Founded in 2006 in New York City by Fabrice Penot and Eddie Roschi, Le Labo was built as a deliberate rebellion against mass-produced perfumery. Rooted in the philosophy of "slow perfumery," each fragrance is hand-blended fresh in front of the customer and labeled with their name and the date — a return to a more personal, unhurried way of making scent, using pure, hand-picked ingredients rather than heavy marketing or packaging.

Named simply "the lab" in French, the brand's fragrances are named for their dominant ingredient and the number of components in the blend — Santal 33, Rose 31, Bergamote 22 — with several city-exclusive scents available only where they were inspired. Now part of the Estée Lauder Companies while retaining creative independence, Le Labo remains known for its raw, understated character and its commitment to fragrance as craft rather than spectacle.