Naomi Jamieson
Those in search of a luxurious and niche signature have no doubt stumbled across the best Diptyque perfume. After all, the Parisian perfumery has a long history of curating iconic blends that are beloved all over the world - 9 of which, line our own dressers...
Beginning as a bazaar in 1961, Diptyque evolved into a fragrance brand a few years later with the launch of the first Eau de Toilette, L’Eau – and they have been making some of the best long-lasting perfumes and best perfumes for women and men, in general, ever since. It is truly a brand for the fragrance lover, with each scent boasting its own unique story. Take Orphéon, a gorgeous, fragrant imagining of the very jazz bar next to the original Parisian boutique and that the brand's three founders visited regularly.
For those struggling to choose from Diptyque's luxe lineup though, we're here to help narrow down the selection. Our beauty team have tried (and loved) a whole host of the best Diptyque perfumes, while our contributing beauty editor has shared in-depth reviews on nine, in particular - all of which reside in different olfactory families and radiate timelessness.
Diptyue's Eau Nabati, Ilio and Eau Capitale perfumes
The 9 best Diptyque perfumes, reviewed by a beauty editor
Whether you favour fresh perfumes or powdery musks, Diptyque's illustrative oval bottles boasts notes to suit every preference - as these nine signatures prove...
RRP: £148 for 75ml | Notes: Rose, tuberose, musk
Seriously intoxicating, Do Son is a fragrance that is inspired by one of the founders’ experiences, of childhood summers spent in the picturesque Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. It's also one of Kate Moss' favourite scents. Tuberose really takes centre stage in this fragrance, a sweet and floral affair, and it's married with orange blossom and jasmine on an amberwood base.
Even though it's fresh and delicate, it can still be detected on the skin later in the day, making it one of the best floral fragrances – and one to consider as a wedding day perfume. It's also available in both EDP and solid fragrance form, which are both good options to make a perfume last longer, too.
Who should wear this? Anyone who likes floral fragrances
Available in: Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum, solid perfume
RRP: £148 for 175ml | Notes: Juniper berries, jasmine, tonka bean
Our tester absolutely loves woody fragrances, so this particular unisex fragrance from Diptyque is one of her favourites. Despite this, we would say that it is also a scent for people who don’t like what you might refer to as “traditionally” woody perfumes. Along with the classic cedar at the heart of this fragrance, Orphéon has the sweet added depth of tonka bean and a little jasmine. Thanks to these richer notes, we found it lasted well on the skin, too.
Who should wear this? Anyone who loves scents with a smokiness to them
Available in: Eau de parfum, solid perfume
RRP: £125 for 100ml | Notes: Orange blossom, juniper berry, patchouli
Eau des Sens is a mouthwatering scent thanks to the orange blossom, bitter orange and juniper berries. Our tester definitely found it to be quite sweet, though warming patchouli also comes out in the dry-down, and it’s extremely wearable.
Preference-wise, we wouldn’t recommend it to those looking for something rich, opulent, woody and spicy – look to scents like Tam Dao or Eau Nabati instead for this kind of fragrance.
Who should wear this? Anyone who prefers fresh, fruity perfumes to anything too intense
Available in: Eau de Toilette
RRP: £148 for 75ml | Notes: Fig leaf, green notes, fig tree
If we had to give you a scented visual metaphor for Philosykos, it would be picking a fig straight from the tree and cutting into it. There’s an instant freshness that comes with the first spray, which reminded us of cut grass, but that later settles into a sweet, green, woody and figgy concoction on the skin.
Fig is in fact the main note in one of the best Diptyque candles (which Victoria Beckham is reportedly a fan of) so if you’re a fan of the Figuier candle, this perfume will be right up your street. It's easy to see why this is one of the most popular scents from the brand.
Who should wear this? Anyone looking for a fresh signature scent that works year-round
Available in: Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum, solid perfume
RRP: £148 for 75ml | Notes: Bergamot, rose, patchouli
Last but by no means least is Eau Capitale, which we would describe as being like the city of Paris, bottled. It's a classic chypre fragrance – and a strong choice for those who like perfumes with patchouli.
Chypre means that it's a little punchy, opening with slightly zingy bergamot and pink pepper before wearing down to an earthy floral, which is down to the rose and patchouli at the heart of this scent. It has decent staying power and our tester has been complemented many a time when wearing this fragrance.
Who should wear this? Anyone who wants people to notice and ask which fragrance they're wearing
Available in: Eau de Parfum, solid perfume
RRP: £125 for 100ml | Notes: White musk, mimosa, blonde woods
All white musk and blonde woods, this is an extremely light woody floral scent, cut with just a touch of sweetness. As an Eau de Toilette, L’Eau Papier is understandably lighter than the Eaux de Parfum, but it also doesn't have a particularly high sillage or project that far – meaning other people won’t be able to smell it on you unless they are stood fairly close. We still rate it very highly, however; if you like the idea of a “skin scent” for day-to-day, it would make an excellent signature.
Who should wear this? Anyone who dislikes intense or strong perfumes, or who wants something layerable
Available in: Eau de Toilette
RRP: £148 for 75ml | Notes: Cypress, sandalwood, amber
With a spicy opening, Tam Dao is all comforting sandalwood, cypress and cedar, making for a fragrant and woody affair. Our expert wore the Eau de Parfum during the testing period, which settled down to a warm, incense-like base, though this scent is also available in Eau de Toilette for those who want it in a lighter form.
We'd go as far as to say that Tam Dao has this relaxing, almost cosy quality to it, which lasts well throughout the day. It also has a nice sillage and gives off a real air of sophistication, thanks to its depth.
Who should wear this? Anyone who's looking to change their scent for a comforting winter perfume
Available in: Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum
RRP: £148 for 75ml | Notes: Pink pepper, turkish rose, musk
Fleur de Peau opens with an almost fizzy quality thanks to the fruity and floral notes of iris, pear and ambrette, extracted from hibiscus flowers. It has a slight sweetness to it, never too sickly, and there’s also something very comforting about it.
Better yet, this is no light floral fragrance that’s gone within the hour, as we found that it has an impressive staying power on the skin – the musky and almost creamy base was still very much detectable hours later. If you like flowery fragrances that have a bit more complexity to them than purely floral notes, try this.
Who should wear this? Anyone who likes floral fragrances but find they're often flimsy and short-lived (this isn't)
Available in: Eau de Parfum
RRP: £210 for 75ml | Notes: Bergamot, petitgrain, balsam
Eau Nabati is a more recent addition to the Diptyque Paris brand; this gorgeous scent is both rich and opulent, but not too heavy thanks to the fresh and green notes which balance it out. Warming ambery notes are paired with the citrusy freshness of bergamot and petitgrain, conjuring a stroll through a warm and fragrant garden on a balmy evening.
This fragrance is undoubtedly luxurious, something that is also reflected in its higher price tag – but we are sure you'll deem it worth it if amber fragrances are one of your favourite olfactory families.
Who should wear this? Anyone who wants to splash out on a really special, long-lasting perfume that not everyone will be wearing
Available in: Eau de Parfum
How we tested the best Diptyque perfumes
Selection of the best Diptuque perfumes tested for this guide
In order to write the most thorough possible guide to these scents, our expert tested and re-tested a broad range of Diptyque fragrances, including both long-time best sellers and newer releases, and from different olfactory families. During the testing process, she took all of the following factors into account.
- Olfactory family
- How it smelled initially, as well as within the first hour of wear
- How long it lasted on the skin
- Projection
- Sillage
- Whether it felt particularly suited to one season, or year-round wear
- Price
When comparing fragrances from different brands, we would usually take packaging into account, but of course, the best Diptyque perfumes are all housed in beautifully illustrated oval bottles. This deserves some recognition, as it definitely contributes to the luxurious feel of the brand and adds to each fragrance's uniqueness.
How to choose the best Diptyque perfume for you
Fragrance is arguably the most subjective of all beauty purchases, but we can give you a few starting points to help you find the best Diptyque perfume for you, along with our in-depth reviews above.
- Think about your favourite perfumes: If you know you prefer certain kinds of scents, consider this before you begin browsing. Knowing the olfactory families you are drawn to will give you a starting place with Diptyque. You might have a favourite from another perfume house, like a Dior perfume, Tom Ford perfume or Jo Malone perfume that you want to use as a reference or starting point. Keep in mind the sort of notes you like, too, whether that's musky, floral or fruity
- Intensity: As well as composition, consider how intense you like your perfume to be. This will influence whether you opt for Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette or a solid perfume.
- Visit a Diptyque counter or boutique: Fragrance advisers have a wealth of knowledge and know the brand's fragrances and know the full range inside out. Tell them a bit about what you want from your new fragrance and they'll be able to suggest a few different options that you should like.
- Test the fragrances IRL: Once you like a perfume you've sprayed on a blotter, then be sure to test it on your own skin – fragrances can smell completely different wearer to wearer, so it's the best way to see if it suits you.
Your burning Diptyque perfume questions, answered
What is the best-selling Diptyque perfume?
Diptyque has not disclosed which of its fragrances is the overall best-seller, but Do Son, Philosykos, Eau des Sens, Orphéon and Fleur de Peau are all named as some of the most popular on its website.
What is Diptyque's signature scent?
It’s difficult to choose just one scent that perfectly captures the brand, though the best-sellers are all very recognisable as being Diptyque fragrances. Strong contenders are without question Philosykos and Do Son, though L’Eau, L’Autre, and L’Eau Trois are the brand’s three oldest fragrances, launched in 1968, 1973, and 1975, respectively.
What's the longest-lasting Diptyque perfume?
We found that those scents with richer notes, such as Tam Dao, Eau Capitale or Eau Nabati, for example, tend to last longer on the skin than lighter concoctions. It also goes without saying that Eau de Parfum will last longer than Eau de Toilette, as the former has higher concentration of perfume ingredients. But, of course, the very best way to see which is the longest-lasting Diptyque perfume for you is to try a few in-person and see how long they last on your own skin.
What is the difference between Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum and solid perfume?
You may have noticed that for each Diptyque perfume on this list, we noted its form, whether that was an Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum or a solid perfume. Some will be one or the other, while others are available in all three. This is helpful to know because it impacts how intense the scent is, how long it lasts and the price. Eau de Toilettes are a lighter type of fragrance and normally contain between 5 and 15% perfume oil which means the initial scent payoff is quite light and will only last for around four or six hours before you might want to top up again. Eau de Parfum, on the other hand, is heavier on the perfume oil, making up between 10 and 20% of the formulation. As a result, they linger for longer on the skin and will stay with you for eight hours for even more. Solid perfumes are more intense still, as the concentration is even higher. With a solid perfume, you don’t need a lot to get quite an intense smell, but as they have a waxy consistency, the scent is more confined to the area you’ve applied it to, rather than enveloping you in a cloud of scent.
What is the difference between top notes, heart notes and base notes in a fragrance?
For the uninitiated, the world of fragrance can seem quite complicated. But actually, once you’ve got your head around a few key terms, it’s pretty simple. Take top notes, heart notes (also known as middle notes) and base notes for example. Top notes are the first bit of the fragrance that hits you when you apply it. They tend to be quite light notes, and won’t stick around for very long. Middle notes, come afterwards and will become more apparent as the fragrance dries into the skin. They’ll outlast the top notes and will be sniffable for a good hour or so. After that, comes the base notes which are the most intense part of the fragrance. These tend to be things like amber and musk, and you’ll notice them more when the top and heart notes have faded away.
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