The Le Labo perfumes are something that I have been obsessing over for a number of years. Earlier this year I was determined to walk into the store and get the bottle. I chickened out and returned home empty handed. Discovered dupes only recently and started to buy all the perfumes that I have denied myself.

• Montagne Perfumes – Eau Santal inspired by Le Labo Santal 33
  • I purchased a decant and this is comes very close if I wait for about 5-10 mins. Thrilled with purchase. Used it straight out of the box. I don’t have a problem with longevity with this but it is very close to skin scent.
• Montagne Perfumes – Another 14 inspired by Le Labo Another 13
  • Blind buy. I don’t think anyone standing near me can smell it.
• Oil Perfumery – Impression of Chloe Atelier de Fleurs Santalum
  • The scent was not close at all and I didn’t enjoy it. I use it with Herbs Mimosa by rolling both side by side. After 1.5 to 2 hours it was lovely and pleasant. I bought the full bottle instead at Sephora sale
• Oil Perfumery – Impression of Chloe Atelier de Fleurs Herbe Mimosa
  • Also felt it was not close base on the spritz at the store.
• Oil Perfumery – Impression of Chloe Naturelle
  • I don’t know this perfume well enough to know if it was close. I tried it at the store and love it. I felt it was not close.

Edit : I tried the oil perfumery fragrances again with the originals and now feel the need the clarify. The notes made by oil perfumery closely matches the original versions. However to my layman nose they don’t smell the same as the perfume due to the heavy harsh opening note it. There is a rounded airyness for the original bottles that is not in the oil perfumery version. It smells finished from the first spritz. The oil perfumery version smells better after 2 or 3 hours. I wonder what do the perfume houses do to round the smells. It sounds mad if maturing takes months.

A number of years ago when I discovered the sandalwood perfume that I want was mostly too expensive I attempted to mix my own. I bought an old version of a sandalwood oil perfume by body shop and a small vial of Australian sandalwood and poured it together. Australian sandalwood had no creaminess. It smelled of piss. 6 months later the smell became different- of old cupboards.