Le Labo Violette 30 Review: Testing Le Labo Violette 30 in Real Life
Having previously reviewed Le Labo Coriandre 39 and Le Labo Lavande 31, I had a rough idea of what to expect from the house but Le Labo rarely delivers something obvious. Their fragrances tend to sit slightly off centre, even when they are built around familiar notes. So when Le Labo Violette 30 landed on my desk, I was curious to see how they would handle violet.
Violet can easily become powdery and old fashioned. It can also lean metallic and sharp. What I wanted to know was simple. Where would Le Labo Violette 30 sit?
Le Labo Violette 30 First Wear
The first time I sprayed Le Labo Violette 30 30 on skin, it felt green. Not sugary. Not cosmetic. More like the smell of violet leaves crushed between fingers than parma violet sweets.
It opens softly. There is no aggressive top note. Instead, the violet blends almost immediately with a clean, slightly airy quality that I now associate with the white tea note in the composition.
Within about ten minutes, the structure becomes clearer. Le Labo Violette 30 highlights violet, white tea, cedarwood and guaiac wood. Wearing it consistently over two weeks helped me understand how each of these actually behaves.
Violet
The violet here is built in a modern way. In perfumery, violet is usually created with ionones, aroma molecules that give that cool floral tone with a faintly woody edge. Ionones are interesting because they can soften the perception of a fragrance over time, making it feel like it fades before your nose adjusts and detects it again.
On my skin, the violet never became powdery. It stayed green and slightly dry. It feels controlled. That restraint is what makes Le Labo Violette 30 feel contemporary rather than nostalgic.
White Tea
The white tea note is doing a lot of quiet work. Tea accords are often made from a mix of light citrus, herbal facets and soft musks. Here, it gives the fragrance lift. It stops the violet from becoming heavy.
I found that this is what makes Le Labo Violette 30 30 easy to wear during the day. It has a clean quality, but not in a shower gel way. It feels calm. Balanced. Almost transparent.
Cedarwood
Cedarwood becomes more noticeable after the first hour. It adds dryness and structure. I kept seeing mention of pencil shavings online from others that had tried it and I get it!
Cedar contains compounds like cedrol that give a stable woody backbone. In this fragrance, it grounds the violet and helps extend wear time. Without it, the composition would likely feel too fleeting.
Guaiac Wood
Guaiac wood adds a subtle warmth. It has a slightly smoky tone, but it is understated here. This is what gives le labo violette 30 that familiar Le Labo base. If you know Santal 33, you will recognise the dry, woody character, although Le Labo Violette 30 is softer and more floral.
The woods in combination are what stop this fragrance from feeling overly delicate.
Wearing Le Labo Violette 30 Over Time
I wore Le Labo Violette 30 to the office, to dinner, and throughout a brutal fashion week. It performs consistently. It stays close to the skin. It does not project loudly – which I loved but might be worth noting for people who like a stronger fragrance.
There has been discussion online about longevity. Some people feel it fades quickly. On me, I would describe it as moderate. After around five hours, it becomes very subtle, but I could still detect it when I moved. It is not a room filling scent, and I do not think it is meant to be.
The use of ionones and transparent woody molecules explains this. These ingredients are designed to create an aura rather than strong projection. If you prefer bold fragrance trails, this may not be your style. If you like something more personal, it works.
How It Compares to Other Le Labo Fragrances
After spending time with le labo violette 30, I naturally compared it to the other Le Labo fragrances I have tested.
Coriandre 39 was energetic and dynamic. It evolved noticeably from citrus brightness into a musky base. Violette 30 is more consistent. It does not shift dramatically. What you smell in the first half hour is close to what you get later, just softer.
Lavande 31 reworked a traditional note and made it feel sharp and modern. Violette 30 feels more minimal. Less about reinvention, more about refinement.
The obvious comparison is Santal 33. There is a shared woody DNA. However, where Santal 33 can feel more assertive, Volette 30 feels restrained, smoother and quieter.
Why Le Labo Violette 30 Works
From a formulation point of view, the success of Le Labo Violette 30 lies in balance. Violet can easily dominate. Here, it is controlled by tea and wood. The white tea keeps it fresh. The cedar and guaiac wood give it longevity and depth.
Nothing feels excessive. There is no syrupy sweetness. No heavy musk overload. The ingredients are measured carefully.
What I appreciate most is that it feels considered. It fits into the Le Labo world without repeating what the brand has already done. It is recognisably theirs, but it fills a different space.
After two weeks, le labo violette 30 became something I reached for without thinking. It works in professional settings. It works casually. It sits comfortably on skin. It is not dramatic. It is not attention seeking. It is composed.
If you are expecting a bold violet fragrance, you may be surprised. If you are looking for something modern, woody and subtly floral, Le Labo Violette 30 delivers and is another confident entry in the Le Labo portfolio. Different mood. Same attention to detail.