High-end fragrance and sensory lifestyle brand Le Labo marks its entry into the Mainland China market as it opens its first store in Shanghai’s Xintiandi district.
Originating in Grasse, France, in 2006, Le Labo, founded by fragrance industry veterans Fabrice Penot and Eddie Roschi, built and grew its presence in New York. The niche brand was acquired by the cosmetics giant Estée Lauder Companies in 2014. Its fragrances are hand-blended and custom-made, with each of its labels personalised with the date and location of the formulation and additional notes selected by the customer.
Le Labo is known for its retail spaces’ unique, open laboratory-inspired style. The brand is housed in freestanding stores in major cities including New York, London, Paris, and Los Angeles. In Asia, Le Labo has a presence in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, Seoul, Bangkok, and now, Shanghai.
Estée Lauder Companies recorded a 17 per cent decline in total sales to USD 4.62bn for the second quarter ending 31 December 2022, on the back of a steep sales decrease in its Asia region, impacted by Covid-19 restrictions in Mainland China which saw decreased traffic in brick-and-mortar.
