Like perfume itself, the design of Le Labo’s Manhattan boutique entertains subtle juxtapositions of smooth and rough, natural and synthetic. White tiled walls are balanced by wooden flooring, antique-looking pressed-tin walls contrast with stainless steel fixtures, and high metal stools stand at a distance from a well-used leather armchair.
Behind the laboratory counter that runs the length of the boutique’s interior, neatly labeled bottles of perfumery ingredients are displayed on industrial shelving. Along the walls, large glass jars hold quantities of raw botanical materials…
Laurice Rahme of