Best Le Labo Scents NZ: Santal 33, Another 13 & More

If you are trying to choose the best Le Labo scent, the answer depends less on which fragrance is most famous and more on the kind of scent you actually enjoy wearing.

Santal 33 is dry, woody and distinctive. Another 13 is cleaner, musky and closer to the skin. Thé Noir 29 is darker and tea-like. Bergamote 22 is the brightest, citrus-led option in this comparison, while Thé Matcha 26 is quieter, creamy-green and intimate.

All five have very different personalities. This guide compares them by scent character, occasion, New Zealand weather, projection and personal style so you can decide which Le Labo fragrance makes the most sense for you.

There is no universal winner. If you want the most recognisable woody signature, start with Santal 33. If you want something cleaner and subtler, Another 13 is likely the better direction. If you love tea fragrances but want more darkness, choose Thé Noir 29. If you want a softer tea-inspired scent, look at Thé Matcha 26. And if your priority is brightness and freshness, Bergamote 22 deserves serious consideration.

Why Le Labo fragrances feel different from one another

Le Labo's minimalist bottles can make the range look more uniform than it actually smells. The fragrances themselves cover very different styles: dry woods, musks, citrus, tea accords, florals, aromatic compositions and warmer amber-like profiles.

That makes choosing by bottle appearance particularly unhelpful. Instead, ask: What mood does the scent create? How noticeable do I want my fragrance to be? Where will I actually wear it?

If you are still learning how fragrance structures develop, our Perfume Notes Explained guide explains top, heart and base notes and why the dry-down can matter more than the opening.

1. Le Labo Santal 33 — best for a distinctive woody signature

Santal 33 is probably the Le Labo name most people recognise. Its composition centres on cardamom, iris and violet before moving into sandalwood and cedar, with spicy, leathery and musky facets creating its characteristic dry woody profile.

The important thing is that Santal 33 does not smell like a conventional sweet sandalwood perfume. It feels dry, textured and slightly smoky.

What does Santal 33 smell like?

• Dry sandalwood and cedar
• Leather and cardamom spice
• Soft powdery iris
• Warm musk
• A faint smoky quality

The combination gives Santal 33 a recognisable presence without relying on obvious sweetness.

Who is Santal 33 best for?

Choose it if you like woody fragrances, dry rather than sugary scents, unisex perfume styles and fragrances with enough character to become part of a personal signature. It can work particularly well through cooler New Zealand days, autumn evenings and situations where you want your perfume to feel intentional.

Santal 33 may not suit you if you mainly enjoy sparkling citrus, aquatic freshness or soft sweet fragrances. Its dry woody character is precisely what makes it interesting—but also what makes it less universally safe as a blind buy.

Shop Le Labo Santal 33 EDP 100ml

Santal 33 vs Another 13: woody icon or skin musk?

This is one of the most useful Le Labo comparisons because the two fragrances represent almost opposite approaches. Santal 33 announces itself through woods, leather, spice and texture. Another 13 feels more abstract and skin-like.

If Santal 33 is the scent you notice when someone enters the room, Another 13 is more likely to make you wonder what smells good when you get closer. Neither approach is inherently better. The question is whether you want character and texture or minimalism and intimacy.

2. Le Labo Another 13 — best clean, modern skin scent

Another 13 began as a collaboration connected with AnOther Magazine and later joined Le Labo's Classic Collection. The fragrance is built around ambroxyde, with jasmine and moss contributing contrast and brightness.

That combination creates something very different from a traditional floral or woody perfume.

What does Another 13 smell like?

Another 13 can feel clean, musky, mineral, slightly woody, subtly animalic, airy and skin-like. It is one of those fragrances where people may struggle to identify one obvious note. That is part of the appeal.

Who is Another 13 best for?

Consider Another 13 if you want understated luxury, a modern everyday fragrance, something suitable for close environments, a scent that does not feel traditionally masculine or feminine, or perfume that becomes part of your skin rather than sitting loudly above it.

It can work particularly well for office wear, travel, cafés, relaxed weekends and people who dislike dense sweet perfumes.

Is Another 13 strong?

“Strong” can mean several different things. A perfume can last while remaining close to the skin, or project noticeably but disappear sooner. Another 13 is better understood as an intimate scent style rather than something chosen purely for maximum room-filling projection.

For a deeper explanation of that difference, see our Long-Lasting Perfume NZ guide.

Shop Le Labo Another 13 EDP 100ml

3. Le Labo Thé Noir 29 — best dark tea fragrance

Thé Noir 29 is where the Le Labo range becomes noticeably moodier. It combines bergamot, fig and bay leaf against cedarwood, vetiver and musk, with black tea contributing a dry leafy quality that becomes especially noticeable through the dry-down.

What does Thé Noir 29 smell like?

Think black tea, fig, dry leaves, bergamot, woods, vetiver, musk and a subtle tobacco-like dryness. Despite the tea theme, this is not a sweet café-style fragrance. It is darker, drier and more atmospheric.

Who is Thé Noir 29 best for?

It suits someone looking for a sophisticated evening fragrance, a tea scent with depth, something woody without smelling like Santal 33, autumn or winter wear, or a unisex scent with a darker personality.

In New Zealand, it can feel particularly natural on cooler evenings when the woody and tea facets have room to develop.

Shop Le Labo Thé Noir 29 EDP 100ml

Thé Noir 29 vs Thé Matcha 26: two tea scents, very different moods

The word “tea” might make these fragrances sound closely related. They are not.

Thé Noir 29 is darker and drier. Thé Matcha 26 is quieter, greener and softer. Thé Noir feels more outward-facing: woods, black tea and texture. Thé Matcha feels more inward-facing: creamy fig, soft woods and a close skin-scent effect.

If you want tea with evening character, start with Thé Noir 29. If you want calm, intimate everyday wear, Thé Matcha 26 makes more sense.

4. Le Labo Thé Matcha 26 — best quiet and comforting scent

Thé Matcha 26 is built around a matcha-tea accord combined with creamy fig, soft vetiver, cedar woods and bitter orange. The overall style is intimate rather than designed to dominate a room.

What does Thé Matcha 26 smell like?

Expect soft green tea, creamy fig, cedar, vetiver, bitter orange and subtle woody warmth. The overall effect is calm rather than energetic.

Who is Thé Matcha 26 best for?

It can suit people who dislike loud perfume, close everyday settings, relaxed weekends, travel, minimalist wardrobes and anyone who enjoys subtle woody-green fragrances. It is probably the most introspective fragrance among the five in this guide.

Is Thé Matcha 26 a summer fragrance?

It can work well in mild or warm weather because it is relatively soft and close-wearing, but seasonal fragrance rules should never be absolute. Temperature, number of sprays, clothing and your own skin all change the result.

Our Summer vs Winter Perfumes NZ guide explains how to choose by conditions rather than rigid seasonal labels.

Shop Le Labo Thé Matcha 26 EDP 100ml

5. Le Labo Bergamote 22 — best fresh Le Labo scent

If the rest of this comparison sounds too dry, woody or introspective, Bergamote 22 offers the clearest change of pace. Its structure combines bright bergamot with petitgrain, grapefruit, amber, musk and vetiver.

What does Bergamote 22 smell like?

Its character is citrus-led, bright, slightly bitter, clean and woody underneath—fresh without feeling like basic cologne. The grapefruit and bergamot provide lift, while vetiver and musk prevent it from becoming a one-dimensional citrus splash.

Who is Bergamote 22 best for?

Choose it if you want the freshest fragrance in this five-scent comparison, daytime wear, spring or summer versatility, citrus without excessive sweetness, or an easy entry into Le Labo.

It may be the safest starting point here for someone who normally wears fresh designer fragrances and wants to explore a more niche scent style.

Shop Le Labo Bergamote 22 EDP 100ml

Best Le Labo scent for men

There is no reason to treat Le Labo fragrance as strictly gendered, but searchers understandably still ask which scents may suit the styles traditionally associated with men's fragrance.

• Santal 33: for dry woods, leather and spice.
• Thé Noir 29: for tea, woods and a darker evening mood.
• Another 13: for a cleaner modern alternative to traditional masculine fragrance.
• Bergamote 22: for fresh citrus-led wear.

The right answer depends far more on scent preference than gender.

Best Le Labo scent for women

Again, Le Labo fragrances can be worn by anyone. If you are approaching the range from styles often marketed toward women, consider Another 13 for clean musk, Thé Matcha 26 for a soft intimate style, Bergamote 22 for bright citrus freshness, or Santal 33 for something drier and woodier.

Le Labo's wider range also includes fragrances such as Rose 31, Lys 41, Jasmin 17 and Ylang 49. Browse the current Le Labo Perfumes NZ collection for available scents and sizes.

Which Le Labo fragrance is best for everyday wear?

For most everyday situations, Another 13, Thé Matcha 26 and Bergamote 22 are the easiest starting points. Another 13 works when you want clean minimalism. Thé Matcha 26 works when you want something soft and personal. Bergamote 22 works when you want freshness and brightness.

Santal 33 can absolutely be worn every day, but its character is more distinctive. Thé Noir 29 brings more darkness and therefore often feels better suited to someone who already knows they enjoy deeper fragrance styles.

Which Le Labo fragrance is best for a signature scent?

A signature scent should not simply be unusual. It should be something you still want to smell several hours later and something that fits your real life.

For recognisability, Santal 33 is the obvious candidate. For something less obvious and more personal, Another 13 is particularly compelling. Thé Noir 29 makes sense for someone whose style consistently leans darker and more textured.

If you need help deciding what “signature scent” means for your own wardrobe, use our 7-Step Signature Scent Guide.

Do Le Labo fragrances last a long time?

It is better not to assign one fixed hour count to an entire brand. Longevity varies according to formula, fragrance materials, skin, environment, spray amount, application location, temperature and your own olfactory adaptation.

Projection and longevity are also different. A fragrance can remain detectable for many hours without projecting strongly. Another can produce a noticeable opening and then settle more quickly.

For more detail, read Long-Lasting Perfume NZ: What Really Affects Performance?.

Are all Le Labo fragrances Eau de Parfum?

The five main fragrances compared in this guide are Eau de Parfum products. But concentration terminology should not be used as a simple performance score.

If you want to understand why an EDP does not automatically mean “better” or “stronger”, see our EDT vs EDP vs Parfum NZ guide.

How to choose your Le Labo scent without buying on hype

Le Labo attracts plenty of attention, particularly around Santal 33 and Another 13. That can make it tempting to begin with the most famous bottle. A better approach is to choose by character.

• Santal 33: dry woods, leather, spice and recognisable personality.
• Another 13: clean musk and a modern skin-scent feel.
• Thé Noir 29: darker tea, fig and woods.
• Bergamote 22: citrus brightness and warm-weather versatility.
• Thé Matcha 26: green, soft and intimate.

Then test the fragrance beyond the opening. Recheck after 20–30 minutes, revisit it after a few hours, decide whether you enjoy the dry-down and, if possible, test again on another day before committing to a full bottle.

If a sample is available, it can reduce the risk of committing to an expensive full-size niche fragrance based on one quick impression. Browse Perfume Samples & Testers NZ for currently available options.

Choose by scent character, not hype

• Santal 33 — dry, woody and distinctive.
• Another 13 — clean, musky and intimate.
• Thé Noir 29 — dark, tea-like and textured.
• Bergamote 22 — bright, citrus-led and uplifting.
• Thé Matcha 26 — green, creamy and quiet.

The best Le Labo fragrance is not necessarily the most famous one. It is the fragrance whose full development you enjoy and whose personality fits the way you actually dress, work, socialise and spend your time.

Final verdict

The five fragrances solve five different problems. Choose Santal 33 for a woody signature. Choose Another 13 for modern skin musk. Choose Thé Noir 29 for dark tea and woods. Choose Bergamote 22 for fresh citrus. Choose Thé Matcha 26 for quiet, green intimacy.

And if two still appeal to you, test both on separate days. With fragrance, the best answer usually appears several hours after the first spray—not in the first thirty seconds.