Le Labo • Aldehydes 44 • Fragrances

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liangaf1 on 3/21/2013 4:34:00 PM more reviews by liangaf1

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

Please see the comment before mine for notes - she has an excellent nose, and her description summarizes the fragrance perfectly. I have a very primitive perfume style - I can only say whether I like, love or dislike something, and whether the perfume is floral, oriental, etc. :)

That said, I LOVE this perfume. I ordered it without having ever sniffed/tried it. (As the Dallas Barney's is closing, it was now or never, and the reviews online were too positive to let it go - I am a definitive lover of Le Labo fragrance.) It is perfect for every day use. I've had it on for about 5 hours now, and it's a gentle soft floral at this point. I wore it for the first time yesterday, and at bedtime I could still catch a whiff of the perfume in my hair. Yes, it's very expensive. But I've come to realize that Le Labo is probably my preferred perfume line. None of the fragrances that I've tried (I have the rose scent, as well as the Paris Vanilla scent) are blasting or obnoxious. I have a fragrance sensitive spouse, and he's never complained about me wearing them. I also have a colleague at work who wears the rose scent, and it's lovely and delicious and not 'perfume-y'. I used to love Bond No. 9 but those seem too much, too prone to inducing headaches. I plan on using up & refilling my city exclusives!

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*TOP REVIEWER* ccspringer on 6/14/2011 6:56:00 PM more reviews by ccspringer

Age: 19-24   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I'm lucky to have the opportunity to drop by the Dallas Barney's now and then. I wanted to smell this city "exclusive" and the only mildly snooty SA's let me sniff around.
Aldehyde 44 is nothing like the classic, sharp fragrance I was expecting. It bears little resemblance to cool, aldehyde-heavy classics like Chanel No. 5 or Hermes Caleche. It smells completely modern, warm, and smooth. The top is bright and abstract, but it quickly settles into a smooth blend of light florals. The drydown brings in sumptuous warm vanilla along with the jasmine and orange blossom. The overall effect is of a warm, clean, and richly powdery floral. This is the definition of a modern aldehyde - abstract, well-blended, and uplifting. Plus, it reflects modern tastes with the nearly-gourmand drydown.
That said, it's not really my style. Le Labo fragrances are pricey and their marketing is appealing, but this "exclusive" is something I really can't afford to fall in love with.
Notes according to Le Labo: Narcissus, neroli, jasmine sambac, tuberose, vanilla absolute, ambrette, muscs, aldehydes

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*TOP REVIEWER* Funkly on 10/7/2009 5:11:00 PM more reviews by Funkly

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Of the city exclusives this (Dallas) was probably the one I was least interested in and I was wrong.
I normally find aldehydes too cold and old fashioned, while in this composition they appear under a contemporary guise, while undoubtedly being there, especially in the opening. For once the name of a Le Labo perfume matches the contents !
After a while the scent becomes more flowery, still enriched by that lovely diamond sparkle that aldehydes give, yet it feels very lush and warm. The listed notes say that it contains tuberose, narcissus and jasmine absolutes. It then moves to a beautiful woody creamy drydown which I am sure features gaiac wood. Musc is also listed.
Not much to do with Chanel n.5 in my books (not a fan here) nor powdery.

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*TOP REVIEWER* janebkrn on 9/25/2008 3:50:00 PM more reviews by janebkrn

Age: Unknown   Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

Did I get a bad sample of this? I don't know. I usually like aldehydes. This has nothing to compare it to Chanel #5 or any other perfume for that matter. Total chemical, which got worse as the day went on (at least it lasts for hours) and became bug spray. I could not wait to get home and wash it off!

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*TOP REVIEWER* bellydancer on 2/15/2007 12:04:00 PM more reviews by bellydancer

Age: Unknown   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

Upon initial application, this definitely goes through a Chanel #5 phase, but it doesn't last long. Then, I get this wonderful drydown that is dark and honey warm-- I smell oude (which is not listed in the ingredients at all). Then as it dries down and gets softer, it's just very interesting and comfortable with a slight sharp edge. I do love that. Mr. BD bought this for me at the Dallas Barneys for Valentine's Day. He had the label printed with my name and his, and the box had a handwritten note on it to me from the owner of the company or someone-- a very sweet note about how much Mr. BD loves me-- but I can't read the signature. Looks like Federique or something. It was not the perfumer himself-- perhaps a Le Labo president or owner or something. I cannot believe how well Mr. BD and the Le Labo fellow picked something out for me that I would have never tried (Aldehydes = Chanel #5 = blah) and I really really like it! So surprised! Also, Mr. BD mixed Aldehydes 44 and the Le Labo Jasmine at the counter and said that was THE BOMB. The perfume guy was appalled and said that you don't mix the scents (ha ha, as if).

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