SOPHIE LABBÉ

The creator of iconic scents for Issey Miyake on her art, creative expression, and finding equilibrium.

- Words: Amos Chin

ASK ANYONE WHO has met perfumer Sophie Labbé and they will recall her smile before all else.

For Labbé, a radiant expression is a state of mind, a symbol of the positivity that defines her outlook and her way of being.

Warm, intuitive, and quietly disarming, her presence speaks as eloquently as any fragrance she has created. That same spirit infuses her work: luminous, generous, and rooted in a strong sense of place. Raised between the vibrancy of Paris and the calm of Charente-Maritime’s vineyards, Labbé composes perfumes as others might tend a garden, with patience, precision, and an instinct for when something is ready to bloom.

Over the decades, Labbé, who in 1987 graduated top of her class from ISIPCA, a fragrance school in Versailles, has crafted the olfactory signatures of some of the world’s most prestigious houses while never losing the sense of wonder that first drew her to the art. Whether reimagining Tunisian neroli or immersing herself in the novels of Aki Shimazaki, she continues to find inspiration in the everyday, in moments of contrast, memory, and unexpected harmony.

Is there a scent that immediately brings you comfort?

The scent of talcum powder, specifically Borotalco, an Italian talcum powder with a slightly almond-like softness I've been using for years. Not wearing perfume myself, I’m drawn to scents like this. It is gentle, enveloping, and soothing in a way that never overwhelms. Also, I love seeing the pretty green bottle in my bathroom.

What’s a moment in your life you wish you could bottle forever and what would its scent be?