Le Labo, the French-influenced indie fragrance store out of New York, quietly opened their first stand-alone boutique here in the District on Saturday, occupying a spot in The Shay shopping complex, between Warby Parker and what is rumored to be a future Aesop skincare store.
The interior mimics other Le Labo shops in New York and London, with the same industrial meets shabby-luxe aesthetic you’d find in a converted warehouse. Vintage furniture populates the otherwise sparse space. A mini laboratory tucked into the back corner lets employees mix and refill in style.
The Shaw boutique carries the full line of Le Labo products–unisex scents, along with candles, shower gel, body lotion, body oil, soap, and more–and it’s known for its irreverent attitude towards scent, refusing to produce the straightforward florals and musks of other big parfumeries. Instead, one of their most popular scents, Santal 33, is modeled after the Marlboro man, and another, Rose 31, is described as “assertively virile.” Currently, each stand-alone Le Labo shop (in Paris, New York, San Francisco, Tokyo, Moscow, Los Angeles, Chicago and Dubai), carries a specialty scent, influenced by the vibe and culture of each city. No word yet on whether DC is getting its own scent, too, but there’s one thing we’ll put money on: it won’t smell like cherry blossoms.
Le Labo: 1924 8th St. NW, #120; 202-986-0600; lelabofragrances.com
Hillary writes about interiors, real estate, arts, and culture. She is the former digital media editor of The New Republic, and her work has also been published in Glamour, The New York Times Book Review, and The Washington Post, among others. You can follow her on Instagram @hillarylouisekelly or on Pinterest @hlkelly.
