Labdanum 18

Labdanum 18, inspired by Le Labo Labdanum 18 (2006)

Labdanum is a sticky resin from the rock rose shrub, and it smells ambery, leathery and faintly honeyed. Castoreum pushes it in an animalic direction, a smoky, leather-like note that gives the amber a lived-in feel. Tonka bean and vanilla round the edges, so the scent reads plush rather than rough. Patchouli adds an earthy undertone that keeps the sweetness in check.

About the original

Le Labo released Labdanum 18 in 2006 as part of its Classic Collection, and one retailer credits the composition to Maurice Roucel. The brand describes it as a fragrance that defies the laws of perfumery: dense, ambery and musky. Some fragrance references also list it as Ciste 18, after the French name for the rock rose that gives labdanum.

Our version

Ours is an independent eau de parfum made to evoke the same character. It is not Le Labo stock, not an official relaunch and not the original formula.

Who it suits

Amber is the core of it, so it suits someone who wants a resinous, cosy scent with animal warmth rather than a clean or fresh one. Castoreum lends a leathery, slightly feral edge. A buyer who dislikes animalic notes, or who wants a purely sweet vanilla amber, may find it too dark.

Related scents

• Le Labo Tonka 25
• Diptyque Ambre
• Hermès Ambre Narguilé

Notes of the original fragrance, as listed in fragrance references.

Notes: Labdanum, Tonka Bean, Vanilla, Castoreum, Patchouli

It opens resinous and dense: labdanum's honeyed amber with the leathery, smoky bite of castoreum.

As it develops, tonka bean and vanilla fold in, smoothing the resin into a rounder, sweeter amber with patchouli beneath.

Is Labdanum 18 the same as Ciste 18?

Yes. Some fragrance references list it under both names; ciste is French for the rock rose that produces labdanum.

Does Labdanum 18 smell animalic?

Somewhat. Castoreum gives it a leathery, animal warmth, though tonka and vanilla soften it.

How does it compare with Le Labo Tonka 25?

They are separate Le Labo scents. Labdanum 18 centres on resinous labdanum and castoreum, softened by tonka bean and vanilla. We make both.

Inside the EU, delivery is free on orders of €49 or more. Below that it is a flat €4.99. Outside the EU, delivery is a flat €4.99 on every order. We send every order in 1 to 2 working days. It arrives in 3 to 7 days across the EU and in 7 to 14 days outside the EU. You have 14 days to return an unopened bottle.

Le Labo and Labdanum 18 are trademarks of their respective owners, and all rights remain with them. Parfumour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to Le Labo in any way, and no business relationship of any kind is implied. Our product is an original interpretation created to evoke a similar scent profile, and the trademark names are used purely for honest, descriptive comparison, so that you can quickly identify the style and fragrance family you are looking for. We make no claim to sell the original product, and we do not use the same ingredients or formula. Any similarity lies in the overall impression of the scent as interpreted by our own perfumers, not in the source materials.