Reading my NYT UrbanEye email this morning made my day by introducing me to Le Labo. I've never been to the shop, but I'm in love with its retro inspired site. The coolest feature is the email subscription message at the end. I don't want to spoil the surprise, but you have to check it out! I'm so excited that I want to join with all of my emails, hehe. Yes, I'm a web design geek.
As for the boutique itself, I'll have to let the Times speak for now:
"Mike Albo had a simple mission: he wanted to smell good. So off he went to the fragrance boutique Le Labo. Here’s what he found: the NoLIta shop “wants to help us escape our outdated olfactory routines while becoming a globally aware alternative to the oppressive essential oils worn by naturopaths and the overwhelming body mists of chic department stores.” Nothing to sniff at there. “Le Labo is one of a wave of idealistic merchants, ‘antipreneuers’ who want to create products that aren’t obnoxious, cut out unnecessary advertising and exist within their means,” he writes. Also, they have pretty scents, like Rose 31 for men. Mix up your own batch of idealism and aroma, starting at $50."
"The New Sophisticated-Smelling Me," by Mike Albo