Le Labo • Gaiac 10 • Fragrances

jcparodi on 8/23/2012 12:19:00 AM more reviews by jcparodi

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

I'm a Maitre D at an upscale restaurant in Manhattan, this fragrance is pure reassurance and tranquility in a bottle, and believe me, it's a pretty high stress job. Deep, tranquil woods, surrounded by radiant musks. perfect, it makes people want to lean closer. I should write it off on my taxes for work expense. Vanille 44 and Gaiac 10 are pretty much all I wear.

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enya on 5/5/2011 4:46:00 AM more reviews by enya

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

i bought a full size bottle when it was available online for the charity cause (red cross for japan), and i had high hopes given all the raves about it. lovely fragrance, but it just doesn't stay. virtually can't be detected in less than an hour's time. can't afford paying a fortune for sth that's gone in no time!

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*TOP REVIEWER* HelenVanPattersonPatton on 5/1/2011 2:21:00 PM more reviews by HelenVanPattersonPatton

Age: 30-35   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

Mmmm. This scent is divine and I briefly considered paying $290 for 50ml while it's available (proceeds go to the Japanese Red Cross) outside Japan until May 15, but I'll resist.That said, Gaiac 10 is a comforting, sensual, clean woody incense with just the barest hint of soft, sweet musk. If I had my preference in the limited Le Labo full bottle range I would probably cave on the vanilla (Paris) but it would be tough to pass this one up. I'll wear my $70ish Just Breathe from CBIHP and be able to continue to provide my pets with food & shelter.

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MoBo on 8/1/2010 2:25:00 PM more reviews by MoBo

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

Dang I love this fragrance. Usually I don't have a problem with words...but I'm not sure how to describe this. I guess it's not surprising that I like this because I'm seeing that, as I try more and more different scents, I tend to gravitate towards more 'unisex' and possibly woodier scents (but not so spicy). For example, while an iris scent, I truly love l'Artisan Iris Pallida. I tried other irises, such as Serge Lutens Iris Silver Mist and the Different Company Bois d'Iris, but nothing compares in terms of loveliness. I suspected that maybe it was the guaiac note and so I sought out other fragrances with that particular note to see if that's what I love. I don't really have refined olfactory senses at this point so I'm not sure if the guaiac is what makes Iris Pallida special, but I'm so glad I explored because I found this little gem. But now I would liken my state to the feeling of unrequited love because I fear I'll never own a full bottle (having never been to Japan let alone in possession of $400 in disposable income to spend on perfume! If only...). Anyway, yes, this is a woody fragrance. It's not 'loud', but lays close to the skin, as other reviewers have already mentioned. It's warm and clean-smelling. I guess it's masculine, but I'm a 30 year old girlie girl and this fragrance is about as close to holy grail as I've ever gotten. My husband doesn't really notice it, but I like this fragrance so much that I don't even care. If you have the money BUY IT (for me!). If not, get the largest decant you can. This is a great everyday fragrance, which is probably why I love it so much. Special occasions might call for something a little 'more'.
Update: I've given this review some thought since writing it a few days ago and, while I still love this fragrance, I have to admit I'm somewhat uncomfortable with the policy of 'exclusivity' practiced by Le Labo in regards to their City Exclusive range. I'm kind of torn over this...while I like the idea of a fragrance as an homage to a place, and I like the idea of wearing a fragrance that isn't mainstream (is unique and so forth), I'm not sure I like that these city exclusives are only available in their respective namesake cities. But I guess making them readily available would make the whole concept 'city exclusive' redundant...At the same time, this concept seems elitist and exclusionary, which is not something I really like. I don't know if this negative connotation is something that's intentional on the part of the company...perhaps they've got a good conceptual/practical justification. I dunno...still thinking about this one.

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chrystelica on 6/26/2010 5:09:00 PM more reviews by chrystelica

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

This authentically smells like the living wood of a forest. It has the dark, rich, deep sweetness of the wood from which an oboe might be made. It reminds me of the smell of African blackwood. It has a resinous tinge to the middle notes and leaves a warm, spicy, almost masculine wake. Overall the lasting power is good, about 6-7 hours, the perfume wears close to the body, yet still enough to be noticeable and obvious to you at all times. The radius strength of sillage is less than a French perfume and more than a Japanese, about halfway in between the two.

This really is deserving of 5 stars, but I can't give it that because I personally wouldn't seek this out and buy a FB. Even a decant, I don't have to own, but I do enjoy it very much. Especially on the right man, it would be great. I suppose that's where I differ from other reviewers, I enjoy musks more so than woods in perfume, although I love to wear wood oils in my hair. If they made this in a camelia hair oil (or maybe the non-alcohol version)... and I happened to be in Tokyo ready to part with several hundred dollars -- sold.

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willy56 on 1/22/2010 4:45:00 PM more reviews by willy56

Age: 44-55   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Silver   Eyes: Blue    

There are a handful of fragrances that I will never part with and Le Labo Gaiac 10 is at the top of the list. Gaiac 10 knows no seasonal bounds- light enough to wear in the summer heat yet the woodsy cedar works well in winter months.I am not a fan of musks but Gaiac 10 settles on the skin lightly yet will last many hours with out being over bearing.. To describe this elusive scent is not an easy task.I do know this: a few sprays of this elusive,tranquil fragrance sets the mood for the day-both simple yet sophisticated The bottle like all Le Labo packaging is devoid of extravagance- basic apothecary style bottle and label .The cap design is almost an ornament-substantial in weight yet sensible-together with the bottle it somehow connotes the science of fragrance. Adoration......

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*TOP REVIEWER* drvogue on 11/11/2009 3:34:00 PM more reviews by drvogue

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

I'm sure there are a lot of fragrances out there which smell fairly close to Gaiac. Unfortunately, I don't know what these would be. I guess what I'm trying to say is it doesn't smell unique or challenging. So one would think that the $400 price tag is unwarranted. And one would be mostly right. However, there is something so bewitching about this scent, as other reviewers below have commented on. It's woods (I smell mostly cedar since I don't know what gaiac actually smells like), balanced with some freshness (I have no clue what ingredient this would be as there is nothing in the official notes to suggest this but perhaps it's the "not as hard cedar" gaiac component) and skin. The sillage is weak but the staying power is high. If you don't normally go for woodsy scents, you may want to give this a try. Or maybe don't, if you don't want to get stuck paying obscene amounts for a perfume. Whoever is behind the marketing of this company must be commended.

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JCAUDO on 10/28/2009 12:51:00 PM more reviews by JCAUDO

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

I only wish I had never tried this absolutely stunning fragrance! It is exactly what I have been looking for, the perfect signature scent that is luminous, yet alluring. There is nothing like it out there;the uniqueness of the gaiac wood is perfectly blended with the musks to make this an intoxicating "skin" scent. Normally musks dont sit well on me, but this one is heaven! If you try this, you will love it! It is expensive, but if you have spent $$$ looking for the perfect scent as I have, your search will end here. It is exclusive to Tokyo only, big draw back!

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*TOP REVIEWER* DebbieB43 on 12/27/2008 7:57:00 PM more reviews by DebbieB43

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

Le Labo is killing my wallet with these city exclusives! With that said, the newest from Tokyo Gaiac 10 is no exception to another amazing scent. The creator of this fragrance, Annick Menardo , has managed to take gaiac, woods, olibanum, and musk and make something hauntingly magical! The woods give off a snuggle like creaminess, no sharp edges, no separation, no one predominant wood takes over here. The musk is so subtle, but seems to add a touch sweetness, the olibanum lends the incense vibe to this, but dances on the skin so softly. I tell myself that 700.00 + is insane( for the 100 ml bottle) but...I have a strong suspicion, this will be my next purchase:))

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