Ylang 49
Le Labo (2013)

Oh, how I long resisted purchasing anything from Le Labo, but out of curiosity, I walked into the Seaport Le Labo boutique in Boston and sampled several releases. Many were nice, but nothing to write home about. It was Ylang 49, however, that had me transfixed—a radiant chypre with a nucleus of ylang-ylang and gardenia, intense and fleshy, tropical without the kitsch, earthier and more ripe.

It's lushness seems to have no limit, but when it does finally wane, the patchouli and vetiver does echo my beloved Aromatic Elixir. It is no mere facsimile, however: the creamy florals are so very forward and commanding. If you like to luxuriate in big, fat, flourishing chypres, you would no doubt be pleased with what I regard as a real standout in the Le Labo oeuvre (just do what you can to not pay full price from the retailer).

A beautiful, rich fragrance that shows what its made of right away. Its a benzoin sweetened patchouli, oakmoss and ylang, with some cold sharp gardenia. When i first tried this, it reminded me of Tom Fords 2007 release - Noir de Noir. This is still similar to some degree, but its much more beefy and rich. Of course where Noir de Noir has the patchouli rose combo to make it smell like chocolate, this goes for a sweet ylang with pachouli and benzoin. One of the best Le Labo releases in my opinion.

This fragrance offers a simplified and cleaner interpretation compared to Aromatic Elixir. However, if you're seeking complexity and depth, I would recommend sticking with Aromatic Elixir as it provides a richer experience and better value for the price. I would rate this fragrance as 3 out of 5, noting that it could be a suitable option if you find Aromatic Elixir too challenging for your taste.

Ylang 49 is a floral chypre in the new style with ylang-ylang paired with a dry-down of patchouli, oakmoss and a touch of benzoin. While it smells great on paper and on skin, too, at first, it eventually turns sharp-screechy-synthetic by the hour mark on skin. I've had a similar reaction to The Noir 29, so it could just be the brand itself.

3/5

Piercing at first. Ylang & gardenia together, howl at me. Patchouli begins to scream to be heard. Then, something lightly sweet and smoky. Voices settle to a steady hum. Intriguing.

This is much more noisy close to my skin, as it settles. Sillage reveals a steady sweetness, a sugary-floral patchouli. There is more here - it's too mashed together to figure it out. Mostly my nose picks out the ylang ylang and patch. They seem to dominate. This fragrance seems disjointed. I like it anyway. Though I wouldn't buy a full bottle...

You're a gardenia flower, standing upright in a mostly dead garden of cucumbers and weeds. You're a millenial, tired of the hashtags, rebelling against your Instagram feed and spilling your bottle of Santal 33 by Le Labo all over the ground as you stand in a garden of white flowers. You're a chef salad (without the croutons) minding your own business when suddenly a teenager spills Coca-Cola all over you. Ylang 49 by Le Labo.