Le Labo’s latest drop arrives like a secret handshake between scent and art. The brand has teamed up with Belgian collage artist Katrien de Blauwer—who calls herself a “photographer without a camera”—to dress the new Limited-Edition Ambroxyde 17 Candle in her distinct layered aesthetic. She scours vintage magazines and papers to create pieces that feel tactile, intimate, and a bit off-center, echoing the candle’s own unexpected mix of notes.
“The process of translating scent into visual form was beautifully challenging. I immersed myself in the fragrance, letting the journey take shape with an open mind and space for the unexpected to emerge. The final candle stands for both the essence of the scent and the intangible experience of our creative dialogue.” – Katrien de Blauwer, Artist
This collaboration follows Le Labo’s longstanding knack for mingling fragrance with personal narratives—think cozy minimal storefronts where you can watch your perfume get freshly blended, and limited releases that spark cult-level devotion. Ambroxyde 17 itself is a close cousin to the beloved Another 13 perfume, built around the synthetic molecule ambroxyde that gives ambergris its notoriously arresting scent. Layered with musk, woods, and a soft hint of jasmine, it all settles on a bed of moss that feels both familiar and intriguingly new.
“Fragrance speaks a language of its own, that no one can ever predict or direct. It contains endless personal stories and intimate experiences waiting to be lived—and sometimes shared. This has always been a common thread in our longstanding friendship with AnOther Magazine, whose introduction to the artist Katrien de Blauwer sparked an open-ended exploration of what it means to give tangible form to fleeting emotion. Katrien’s layered, abstract collages are a tactile translation of AMBROXYDE 17 through her distinct perspective and medium—an ode to the endless ways a single fragrance can be felt and articulated through one’s own interpretation.” – Deborah Royer, Global Brand President & Creative Director Le Labo Fragrances
Ambroxyde 17 lands at select global boutiques and lelabofragrances.com on January 6, 2025, priced at $96 (245g / 8.6oz). Made with a custom wax blend and natural-fiber wicks, it’s a candle designed to fill your space with its addictive trail. Consider it a souvenir of an ongoing conversation between scent and art—brought to life through de Blauwer’s collage work, which turns invisible scent notes into a visual tapestry. If you’re already hooked on Another 13, here’s a new obsession that practically demands a place on your mantel.
