For those on the hunt for a luxurious perfume to add to their collection, or who have decided it’s time for a new signature scent, the best Diptyque perfumes are without doubt a solid choice. The brand has a long history of creating interesting, inspiring and iconic scents that are loved the world over.
Starting out 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 perfumes for women and men ever since. It is truly a perfume house for the perfume lover, each fragrance with its own unique story. Take Orphéon, a fragrant imagining of the jazz bar next to the original Parisian boutique which was frequented by the three founders – just gorgeous.
Not sure how to choose a perfume from Diptyque? Lucky for you, our beauty editor has put nine to the test. Keep in mind when reading what you like in a perfume. 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. Think too about the sort of notes you like, whether that's musky, floral or fruity, as well as how intense you like the scent to be, which will influence whether you're best suited to an Eau de Parfum, an Eau de Toilette or a solid perfume.
Three of the Diptyque perfumes tested by beauty contributor Lucy Abbersteen
The best Diptyque perfumes, tested by a beauty editor
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RRP: £148 for 75ml | Notes: Rose, tuberose, musk | Available in: Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum, solid perfume
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 Kate Moss' favourite scent. Tuberose really takes centre stage in this fragrance, a sweet and floral affair, paired with orange blossom and jasmine on a base of amberwood. It’s fresh and delicate but can still be detected on the skin later in the day, making it one of the best floral fragrances and one to consider as your wedding perfume. It's available in EDP and solid fragrance form, which are both ways to make a perfume last longer too.
Who should wear this? Anyone who likes floral fragrances.
RRP: £148 for 175ml | Notes: Juniper berries, jasmine, tonka bean| Available in: Eau de parfum, solid perfume
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 “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.
Who should wear this? Anyone who loves scents with a smokiness to them. It's unisex too.
RRP: £125 for 100ml | Notes: Orange blossom, juniper berry, patchouli | Available in: Eau de Toilette
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. We wouldn’t recommend it to those looking for something rich, opulent, and spicy – look to Tam Dao or Eau Nabati instead for this kind of scent.
Who should wear this? Anyone who prefers fresh, fruity perfumes to anything too intense.
RRP: £148 for 75ml | Notes: Cypress, sandalwood, amber | Available in: Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum
With a spicy opening, Tam Dao is all snuggly sandalwood, cypress and cedar, making for a fragrant and woody affair. Our expert tested the Eau de Parfum, which settled down to a warm, incense-like base, though this scent is also available in Eau de Toilette for those who want something lighter. It has a truly relaxing and comforting quality to it, that it lasts well throughout the day with a nice sillage, and has 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.
RRP: £148 for 75ml | Notes: Fig leaf, green notes, fig tree Available in: Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum, solid perfume
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, figgy-woody concoction on the skin. Fig is the main note in one of the best Diptyque candles (which apparently Victoria Beckham is a fan of) so if you’re an existing fan of the Figuier candle, this perfume will be right up your street. It's easy to see why this is one of the best-selling scents from the brand.
Who should wear this? Anyone looking for a fresh signature scent they can reach for all year round.
RRP: £125 for 100ml | Notes: White musk, mimosa, blonde woods | Available in: Eau de Toilette
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 some of the brand’s richer Eau de Parfums, 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 to you. We still rate it very highly, however, if you like the idea of a “skin scent” for day-to-day
Who should wear this? Anyone who hates strong perfumes, or wants something that they can layer.
RRP: £210 for 75ml | Notes: Bergamot, petitgrain, balsam | Available in: Eau de Parfum
Rich and opulent, but not too heavy thanks to the fresh and green notes which balance it out, Eau Nabati is a relative newcomer to the Diptyque brand. Ambery notes are paired with the citrusy freshness of bergamot and petitgrain, conjuring a stroll through a warm and fragrant garden. This scent 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 your favourite olfactory family.
Who should wear this? Anyone who wants to splash out on a really special, long-lasting perfume that not everyone will be wearing.
RRP: £148 for 75ml | Notes: Pink pepper, turkish rose, musk | Available in: Eau de Parfum
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 still, 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 normally finds floral fragrances to be a bit flimsy and short-lived.
RRP: £148 for 75ml | Notes: Bergamot, rose, patchouli | Available in: Eau de Parfum, solid perfume
Last but by no means least is Eau Capitale, which we would describe as being like the city of Paris, bottled. A classic chypre fragrance – and a strong choice for those who like perfumes with patchouli – it’s a little punchy, opening with slightly zingy bergamot and pink pepper before wearing down to its earthy, floral character, 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 lean in and ask which fragrance they're wearing.
How we tested the best Diptyque perfumes
Selection of the best Diptuque perfumes tested for this guide by beauty contributor Lucy Abbersteen
In order to compile a thorough guide to these scents, our expert tested a broad range of Diptyque perfumes, including both long-time best sellers and newer releases, from different olfactory families. During the testing process, our contributing beauty editor 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
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 perfumes
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 favorite 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
- Visit a Diptyque counter or boutique: Fragrance advisers have a wealth of knowledge and know the brand's fragrances 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, as fragrances can smell completely different, wearer to wearer.
FAQ
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 being the most popular on the brand’s 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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