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Best Diptyque perfumes for every mood and occasion
Founded in 1961 by three artistic friends, Diptyque began as a small boutique in Paris, selling fabrics, antiques, and decorative objects.
It wasn’t until two years later that the French brand turned its attention to scent, transforming the humble, purely practical candle into a luxurious, olfactory delight with the addition of expertly blended fragrant oils.
Five years on, Diptyque launched its first wearable fragrance, L’Eau Eau de Toilette. A warming mix of cinnamon, clove, geranium and ginger, the unisex scent marked the start of an enduring legacy, establishing the brand’s approach to perfume: imaginative, thoughtful and layered.
Best Diptyque fragrances at a glance
- Best white floral fragrance: Diptyque Do Son Eau de Parfum – £170, Space NK
- Best powdery fragrance: Diptyque Orphéon Eau de Toilette – £145, Space NK
- Best citrus fragrance: Diptyque Eau des Sens Eau de Toilette – £145, John Lewis
- Best woody fragrance: Diptyque Tam Dao Eau de Parfum – £170, Diptyque
- Best floral fragrance: Diptyque Fleur de Peau Eau de Parfum – £170, John Lewis
- Best vanilla fragrance: Diptyque Eau Duelle Eau de Parfum – £170, Harrods
- Best yellow floral fragrance: Diptyque Eau Moheli Eau de Toilette – £145, Space NK
- Best fig fragrance: Diptyque Philosykos Eau de Parfum – £170, John Lewis
- Best musk fragrance: Diptyque L’Eau Papier Eau de Toilette – £145, Harrods
- Best rose fragrance: Diptyque Eau Rose Eau de Parfum – £170, Diptyque
- Best summer fragrance: Diptyque Ilio Eau de Toilette – £145, Space NK
- Best fruity fragrance: Diptyque L’Ombre Dans L’Eau Eau de Parfum – £145, Diptyque
From that point on, Diptyque earned its reputation as one of the world’s most admired French fragrance houses, with a catalogue of scents any fragrance lover would be thrilled to have on their dressing table.
With so many to choose from and with scent being such a deeply personal experience, it can be a minefield when shopping for a new bottle. So, to help guide your nose in the right direction, I’ve rounded up the 12 best Diptyque fragrances to explore, wear and fall in love with.
To find the best Diptyque fragrances, it’s safe to say I spritzed a lot over the course of several weeks. When testing, I did as I normally do with any perfume, and first sprayed it into the air for a good whiff, before applying it directly onto my wrists and neck. I considered each of the fragrance’s initial top notes, then detected the lingering heart and base notes of each fragrance. I also considered how the scents settled on my skin, their sillage and whether they lasted from morning to evening.
My top pick for Diptyque fragrances has to be the crowd-pleasing Philosykos. Its unique scent profile, longevity and sillage don’t compare to other fig scents on the market, and it really is a fragrance that deserves every ounce of its stellar reputation.
Other fragrances worth their weight in gold include Orphéon, for its floral-woody composition that feels both sophisticated and wearable, and Do Son, whose creamy tuberose and orange blossom make it a timeless floral favourite.
What is the most popular Diptyque perfume?
Exact sales figures aren’t shared by Diptyque, but you’ll find these three scents consistently in top lists. Philosykos, with its juicy fig and green, leafy notes, is the one most closely associated with the brand. While Do Son, the soft, floral fragrance and Orphéon, the warmer, woodier scent are both also incredibly popular.
Do Diptyque perfumes last a long time?
Diptyque perfumes generally have good longevity on the skin, though how long they last will depend on the specific scent and how you wear it.
The brand’s Eau de Toilettes tend to be lighter and more subtle, and may require topping up throughout the day, whereas the Eau de Parfums are richer and more concentrated, lasting from morning to night.
What’s the difference between an Eau de Toilette and an Eau de Parfum?
Eau de Parfums contain a higher percentage of fragrance oils, (around 15-20 per cent), making them richer, more intense, and longer lasting. Eau de Toilettes have a lower concentration of fragrance oils (5-15 per cent), so they’re lighter and more subtle, and may require a touch-up if you want the scent to last all day.
It’s not just about strength; EDPs are often a little more expensive to purchase and have more depth and complexity, revealing different notes as they develop, while EDTs are more affordable and tend to hold simpler oil blends.