1. Maison Louis Marie
If you love Santal 33, consider Maison Louis Marie your next stop. The brand is famous for No.04 Bois de Balincourt, a fragrance so often compared to Le Labo's icon that it’s achieved its own cult status. It shares that same creamy, intoxicating sandalwood
and cedarwood heart but is often described as slightly softer and less leathery. It delivers the same warm, woody, and unisex appeal, making it a perfect spiritual sibling for those who adore Santal 33's signature character but are open to a subtle new interpretation.
2. Byredo
Byredo shares Le Labo's DNA of minimalist chic and crafting scents that tell a story. Founded in Stockholm, the brand blends Scandinavian clarity with rich, complex ingredient profiles. Their iconic Gypsy Water is a great example, offering an ethereal mix of juniper berries, pine needles, incense, and a soft base of vanilla and sandalwood. It evokes a free-spirited, close-to-nature feeling without being overpowering. For those who appreciate Le Labo's polished yet unconventional approach, Byredo offers a whole new library of modern classics to explore.
3. D.S. & Durga
For fragrance lovers who are drawn to the stories and concepts behind Le Labo's creations, D.S. & Durga is a perfect match. This Brooklyn-based brand describes itself as "perfume as armchair travel," building scents around specific moments, places, and musical inspirations. Debaser, for instance, is a tribute to a Pixies song, capturing the feeling of a hot summer day with notes of green fig, coconut milk, and blond woods. Their fragrances are often bold, unexpected, and transportive, appealing to the same desire for a unique and personal scent.
4. Diptyque
A Parisian legend, Diptyque paved the way for many niche brands with its focus on high-quality raw materials and evocative, travel-inspired scents. While more established than Le Labo, it shares a similar philosophy. If you're drawn to woody fragrances, Tam Dao is an essential scent to try. Inspired by the memory of holy forests in Vietnam, it’s a beautiful, meditative blend of sandalwood and cedar. The Eau de Parfum version, in particular, has a creamy, milky quality that will feel both familiar and new to fans of Le Labo's wood-centric creations.
5. Phlur
Phlur has captured the attention of a new generation of fragrance lovers with its transparent ethos and viral hits. If you enjoy the subtle, skin-like quality of some Le Labo scents, Phlur's Missing Person is a must-try. Described as smelling like the warmth of someone you love, it's a delicate and comforting blend of musk, sheer florals, and soft woods. It’s a unisex fragrance that’s designed to be intimate rather than overpowering, perfect for those who wear perfume for themselves and the people closest to them.
6. Aesop
Known for its apothecary-chic aesthetic and high-end botanical skincare, Aesop has also developed a line of distinctive, complex fragrances. The brand's approach feels simpatico with Le Labo's, sharing a minimalist presentation and a focus on earthy, unisex scents that are anything but simple. Hwyl, an Eau de Parfum, is a standout, evoking a Japanese forest with its smoky notes of cypress, vetiver, and frankincense. It's a deep, contemplative, and grounding scent that will appeal to anyone who appreciates the sophisticated, nature-inspired creations in the Le Labo collection.
