OliveEyes@oliveeyes94
City Exclusives Sampling Round IV
Le LaboTubereuse 40 New York3.927 ratingsThe final four. Naturally, these were the ones I was least excited about, but I sampled them on skin, paid close attention to their development, and gave them every opportunity to change my mind.
Bigarade 18: Dry, bitter orange and sharp green florals. The orange doesn't smell sweet and natural, but scratchy and bleach-like, which unfortunately reminds me of a toilet cleaner. The neroli transforms from dry and abrasive to warm and lathery, and whilst still comfortably unisex, the prominent lily gives it a certain lady-of-the-manor energy. The suave, ambery musks that are also present in Cedrat 37 nudge things into like territory, but only just. 5.25/10
Citron 28: There's a pale-yellow citrus brightness, but it's the jasmine that's most noticeable. The petals smell fresh and dewy before turning warm and creamy. It brings to mind a spotlessly clean home dotted with vases of luminous white flowers and bowls of soft citrus. The lushness of jasmine disappears within an hour on my skin, and it finishes as a woody-floral orange candy with an airy, ambered sweetness. Would make a lovely diffuser. 7/10
Limette 37: Zingy, green citrus, albeit not exactly lime, with an ominous, old-school twang. Once the citrus fades, the culprit is revealed: an unsettling combination of powdery, non-sweet jasmine and a cocktail of vintage, feminine musks. I really don't enjoy this. It freshens up a little as it dries, but never loses that vintage edge. 3/10
Tubereuse 40: A lime-green muskiness and pale orange florals combine to create something bright and lively. It reminds me of the 'Spring Meadow' disinfectant I use to wipe down my kitchen surfaces, but only in scent; there's no antibacterial sharpness. The musky orange blossom and tea-like neroli feel dead-on unisex, but to me, the sweet white florals and creamy sandalwood that sneak in would smell best on a woman. Much better than the tuberose bomb I was expecting. 6.25/10
Wore it on September 11, 2026
- Rainy
- Humid
- Warm
