diptyque, 60 years of magic

diptyque enthusiasts can discover all the iconic fragrances exclusively at Senteurs D’Ailleurs, as well as limited editions, artists’ editions, exclusives such as L’Eau Mage, the Bois Ciré candle, candle holders, and even ‘solid perfumes’ in pretty little finely chiselled boxes (use your fingertips to place the perfume balm on pulse points to release notes of Philosykos, L’Ombre or any of the other six fragrances available). The whole collection (with the exception of a few in-store exclusives) is also available in the e-shop:  senteursdailleurs.com

Le Grand Tour Collection

To celebrate its 60th anniversary, diptyque is taking us on a journey. From the west to the east. Destination: Paris, Venice, Milies (in Greece), Kyoto and Byblos (in Lebanon). Iconic cities, well loved by the creators at Diptyque, come to life in five limited edition perfume creations. Their historical feel and natural environment are sources of inspiration for perfumers and artists alike.

Today, each chosen stopover is once again embodied in an exclusive scented trail: candles, perfumes, and scented ovals, imagined by the brand’s creators and divinely ‘packaged’ for the occasion. It is also an opportunity for diptyque to celebrate what has shaped it since its creation: a taste for elsewhere, art and perfumes, with the ‘Voyages Immobiles - Le Grand Tour’ exhibition, at the Poste du Louvre, Paris (until 24 October 2021).

60 years of magic

In the beginning, there were three friends, Desmond Knox-Leet, a young English painter, Christiane Gautrot, a graduate in decorative arts and Yves Coueslant, an actor/decorator. After travelling quite extensively, they bought a small decorating shop in Saint-Germain-des-Prés to sell collections of coloured fabrics and unusual objects that they had brought back from their worldwide travels. The boutique was named ‘Diptyque’ due to the two windows on the street corner. In the midst of this ‘bazaar chic’, Desmond decided to offer the finest in English perfumery, and then he and his associates started making potpourri and pomander.

In 1963, they marketed their first scented candles: ‘Hawthorn’, ‘Cinnamon’ and ’Tea’ (the latter was totally new at the time). Quality candles with a high percentage of fragrance concentration: 8–12% of the candle weight (often less than 2% for ordinary candles). The fragrances are composed by perfumers. The first versions were made with labels (black and white) that were hand-glued on glasses bought at the Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville. These (very handmade) beginnings make you smile when you know that today more than half a million diptyque scented candles are made every year!

At the end of the 1960s, the House launched its first fragrance, ‘L'Eau’, inspired by a British formula from the 16th century, an astonishing elixir with notes of rose, cinnamon, geranium, clove, and sandalwood. A success! This was followed by ‘L'Eau Lente’, with Indian spices, and ‘Olene’, a floral water with wisteria, narcissus, jasmine, and honeysuckle.

Today, the ‘little’ French luxury brand exports Parisian chic to some 1,200 high-end outlets and 50 own-name boutiques in 45 countries around the world.