggests, the scent is built around aldehydes, perfume ingredients most commonly known for their presence in such Chanel fragrances as No 5 and No 22. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the top notes of Aldehyde 44 are very similar to Chanel No 22. However, while Chanel No 22 maintains the fizzy, aldehydic theme throughout its entire development, Aldehyde 44 transforms into a luscious, rich floral. It is a bit challenging to discern the flowers here but my nose detects indolic jasmine, hay-like narcissus, and just a touch of tuberose. The scent is sweet-powdery and lush-creamy at the same time. It doesn’t seem to develop much but I’m perfectly happy with what I get. On my skin, that is, for I simply cannot own a bottle, and travelling to Dallas isn’t in my immediate plans. Shame indeed, for a scent this elegant and excellently balanced to be thus confined.
Aldehyde 44 features the notes of aldehydes, tuberose absolute, narcissus absolute, jasmin sambac, musk, woods.
Image source: lelabofragrances.com
30 comments February 26th, 2007
