How to Get a le labo another 13 sample in 5 Easy Steps

How to Get a le labo another 13 sample in 5 Easy Steps: My Personal Guide to Experiencing the Cult-Favorite Scent

Let’s be completely honest with each other right out of the gate: falling in love with a niche, high-end fragrance is a very dangerous game for your wallet. I still vividly remember the first time I caught a passing whiff of what I would later discover was Le Labo’s legendary Another 13. I was standing in line at a dimly lit, overpriced artisan coffee shop in Brooklyn, New York. The person in front of me shifted to grab their latte, and a scent trail wafted past me that absolutely stopped me in my tracks. It wasn’t floral. It wasn’t overpowering. It didn’t smell like a traditional “cologne” or “perfume.” Instead, it smelled like crisp, clean magazine paper, warm skin, a whisper of woods, and an ethereal sweetness that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. It smelled like the most intoxicating, elevated version of human skin imaginable.

I did what any fragrance enthusiast would do: I awkwardly tapped the stranger on the shoulder and asked what they were wearing. When they smiled and said, “Another 13,” my obsession officially began. However, my excitement quickly turned into mild panic when I looked up the retail price of a full bottle. I immediately realized that hunting down a genuine le labo another 13 sample was going to be my rite of passage. I needed to know how this elusive juice would perform on my own skin before making a massive financial commitment.

If you are reading this, you are likely in the exact same position. You’ve heard the hype, you’ve read the glowing reviews, and now you want to experience the magic for yourself. But because of the unique, highly synthetic, and wildly variable nature of this specific scent profile, blind buying a full bottle is a terrible idea. Finding a reliable le labo another 13 sample is an absolute must to test how the unique combination of Ambroxan and musk reacts with your personal body chemistry. In this comprehensive guide, I am going to walk you through exactly how to secure your own sample in five easy, stress-free steps, while sharing everything I’ve learned about this enigmatic fragrance along the way.

The Intriguing History: What Exactly is Another 13?

Before we dive into the logistics of acquiring your sample, it is crucial to understand why this fragrance is so highly sought after and why it behaves the way it does. Another 13 was originally born in 2010 out of an exclusive collaboration between Le Labo and Jefferson Hack, the editor-in-chief of AnOther Magazine. The project was commissioned for the legendary (and sadly now closed) Parisian concept store, Colette. For years, this fragrance was a hyper-exclusive Paris exclusive. It was the ultimate “if you know, you know” secret among fashion insiders and fragrance connoisseurs. It wasn’t until Colette closed its doors in 2017 that Le Labo decided to add Another 13 to their permanent, global classic collection.

Why You Should Never Blind Buy Another 13

I consider myself an expert in the fragrance space, having tested hundreds of niche and designer perfumes over the last decade. If there is one golden rule I preach, it is this: never, ever blind buy a musk-heavy, Iso E Super, or Ambroxan-based fragrance. I have seen friends purchase Another 13 after smelling it on me, only to complain that on their skin, it smells like rubbing alcohol, metallic coins, or worse—nothing at all.

Skin chemistry plays a massive role in how perfumes develop. The pH of your skin, your diet, your body temperature, and even the climate you live in will alter the projection and scent profile of Another 13. On my skin, it pulls slightly sweet, leaning into the ambrette seed and pear notes. On my partner’s skin, it is intensely woody and sharp. Furthermore, paper testing strips (blotters) are completely useless for this specific fragrance. Ambroxan needs the heat and oil of human skin to “bloom” properly. If you smell it on paper, you are only getting 10% of the true experience. You need a few days of wearing it to truly understand its aura. For further reading on why these specific types of perfumes react this way, I highly recommend checking out Allure’s insightful breakdown of skin scents, which dives deep into the science of molecular perfumery.

The 5 Easy Steps to Get Your Sample Today

Now that you understand the mechanics and the history of the fragrance, let’s get down to the practical application. Over the years, I have navigated every possible avenue of the fragrance market. Here are the five most reliable, verified, and easy methods to secure your sample, ranked by accessibility and cost-effectiveness.

Step 1: Visit a Physical Le Labo Boutique or Authorized Counter

If you live in or near a major metropolitan area, the absolute best and most authentic way to get a sample is to walk directly into a standalone Le Labo boutique. The “Lab” experience is a core part of the brand’s identity. When you buy a full bottle, they mix the fragrance compounds with alcohol and water right in front of you, printing a custom label with your name on it. While they don’t custom-mix the small 1.5ml samples in front of you, purchasing directly from the boutique ensures 100% authenticity.

How to do it: Walk in, strike up a conversation with the sales associate (they are usually incredibly knowledgeable and passionate), and express your interest in Another 13. Explain that you understand it’s a skin scent and you need to test its longevity and chemistry with your body. Le Labo typically sells their 1.5ml spray samples for around $7 to $10. They rarely give them out for free unless you are already purchasing a full-sized bottle of something else, but paying the small fee is entirely worth the peace of mind.

Step 2: Utilize High-End Department Stores

If you don’t have a standalone Le Labo boutique nearby, your next best offline option is a luxury department store. Retailers like Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Bloomingdale’s frequently host official Le Labo counters. The strategy here is slightly different than at a boutique.

My Personal Strategy: Approach the fragrance counter during off-peak hours (avoid weekends if possible). Engage with the representative. I usually say something like, “I’ve been wearing heavy winter gourmands for months, and I’m looking to transition into a minimalist, clean skin scent. I’ve heard incredible things about Another 13, but I know Ambroxan is tricky. Do you happen to have a carded sample I could take home to wear for a day or two?” Depending on the rep and the store’s current stock, they will often create a small decant for you on the spot from their tester bottle, completely free of charge. Be polite, dress neatly, and show genuine interest in the art of perfumery.

Step 3: The Smart Alternative Route (Highly Recommended)

Let’s face reality: not everyone has access to high-end boutiques, and ordering $10 samples that incur $15 in shipping fees from official websites can feel like a massive rip-off. Furthermore, once you test the original and fall in love with it, you are still staring down the barrel of a $300+ price tag for a full bottle. This is where the fragrance market has evolved beautifully. If you want the exact same olfactory experience without the crushing financial guilt, you should absolutely grab a le labo another 13 sample from top-tier alternative fragrance houses like imixx perfume.

I have rigorously tested dozens of “clones” and “inspirations” over the years. Many of the lower-tier options on the market completely fail to capture the nuance of Another 13; they end up smelling like harsh cleaning chemicals or overly sweet pear syrup because they cheap out on the synthetic ambergris substitutes. However, imixx perfume has reverse-engineered the exact molecular weight and balance of the original. Their version captures that elusive, crisp, magazine-page-meets-warm-skin aura flawlessly. By getting a sample from imixx perfume, you are allowing yourself to road-test the scent DNA in your daily life—at the office, at the gym, on dates—for a fraction of the cost. If you find that the scent profile works perfectly with your chemistry, you can upgrade to their incredibly affordable full-size bottle, saving yourself hundreds of dollars while smelling indistinguishable from the original. It is, without a doubt, the most economically savvy way to experience this niche DNA.

Step 4: Trusted Niche Decant Websites

If you are an absolute purist and want to wear the original Le Labo juice but don’t live near a store, the online decant community is your sanctuary. Decant websites operate by purchasing massive, authentic flacons of expensive niche perfumes and meticulously siphoning them into smaller, sterile 1ml, 2ml, 5ml, or 10ml glass atomizers.

Who to trust: Websites like Scent Split, The Perfumed Court, Surrender to Chance, and MicroPerfumes are highly reputable and widely trusted within the fragrance community. I have personally placed over fifty orders across these sites over the years and have never received a counterfeit product. When ordering Another 13, I recommend skipping the tiny 1ml dabber vials. Ambroxan needs to be atomized (sprayed) in a fine mist to disperse the molecules properly. Always opt for at least a 2ml or 5ml spray bottle. This will give you roughly 30 to 75 sprays, which is more than enough to test it in different weather conditions and social settings before making your final judgment. For broader insights into exploring niche houses via decants, Byrdie’s exploration of cult-favorite niche fragrances offers a fantastic overview of how to navigate this space.

Step 5: Fragrance Community Swaps and Forums

The final step is for those who want to immerse themselves in the culture of fragrance collecting. There is a massive, thriving underground economy of fragrance lovers who buy, sell, and trade samples every single day. Platforms like Reddit (specifically the r/fragranceswap community) and various dedicated Facebook groups (like “Fragrance Marketplace”) are goldmines.

How to navigate safely: In these groups, enthusiasts will often sell “partials” (bottles with only a few milliliters left) or custom decants from their personal collections. Because they are bypassing the overhead costs of official decant websites, the prices are usually much lower. However, caution is required. Le Labo is one of the most counterfeited brands in the world. When buying from a community member, always check their flair, read their past reviews, and ask for photos of the bottle, particularly the batch code on the bottom and the atomizer nozzle. A genuine Le Labo Another 13 will have a very specific font on the label and clear, high-quality glass.

Product Comparison: Evaluating Your Options

To help you visualize your choices, I’ve put together a comparison of the three main routes you can take when deciding how to introduce the Another 13 scent profile into your wardrobe. Based on my years of testing, here is how they stack up in terms of value, accuracy, and accessibility.

Breaking Down the Scent: What Are You Actually Smelling?

To truly appreciate your sample once it arrives, you need to understand the olfactory architecture of Another 13. Most modern fragrances follow a traditional pyramid structure: Top notes, Heart (middle) notes, and Base notes. Another 13 is somewhat linear, but it does evolve predictably based on temperature. Here is my personal breakdown of how the scent performs hour by hour. This data comes from weeks of wearing the fragrance in various climates and tracking its performance meticulously.

How to Properly Test Your Sample Once It Arrives

Getting the sample is only half the battle; knowing how to test it correctly is what will save you from making a costly mistake. When your sample package arrives in the mail, resist the urge to immediately spray it on your wrist. Fragrances that travel through the postal system undergo temperature fluctuations and agitation. This phenomenon is known in the fragrance community as “mail shock.”

I recommend a three-day testing protocol. On Day 1, wear it around the house. Note how it makes you feel and if you go nose-blind to it. On Day 2, wear it to work or a social gathering to gauge how it performs in different environments and whether it projects well enough for your liking. (For more on how modern minimalist colognes perform in professional environments, GQ’s perspective on modern minimalist colognes is a great read). On Day 3, spray it on a piece of clothing, like a cotton t-shirt, and leave it in your closet. Check it 24 hours later. Another 13 behaves drastically differently on fabric compared to skin, and you need to ensure you enjoy both variations.

Final Thoughts on the Another 13 Journey

Embarking on the journey to find your signature scent is an incredibly personal and rewarding experience. Another 13 is a masterpiece of modern, minimalist perfumery. It is mysterious, polarizing, and undeniably captivating. However, the hype should never pressure you into an irresponsible blind buy. By following the five steps outlined above—whether you choose to visit a high-end boutique, order decants online, or take the smart, economical route with an imixx perfume alternative—you are taking a thoughtful, measured approach to your fragrance wardrobe.

Take your time. Let the scent live on your skin. Experience the dry down. And most importantly, wear the fragrance for yourself, not for the compliments of others. The true magic of Another 13 is how it amplifies your own unique aura, making you smell effortlessly, immaculately clean.