Fresh fragrance

Discovering fragrance

Fresh-blend fragrances, born in the French Riviera and raised in NYC, are now bringing an industrial style, slow perfumery to H beauty, Gateshead. Welcome Le Labo...

French for ‘the lab’, Le Labo was born in Grasse in the French Riviera, and raised in New York City in 2006. Today, it continues to grow with new boutiques internationally, one being within H beauty, Gateshead. There’s something effortlessly cool about the brand, and it strikes you as soon as you see it - whether it’s in the branding, the boutiques or the bottles themselves. That stripped-back, relaxed, industrial style is echoed in the H beauty Gateshead concession. Purchasing an exclusive fragrance is something of a luxury, and the team at Le Labo are all about promoting that unique experience and ensuring you are a part of the creative process. Every creation is a meticulously handcrafted composition that blends art and sensuality into pure pleasure. You can expect an educational, theatrical experience as you explore the scents, get to know the brand and fragrances, and then watch as the team create your very own bottle in front of you. Like all Le Labo stores, the H beauty boutique functions like an open artisanal laboratory designed as an entertainment park for the nose. You can take your time to discover the raw ingredients, awaken the senses and trigger those emotions in a way that only the power of the scent can. The team then hand-blend the signature fragrances to order with a personalised label and messaging. The core collection is made up of 19 genderless perfumes, 12 candles and a beautiful hair and body range. The brand is all about creating soulful beauty and body care - with luxury craftsmanship, expert knowledge and high quality raw materials at the very heart. The brand works with a community of expert craftspeople who shape the world we live in; from flower harvesters and family farms, to candle pourers and reclaimed wood artisans. The slow perfumery is tucked away in the corner of the H beauty store and it’s as cool as it gets when it comes to shopping for a fresh, blended fragrance. We are greeted and left to discover at our leisure. When we’re ready to learn a little about Le Labo, the team join us for an initial consultation where we go through the collection and what we’re looking for in our fragrance. Gently guided by the experts, we settle on the signature scent and

Candle Discovery Set, £67

THE BRAND WORKS WITH A COMMUNITY OF EXPERT CRAFTSPEOPLE WHO SHAPE THE WORLD WE LIVE IN; FROM FLOWER HARVESTERS AND FAMILY FARMS, TO CANDLE POURERS AND RECLAIMED WOOD ARTISANS

best-seller, Santal 33. The first step is to get the scent on the skin, allowing it to settle for a little while and ensuring it’s the best match. Then it’s time to make the fragrance. We’re invited to take a seat and watch the process. An incredibly unique opportunity indeed. Our personalised label is printed, stating the date, who it has been made by and any names or messaging. While the technicians are preparing for the perfumery process, we’re offered a complimentary hand massage and a chance to explore the hair and body range. Next up, the gloves, goggles and aprons are out and the experts get to the good stuff. The raw materials (sourced in Grasse) are gathered and poured into a beaker. The Santal 33 perfume is made up of alcohol, water and the pre-blended oils (which are kept in the fridge to ensure they’re fresh and kept to an incredibly high quality). This is when the show really begins. The ingredients are then mixed in front of us and transferred into our very own glass bottle. The lid is then sealed and the finished product is mixed once more using the ‘vortex’ mixing machine. The label is attached, presented and packaged in beautifully simplistic brown paper packaging – complete with a thank you note and aftercare information. Our freshly blended fragrance is bottled, packaged and ready to take home and we’re delighted to have experienced the luxury of crafting a personalised Le Labo fragrance in store. These are the perfumers we all need to know. A cool, comfortable and incredibly chilled experience in the hands of some incredible craftspeople.