At a time when self-care has become as much about atmosphere as skincare, Le Labo is continuing to expand its fragrance universe beyond perfume. The New York-based fragrance house has unveiled a new incense collection, available in three classic scents, alongside a pair of Santal 33 perfuming hand-care products, all designed to elevate everyday rituals through scent.
Inspired by the Japanese art of Kōdō—the centuries-old practice of appreciating incense—Le Labo’s recently released incense collection marks a new chapter for the brand’s home fragrance offerings. Kyoto has long been regarded as the historic heart of Japanese incense craftsmanship, making it a fitting location for Le Labo’s latest venture into the category.
“With this incense, we honor the centuries-old wisdom contained in its practice,” says Deborah Royer, Le Labo Fragrances Global Brand President and Creative Director. “In watching smoke ascend, we find a reflection of the self: never fixed, always shifting, a slow burn forever finding form.”
The new incense collection is available in three of Le Labo’s signature home fragrances: Santal 26, a warm blend of sandalwood, leather and smoky woods; Encens 9, a spicy frankincense fragrance accented by clove and amber; and Ambroxyde 17, a clean, musky scent with subtle woody undertones. Handcrafted in Kyoto by twelfth-generation artisans using traditional Japanese techniques, each box contains 35 incense sticks designed to offer approximately 25 minutes of burn time. The collection is accompanied by a minimalist concrete incense holder (sold separately) that develops a unique patina over time.
Meanwhile, Le Labo is also expanding one of its most beloved scents into the world of body care.
Fans of Le Labo’s Santal 33 can now incorporate the cult-favourite scent into their hand-care routine with the launch of the new Santal 33 Perfuming Hand Soap and Hand Lotion, which hits shelves today. Featuring the fragrance’s recognizable blend of cardamom, iris, violet and smoky woods, including sandalwood and cedarwood, the duo brings one of modern perfumery’s most iconic scents into the bathroom sink. The hand lotion is enriched with shea butter and jojoba oil to help soften and nourish skin.
The slightly sultry, smoky scent is undeniably the brand’s flagship fragrance.
“We are lucky at Le Labo to have a few ‘cults’ in our collection,” Le Labo co-founder and perfumer Fabrice Penot told the New York Times back in 2015. “But Santal 33 is another level of success; it has had a stupid amount of success. As a perfumer, you always secretly hope, but you never expect, [to have] such an impact. It happens once in a lifetime – if you are very, very lucky.”
In an era where scent has become an increasingly important part of self-care and home design, Le Labo’s latest launches offer new ways for fans to incorporate the brand’s signature fragrances into their daily rituals.
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