Quick Verdict
If you want a perfume that announces your arrival and lasts through a full workday, Le Labo Another 13 is your winner. It’s a bizarre, magnetic blend of synthetic ambergris and jasmine that gives off a clean but animalic vibe. Phlur Missing Person is its polar opposite: a whisper of a scent, built around soft skin musk and white florals. It’s perfect for snuggling up, but don’t expect it to project. In short, Another 13 is for confidence and longevity; Missing Person is for intimacy and subtlety. I’d choose Another 13 for nights out and Missing Person for bedtime or close encounters. Check current price on Amazon for both to see which fits your budget better.
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Scent Profile Compared
Le Labo Another 13: This one is famously polarizing. Top notes hit you with a sharp, metallic ambroxan, think clean laundry mixed with something almost salty. Then a synthetic jasmine emerges, but it’s not floral in the traditional sense, it’s more like a ghost of jasmine, abstract and slightly indolic. The base is a massive dose of ISO E Super and ambrette seed, creating a woody, slightly fruity (pear-like) aura that clings to skin. It’s not really natural; it’s futuristic. After an hour, it becomes a warm, slightly sweet skin scent with a faint smokiness. I find it addictive, but some might call it ‘dryer sheet’ or ‘wet dog’ on first spray.
Phlur Missing Person: This opens with a burst of white florals, neroli and white freesia, but they’re so sheer they feel like a scent memory. Then the heart: a creamy sandalwood and rice powder accord that smells like clean, warm skin. The base is Iso E Super (yes, it’s in both) and ambroxan, but here they’re dialed way back, blended with a whisper of white musk and cotton flower. It’s like the scent of a person you’ve just hugged, faint, warm, and comforting. There’s no sharpness, no loudness. It’s a soft, slightly soapy skin scent that gets closer to the skin as the day goes on.
Comparison: Another 13 is a shout; Missing Person is a murmur. Another 13 has an avant-garde, almost synthetic edge; Missing Person is cozy and familiar. Both rely on Iso E Super, but Another 13 cranks it up to 11, while Missing Person uses it as a base. If Another 13 is a white T-shirt fresh from the laundry, Missing Person is that same T-shirt after a day of wear, intimate and lived-in.
Longevity and Sillage
Le Labo Another 13: This is a beast. On my skin, it lasts 10-12 hours easily, and I can still smell it on clothes the next morning. Sillage is moderate to heavy for the first 2 hours, people will notice you from an arm’s length away. After that, it settles into a skin scent, but it’s still present. I’ve had friends compliment me 6 hours after application. It’s one of the longest-lasting Le Labo scents I’ve tried.
Phlur Missing Person: This is a shy one. I get about 4-5 hours of faint projection, and after that it becomes a very close skin scent, you’ll need to sniff your wrist to smell it. Sillage is minimal from the start; it’s designed to be discovered, not announced. If you overspray, it might become slightly more noticeable, but it won’t project. This is not a scent for longevity lovers. I reapply mid-day if I want it to linger.
Best Occasions and Seasons
Le Labo Another 13: This screams ‘editor, night out, or creative meeting.’ It’s best in cooler weather, fall and winter, because the warmth of your skin helps it bloom. It can be cloying in high heat. Wear it to a dinner party, a date where you want to make an impression, or to work if you want to feel powerful. It’s unisex but leans slightly masculine due to the ambroxan.
Phlur Missing Person: This is your everyday cozy scent. Spring and summer are ideal, but it works year-round as a gentle layer. It’s perfect for a casual brunch, a movie night, or a day at the office where you don’t want to offend anyone. It’s also a wonderful bedtime scent. I’d call it feminine-leaning but very wearable for anyone.
Price and Value
Both are premium niche fragrances, but they sit at different price points. Le Labo Another 13 costs more, reflecting its higher concentration and cult status. Phlur Missing Person is more accessible. However, you get what you pay for: Another 13 has massive longevity, so a bottle lasts longer per spray. Missing Person requires more reapplications. Check current price on Amazon to compare; sometimes u dealsturn up. If value means ‘cost per wear,’ Another 13 may ultimately be cheaper because you use less. But if you prefer a subtle scent and don’t mind reapplying, Missing Person is a great budget-friendly option.
Which Should You Buy?
Buy Le Labo Another 13 if: you want a statement scent that lasts all day and turns heads. It’s for the confident, the experimental, and anyone who loves avant-garde perfumery. It’s also a great choice if you’re looking for a signature scent that projects.
Buy Phlur Missing Person if: you prefer a soft, intimate skin scent that’s comforting and easy to wear. It’s for the minimalist, the cuddler, and anyone who doesn’t want their fragrance to dominate a room. It’s perfect for layering or for those who dislike strong perfumes.
For a romantic date night where you want to be remembered? Go Another 13. For a cozy night in? Missing Person. If you can afford both, they’re actually a great duo, one for impact, one for intimacy.
