Refillable beauty has revolutionised the industry, with the aim of reducing surplus packaging waste; only about nine per cent of that packaging would have been recycled, according to the British Beauty Council.

Here, across make-up, skincare, fragrance and haircare, Wallpaper* edits a selection of the best refillable beauty packaging designs that you’ll want to keep in pride of place on your vanity table or bathroom shelf, from the likes of Dries van Noten, Hermès, Noble Panacea, Perfumer H, Davines and more.

The best of refillable beauty design, edited by Wallpaper*

Refillable make-up

Refillable skincare

Refillable fragrance

Refillable haircare

The best beauty products of the month, according to Wallpaper*, includes eight new launches by a roster of brands. Below, find Prada's latest mascara, used by lead make-up artist Lynsey Alexander in the runway look for the house’s A/W 2025 show on Wednesday this week (26 February 2025).

Plus, Westman Atelier’s bronzing drops, formulated by Gucci Westman. The American make-up artist has recently worked with Anthony Vaccarello and David Sims on Saint Laurent’s S/S 2025 campaign starring Michelle Pfeiffer, in addition to Nicole Kidman – who plays Romy in Halina Reijn’s Babygirl – on the actor’s red carpet appearances during this year’s awards season.

The best beauty products of the month, according to Wallpaper*

The breaking news of Margot Robbie becoming the new face of Chanel No.5 (and starring in a Luca Guadagnino-directed campaign film alongside Jacob Elordi), plus the reveal of Marina Abramović’s new range of skincare, are just two of the beauty features on Wallpaper.com that you loved reading in 2024.

Below, find a wider selection of articles that got you clicking and scrolling, including a look at Dyson’s latest science fiction-like styling tool and a 15-step illustrated guide outlining the meticulous process of a Korean scalp treatment.

The most-read Wallpaper* beauty stories from 2024

1. Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi almost become lovers in Luca Guadagnino’s Chanel No.5 campaign

In October, Margot Robbie was announced as the new face of Chanel No.5. (2024 also saw Robbie front a nightclub-inspired‘Rouge Allure Velvet’ lipstick collection). See You at 5, an accompanying Chanel No.5 campaign film also starring Jacob Elordi and shot by Luca Guadagnino, saw the two actors ‘almost’ become lovers, as they attempt to meet one another against the backdrop of the setting California sun.

Read the full feature here.

2. How the 15-step Korean scalp treatment rejuvenates hair like nothing else

For the Wallpaper* February 2024 Design Awards issue, we presented a beauty award to the Eco Jardin hair salon in Seoul, for its meticulous 15-step scalp treatment. Including a microscopic scalp analysis, massage, steam LED light therapy and more, Lucy Birant illustrated each step of the process.

Read the full feature here.

3. Marina Abramović releases a skincare and wellness range ‘inspired by mindfulness’

In January, artist Marina Abramović brought the principles of her ‘mindfulness-based’ Longevity Method to a new skincare and wellness collection developed with Dr Nonna Brenner. The project certainly raised a few eyebrows – was it another performance piece, perhaps? Or was she deadly serious? – the Wallpaper.com feature on the products and ideas behind them certainly got people talking.

Read the full feature here.

4. Poor Things’ Oscar-winning make-up and hair: behind-the-scenes interview

Yorgos Lanthimos’ film Poor Things, based on the 1992 novel by Alasdair Grey, received critical acclaim. Winning a Golden Lion at Venice Film Festival, it also garnered 11 nominations at the Academy Awards, with Emma Stone winning Best Actress for her performance as Bella Baxter. The hair and make-up design team, led by Nadia Stacey, also received several accolades including an Academy Award and a BAFTA. We interviewed Stacey about her work on the film on Wallpaper.com.

Read the full feature here.

5. First look: how Diptyque used synaesthesia to create its poetic new perfume collection

Diptyque launched a new luxury perfume collection in the summer of 2024, ‘Les Essences de Diptyque’, which was (true to Diptyque’s form) inspired by the natural world. Here, five unique fragrances captured ‘the scent of coral and mother of pearl’, with five unique fragrances designed by a team of noses using synaesthesia. We interviewed them all for a first look at the project on Wallpaper.com.

Read the full feature here.

6. The new Dyson ‘Airwrap i.d.’ will style your hair using an app

Dyson made further strides in hair and beauty in 2024, with ‘Chitosan’ (its first-ever range of hair care products) and the ‘Airwrap i.d.’, an updated model of its beloved ‘Airwrap’ styling tool. Upon its launch in August, we covered the news on Wallpaper.com, revealing the ‘Airwrap i.d.’ works in tandem with the ‘MyDyson’ app to carry out a personalised curling sequence at the touch of a button.

Read the full feature here.

7. The Substance: how Pierre-Olivier Persin transformed Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley with prosthetic make-up design

The Substance was a film on everyone’s lips in 2024, drumming up plenty of ‘discourse’ for its subject matter and visual language. Directed by Coralie Fargeat and starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, the story of Elisabeth Sparkle (Moore) and her ‘other self ’Sue (Qualley) came to life through the visionary prosthetic make-up design by Pierre Oliver Persin. We spoke with Persin to gain insight into transforming the actors into the grotesque and comedically tragic characters ‘Gollum’ and ‘Monstro Elisasue’.

Read the full feature here.

8. Bleach London’s permanent dyes transform hair (without using bleach)

Session stylist Alex Brownsell (who has worked with everyone from Gucci and Versace to Celine and Marc Jacobs) founded the east London hair salon Bleach in 2010, after growing tired of dying her friends’ hair in the kitchen sink. In 2024, however, Bleach made a revolutionary development for dying hair at home, with its ‘No Bleach London’ permanent box dyes, which create vibrant colour without any bleach at all. Brownsell shared her insights on the products with Wallpaper*.

Read the full feature here.

9. Jamie Dornan takes a bath in Le Corbusier’s villa for Loewe Perfumes

In September, the news broke that brand ambassadors Jamie Dornan and Sophie Wilde were the new faces of Loewe Perfumes. A portrait series and film by David Sims saw Dornan and Wilde make themselves at home inside the master bathroom in Villa Savoye, which was designed and built in the 1930s by Le Corbusierand Pierre Jeanneret. The 2024 campaign also spotlighted four scents from Loewe Perfumes’ ‘Botanical Rainbow’ and ‘Un Paseo por Madrid’ collections: ‘Esencia’, ‘Agua Drop’, ‘Un Paseo por Madrid Doré’ and ‘Prado’.

Read the full feature here.

10. What makes a ‘winter perfume’? The Wallpaper* guide to fragrances that linger on the skin and in the air

As temperatures dropped in November, we turned our focus to a selection of potent and long-lasting perfumes for the winter months. This includes fragrances from the Dior ‘Esprit de Parfum’ collection, also featured in the Wallpaper* December Entertaining Issue, ‘L’Eau d’Hiver’, by nose Jean Claude Ellena for Frederic Malle, and more.

Read the full feature here.

Unboxing beauty products on Boxing Day? Well, metaphorically speaking, why not?

Here, we take a look back at the pages of Wallpaper* from the past year, reflecting on the make-up, perfume, tools and accessories that defined our 2024.

Unboxing beauty products from 2024, as seen on the pages of Wallpaper*

Chanel lipstick in Wallpaper* February 2024: The Design Awards Issue

In the February 2024 issue of Wallpaper*, we presented a design award to the Chanel ‘31 Le Rouge lipstick’. The lipstick comes in several shades and textures, all created to be housed in a glass case crafted by Japanese artisans and designed by Sylvie Legastelois.

Read the full article here.

MyBlend led mask in Wallpaper* March 2024: The Style Issue

For the first Wallpaper* Style Issue of the year in March 2024, we turned the spotlight on the MyBlend ‘myLedmask’, with its uniquely contoured design slightly reminiscent of Pedro Almodóvar’s The Skin I Live In.

Read the full article here.

Acne Studios x Frédéric Malle perfume in Wallpaper* April 2024: Global Interiors

We spoke with the creative director of Acne Studios Jonny Johansson, fragrance legend Frédéric Malle and emerging nose Suzy Le Helley about their collaborative work on ‘Acne Studios par Frédéric Malle’ eau de parfum, previewed in the April 2024 issue of Wallpaper*.

Read the full article here.

Bottega Veneta scented candle in Wallpaper* June 2024: The Travel Issue

Bottega Veneta launched scented candles earlier this year, with three different fragrances available in red, yellow and green lava glaze ceramic pots. We captured the brand’s ‘Redstone’ candle on the pages of Wallpaper* June 2024, which contains notes of plum nectar, tobacco and cedarwood.

Read the full article here.

Rimowa vanity case in Wallpaper* June 2024: The Travel Issue

Rimowa's vanity case also made its debut in Wallpaper* June 2024, our annual travel issue. A reimagined 1970s design from the Rimowa archives, the case is robust enough to contain a multitude of products and tools without fear of damage whilst on the move.

Read the full article here.

Fendi perfumes in Wallpaper* July 2024: The Design Directory

In 2024, Fendi created seven exclusive perfumes, inspired by the personalities and memories of close members of the Fendi family. The collection, which we included in the July issue of Wallpaper*, features refillable glass bottles evoking the vocabulary of Roman architecture.

Read the full article here.

Calvin Klein CK One perfume in Wallpaper* August 2024: The USA 100

The August 2024 issue of Wallpaper* was dedicated US creatives, with an accompanying portfolio shot by Inez and Vinoodh. In addition, we looked at 12 American design icons, including Calvin Klein’s ‘CK One’ eau de toilette. First released in 1994, the fragrance remains a best seller to this day.

Read the full article here.

Solid soap in Wallpaper* September 2024: The Style Issue

For Wallpaper* September 2024, the year’s second issue dedicated to style, we celebrated the pleasures of solid soap, including bars from the likes of Aesop, Celine, Diptyque, Hermès and Sisley.

Read the full article here.

Celine Beauté lipstick in Wallpaper* October 2024: Guest Editors

Celine launched its first-ever beauty line in October 2024, Celine Beauté. Designed by Hedi Slimane, who has since left the house in the hands of his successor Michael Rider, the ‘Le Rouge Celine’ lipstick in a shade of red called 'Rouge Triomphe’ made its Wallpaper* premiere in the same monthly issue.

Read the full article here.

Hermès eye and lip pencils in Wallpaper* November 2024: The Art Issue

Hermès’ ‘Trait d’Hermès’ eye and lip pencils were designed by Pierre Hardy and Gregoris Pyrpylis, the house’s creative director of beauty, to evoke a playful stationary set. We captured the collection’s kaleidoscopic colour palette in Wallpaper* November 2024.

Read the full article here.

Bottega Veneta perfume in Wallpaper* November 2024: The Art Issue

Bottega Veneta’s fragrance collection by Matthieu Blazy (now succeeded by Louise Trotter after his appointment as creative director at Chanel) includes five scents inspired by Venice, with bottles blown in Murano glass. Above, is the brand’s ‘Come With Me’ eau de parfum, as featured in the November 2024 issue of Wallpaper*.

Read the full article here.

Dior perfumes in Wallpaper* December 2024: The Entertaining Issue

In 2024, Francis Kurkdjian, the creative director of Dior Parfums took five fragrances from the house’s ‘La Collection Privée’, reinterpreting their notes in ‘Esprit de Parfum’, a new scent range featured on the pages of Wallpaper’s December Entertaining Issue.

Read the full article here.

Dries Van Noten lipsticks in Wallpaper* December 2024: The Entertaining Issue

After taking a final bow on the runway earlier in the year, for the December 2024 issue of Wallpaper* we caught up with Dries Van Noten about his next steps, which include growing the beauty and fragrance arm of his eponymous brand (and spending more time in his beloved garden).

Read the full article here.

What makes a ‘winter perfume’?

Our sensory experiences are inextricably seasonal: through the materials we wear, the food we consume and subsequently, our relationship with taste and smell. In the same way that savouring a rich mug of hot chocolate during the height of August has little appeal, dousing oneself with crisp and ozonic fragrance notes can be somewhat jarring when it’s bitterly cold outside.

Temperature also dictates a perfume’s sillage (the scent trail left by the wearer), projection (the distance it travels from the wearer) and also the way in which scent molecules interact with the skin. Heat decreases longevity; cold increases it. But the opposite is true with sillage and projection, meaning that gourmand, spicy, or resinous notes (often used in the base of a perfume) can become cloying in summer, but infuse the air with a much-needed sense of warmth during winter.

Below is a list of fragrances that do just that, ranging from niche scents designed by innovative independent brands to modern classics from major luxury houses.

Dior

Francis Kurkdijan, who was appointed creative director of Parfums Dior in 2021, created the recently launched ‘Esprit de Parfum’ collection to push the notes of iconic fragrances in the house’s ‘La Collection Privée’ portfolio – ‘Lucky’, ‘Rouge Trafalgar’, ‘Oud Isaphan’, ‘Ambre Nuit’ and ‘Gris Dior’ – to the extreme of their expression’. Subsequently, ‘Gris Dior Esprit de Parfum’ has a heighted floral accord but is also sweeter and woodier.

dior.com

Bottega Veneta

Bottega Veneta’s Alchemie is a fitting choice for those who like to make a statement with their winter fragrances. Unabashedly bold, this blend of myrrh from Somalia and spicy pink pepper lasts from the moment you spray it in the morning until late in the evening. Notes of mandarin, nutmeg and leather add even more depth, while the artisanal glass bottle, handblown in Venice and elevated on a base of Verde Saint Denis marble, compliments the opulence of the fragrance inside.

bottegaveneta.com

Loewe

The fragrance equivalent of a cashmere sweater, Loewe’s Roasted Vanilla is one of three scents in its new Crafted Collection. A soft, warm fragrance, its creamy vanilla heart is complicated by the peculiar spiciness of pink pepper and the alcoholic sweetness of cognac.

perfumesloewe.com

Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton's ‘​​Fantasmagory’ is the latest addition to its Les Extraits Collection, a line of perfumes for which in-house nose Jacques Cavallier Belletrud reinterprets classic perfumery notes into idiosyncratic new fragrances.

‘​​Fantasmagory’s’ central focus is a remarkably pure vanilla note. To create it, the brand cryogenically freezes a whole vanilla pod prior to CO₂ extraction, producing a scent that is ‘akin to smoothing a vanilla pod's natural essence directly over bare skin.’ Almond notes add a creaminess to the vanilla’s natural sweetness, while the addition of CO₂-extracted ginger adds a touch of freshness. Visionary architect Frank Gehry designed the bottle with soft curves and a silver cap inspired by the appearance of a wind-blown flower.

louisvuitton.com

Perfumer H

Perfumer Lyn Harris’ cult favourite brand, Perfumer H, has come out with a new fragrance just in time for winter. Rose With Insect with a dark reimagining of a classic rose fragrance with succulent notes of peach and neroli, spicy cardamom and metallic aldehydes inspired by the glint of an insect's wing. It is a unique interpretation of a classic rose fragrance that, in the words of the brand, ‘evokes a tainted idyll where perfection is unsettled and fragility becomes desirable.’

perfumerh.com

The Nue Co

The Nue Co’s ‘First Milk’ is an ideal choice for those who prefer their winter fragrances to be more subtle. One of three scents in the brand’s ‘nostalgic’ functional fragrance line–scents that use neuroscientific research to trigger certain emotions– ‘First Milk’ is designed to evoke the infantile comfort of a person’s first scent memory. Made with notes of almond milk, tonka bean, and iris, this ‘skin fragrance’ infuses the natural scent of its wearer with an intimate, creamy quality that lives up to its promise of being instantly calming, while also smelling strangely compelling.

thenueco.com

Acqua di Parma

Acqua di Parma is synonymous with Italian sunshine and its signature fresh and citrussy colognes. But ‘Luce di Rosa’, with rich floral notes of Bulgarian Rose and verdant geranium has a darker facet to its character: a grounding of vetiver, guaiac wood and cedarwood, finishing with the embrace of musk.

acquadiparma.com

Frederic Malle

‘L’Eau d’Hiver’, created in 2003 by nose Jean Claude Ellena for Frederic Malle, translates to ‘winter water’. The perfume has been rather accurately described by the brand as ‘fluffy’ and ‘like a perfect scarf, warm and light at the same time, inviting you to curl up with it’. Weightless enough to be worn all year round with top notes of bergamot, the heliotrope in its base notes provides a gourmand and powdery base.

fredericmalle.com

Marissa Zappas

Joining the roster of fragrances created by Marissa Zappas for her namesake brand is ‘Carnival of Souls’, inspired by the 1962 B-movie of the same name. (It was fittingly released on 31 October, to mark Halloween). With notes of mimosa cream, violet, saffron and vanilla, plus incense and musk, Zappas has described it as a ‘melancholic celebration of life (and death), and the radiant psychedelia of survival’.

marissazappas.com

Diptyque

‘Bois Corsé’ is one of the richer scents in Diptyque’s ‘Les Essences de Diptyque’ collection. Created by nose Nathalie Cetto, it combines cedarwood with roasted Arabica coffee, creamy sandalwood and Tonka bean. As Cetto told Wallpaper*: ‘[With ‘Bois Corsé’] I wanted to capture the duality of the tree bark – its rough exterior and its tender, protected core’.

diptqyueparis.com

Maison Francis Kurkdijan

Maison Francis Kurkdijan’s ‘Oud Satin Mood’ was created in 2015 with Bulgarian rose, violet and strawberry, Turkish rose and gourmand notes such vanilla and caramel meeting with resinous oud and benzoin at the base. Kurkdijan has said that he designed this fragrance for the wearer to ‘wrap’ themselves in, like being swathed in a rich fabric.

franciskurkdijan.com

Unifrom

Stockholm-based independent brand Unifrom is a fragrance house inspired by Swedish high-rise architecture. But, all its perfumes are developed in Paris and made in Grasse. This includes perfume oil ‘Winter Saga’, which blends fresh and warm notes together such as sweet ginger, cinnamon and clove, fir tree and white musk.

unfrom.com

Hygiene is considered to be something of a modern preoccupation, but there is evidence that soap was invented by ancient civilisations nearly 5,000 years ago. Archaeologists unearthed traces of it in Babylonian clay artefacts, which were also inscribed with recipes for soap-making.

In Aleppo, olive oil, laurel berry oil and lye were melted down, then cooled underground to form a vast, avocado-green sheet, a process that remains largely unchanged today. (Some myths recount Cleopatra bathing in milk, using Aleppo soap). Echoing this ancient wisdom, Santa Maria Novella – the oldest pharmacy in the world, with roots that trace back to 13th-century Florence – produces a buttery milk soap bar that is available unscented or containing botanical ingredients such as gardenia or verbena.

Why solid soap is the most pleasurable object to wash with

A bar of soap also recalls the midtwentieth century era, when brands such as Pears and Cussons would vie for airwave supremacy through their sponsorship of radio and TV programmes, leading to the shows being dubbed ‘soap operas’.

The celebrated 20th century photographer and society darling Cecil Beaton was once asked, ‘What is elegance?’, to which he simply replied, ‘Soap and water!’ One can imagine one of his muses – Maria Callas, Barbra Streisand, Baroness Fiona Thyssen-Bornemisza – returning to their bathrooms after a day shooting with Beaton and using a rose-scented Dior soap bar to dissolve heavy, camera-ready make-up. The house offers up a contemporary iteration of this product in its ‘Prestige Le Savon’ soap.

Hedi Slimane also captures a sense of 20th-century nostalgia in his bath and body collection for Celine. The round soap medallions, engraved with the fashion house’s Triomphe motif, are fragranced with signature scents, from the citrus notes of Parade to the zesty, slightly sugary accord of Cologne Céleste.

‘Bathing is an essential gesture that systematically plunges me back into the soothing atmosphere of childhood,’ says Slimane. Rich in Parisian glamour, these soaps can also be slipped dry into drawers, infusing clothes and linens with their scent.

Smooth, shiny and pebble-like, with branding satisfyingly embossed or debossed into its surface, a new bar of soap can conjure up similar emotions to those inspired by a freshly unwrapped chocolate bar. Perfume house Diptyque, in particular, has a knack for creating solid soaps that almost look too good to use. It can feel like a heart-wrenching act to gradually wash away the grooves of typography, watching them grow faint before the final act of disappearing entirely.

The ephemeral poetics of soap have not been lost on contemporary culture. For her 1993 piece Lick and Lather, performance artist Janine Antoni created 14 busts of her head and shoulders, seven in soap and seven in chocolate – she then licked the chocolate and bathed with the soap to reshape her image. Meanwhile, in Thomas Bärnthaler’s 2015 book Do It Yourself: 50 Projects by Designers and Artists, John Baldessari provided instructions on soap carving, in a work he called A Large Piece of Soap Becomes a Small Piece of Soap Eventually.

At this year’s Salone del Mobile in Milan, Belgian architect Nicolas Schuybroek celebrated the form and functionality of soap in a collaboration with Aesop. His installation, Form Follows Formulation, used hundreds of the Australian skincare brand’s body cleansing slabs – which contain purifying oils, bergamot rind, ylang ylang and lime – to build a monolithic brickwork structure in Aesop’s Piazza Cordusio store, in the centre of which a treatment therapist performed a daily choreographed facial treatment.

‘Restricting materiality to something as simple as a soap bar resonates with the principles of the arte povera movement, while also echoing Superstudio’s iconic monochromatic grid structures from the 1970s,’ says Schuybroek.

Some designers have looked to combat the transient, slippery nature of solid soap by inviting it to inhabit the domestic landscape as both beauty product and decorative object. Loewe’s ‘Scent of Marihuana’ soap bar, which is studded with exfoliating particles of red algae and emits the soothing aroma of the sativa plant, can be decoratively hung using its integrated linen rope, in a similar way to the rotating, wall mounted soaps by French brand Provendi.

Liquids, gels and foams share a common goal: to sanitise, enveloping bacteria and microbes so they can then be washed away. But while a bar of soap is just as good at cleansing the skin, it can be so much more, creating a decadently pleasurable experience that’s been enjoyed for millennia.

This article appears in the September 2024 issue of Wallpaper*, available in print on newsstands, on the Wallpaper* app on Apple iOS, and to subscribers of Apple News +. Subscribe to Wallpaper* today.

Back in April (2024), Diptyque invited a select group of beauty editors to Paris. The reason for our trip was kept a secret. But, as ‘hush hush’ press previews and projects from the French perfume house usually dictate, there was an inkling something special would be revealed on arrival.

Suspicions were proved right, of course, as we soon became acquainted with ‘Les Essences de Diptyque’ – perhaps the most ambitious olfactory project by the 63-year-old maison to date. This new collection of fragrances has been cleverly made using ‘synesthesia’, with five beautiful yet odourless natural phenomena imagined into perfume: ‘Corail Oscuro’, ‘Lunamaris’, ‘Bois Corsé’, Lilyphéa’ and ‘Rose Roche’, which respectively evoke Venetian coral, mother of pearl, tree bark, water lily leaves and desert rose crystal.

The natural world has a boundless influence on Diptyque. Its founders (interior designer Christiane Gautrot, painter Desmond Knox-Leet and set designer Yves Coueslant) started the brand in the early 1960s to celebrate their shared love of craft, collaboration, and travel, infusing candles and perfumes with botanical elements from all corners of the globe to Proustian effect.

Signature scent profiles include ‘Tam Dao’, a tribute to Goan sandalwood; ‘Philosykos’, the aura of Greece at the height of summer, rich with fig tree sap and black pepper; and ‘Do Son’, with tuberrose, jasmine and orange blossom stemming from Coueslant’s memories of Vietnam.

The perfumes comprising ‘Les Essences de Diptyque’ push the senses one step further. Taking in the savoury aroma of ‘Corail Oscuro’, you begin to picture spiky orange, red and pink tendrils through its salty mineral accord and notes of mandarin and rose bourbon. Or, when encountering the earthy and sweet ‘Bois Corsé’, visions of a dense woodland, just after rainfall, come to mind. Noses Fabrice Pellegrin, Alexandra Carlin and Nathalie Cetto, are the talents* behind the collection, with Nigel Peake responsible for the illustrations on each newly-designed oblong glass bottle.

*A fifth collaborator, master perfumer Olivier Pescheux, passed away last month (July 2024) after a long illness. His work on ‘Les Essences de Diptyque’ is another testament to his world-renowned talent.

First Look: how Diptyque used synaesthesia to create its poetic new perfume collection

Wallpaper*: What were your thoughts when first approached to work on this special Maison Diptyque project?

Alexandra Carlin: That it was a seamless next step in the relationship I’ve enjoyed with Maison Diptyque over the years, where I am provided a unique creative environment I feel both challenged and supported in. When I was approached to create a fragrance for the ‘Essences’ collection, I knew it would be a chance to explore new artistic ventures, whilst staying true to the brand's storied heritage.

Fabrice Pellegrin: [The brief] immediately sparked my imagination. The project’s theme of elevating nature to the status of art was incredibly inspiring – Diptyque has always been a brand that honours the artistry of nature, and being asked to contribute to this vision felt like a natural extension of my own passion for the natural world.

Nathalie Cetto: Being invited to collaborate with Maison Diptyque on the ‘Essences’ collection is an honour. I’ve long admired the house for its dedication to craftsmanship and its reverence for nature. The opportunity to create something that celebrates the natural world in such a profound way was irresistible.

W*: What was the process of developing your ‘Les Essences de Diptyque’ fragrance(s) like?

AC: The brief centred around the concept of Venetian coral, an element rich in history and visual allure. I was asked to interpret it through the lens of a floral fragrance, also referencing the idea of ‘chiaroscuro’; the shadows and light that intermingle in the Venetian Lagoon. My creative process often begins with extensive research to immerse myself fully in the subject. So what initially inspired me for ‘Corail Oscuro’ was Venetian coral’s fiery red colour, its chiselled shape – and above all, the notion of salinity. I didn’t want to create an aquatic perfume, as that would have been too predictable. It wasn’t easy, and my first proposals were a bit too dark and powdery. But this refinement phase was crucial, and once I focused on balancing these aspects, the final formulation came together swiftly and naturally.

FP: Interpreting mother of pearl and the desert rose crystal into perfume was a task as poetic as it was challenging. Both these elements are formed over time, sculpted by the forces of nature, and my goal was to reflect this slow, transformative process in the fragrances. This required selecting ingredients that themselves take time to reach their peak. For ‘Lunamaris’, I wanted to capture the iridescent quality of nacre, which required layering various materials to create a multifaceted, luminous scent. Similarly, for ‘Rose Roche’, I focused on the stark beauty of the desert rose, using a combination of fresh and mineral notes to evoke its strength and delicacy.

NC: For ‘Bois Corsé’ and ‘Lilyphéa’, the challenge was to evoke a sensory experience that captures the essence of these natural wonders – the bark of a tree and the smooth floating leaves of a water lily. The development process was one of deliberate reflection and careful selection. It was guided by the understanding that true luxury lies in taking the time to allow each element to reveal its full potential. With Diptyque, the creative process is unhurried, which allowed me to experiment with different combinations of ingredients and refine the fragrances until they felt both instinctive and harmonious.

W*: What notes have you included in the Essences de Diptyque fragrance you created and why?

AC: The heart of ‘Corail Oscuro’ is anchored by the Bourboniana rose from India, a rare hybrid chosen for its intense colour and velvety texture – both of which match the visual appeal of coral. To evoke the mineral and saline qualities of the coral environment, I incorporated unique ingredients such as natural leek extract – which brings a green, iodized freshness – and Sympep, a saffron-like spice derived from the oxidation of wood. These elements, combined with the toasted richness of santal, create a mineral, saline accord that captures the enigmatic essence of the coral. The composition is further brightened with Calabrian bergamot head extraction and hand-pressed Madagascar mandarin, lending an effervescent quality that contrasts beautifully with the deep, salty notes.

FP: In ‘Lunamaris’, the opening is bright and multifaceted, with pink pepper adding a spicy, fresh dimension, complemented by the warm, resinous glow of incense. These notes reflect the iridescence of nacre, creating a radiant, complex fragrance. The cistus labdanum absolute brings a deep, ambered warmth, reinforcing the idea of a timeless, precious element. For ‘Rose Roche’, I used Sfuma lemon essence to evoke the bright, searing light of the desert, which illuminates the heart of Moroccan centifolia rose absolute. This rose is both floral and honeyed, embodying the sensuality and heat of the desert sands. The fragrance is anchored by Indonesian patchouli essence, adding a warm, earthy depth, and Ambrox, which lends a mineral, addictive quality reminiscent of the desert’s raw beauty.

NC: For ‘Bois Corsé’, I wanted to capture the duality of the tree bark – its rough exterior and its tender, protected core. I achieved this by combining cedarwood fraction with the deep, roasted notes of Arabica coffee, and enriching it with the creamy warmth of sandalwood and the enveloping sweetness of tonka bean in both absolute and resinoid forms. This combination creates a fragrance that is both rugged and refined, echoing the protective strength and underlying softness of the natural world. For ‘Lilyphea’, I used violet leaf absolute to convey the green, crisp freshness of the leaves, paired with the zingy vibrancy of ginger essence. The comforting warmth of vanilla – there are three different qualities of vanilla in the perfume – provides a soft, enveloping contrast, mimicking the sensation of floating on a gentle, tranquil pond.

W*: How did you work together as a group of perfumers to ensure there was a balance between each of the individual fragrances in the ‘Essences de Diptyque’ collection?

AC: The collaborative process at Diptyque is unique and deeply enriching. Unlike many projects, where perfumers might work in competition, at Diptyque, each perfumer is given a distinct theme, fostering a sense of individual ownership and creativity. Each fragrance stands on its own, whilst contributing to the overall narrative of the collection, a testament to the respect the house affords its perfumers.

FP: The collaborative approach at Diptyque is one of the aspects I most appreciate about working with them. Each of us was entrusted with a specific element, and while we worked independently, there was a shared understanding that our creations needed to resonate with one another. The result is a symphony of scents that each tell their own story, while contributing to the larger narrative of the ‘Essences’ collection.

NC: Despite each of us having our distinct element to interpret, there was a shared vision and a deep mutual respect among the perfumers. This synergy allowed us to create fragrances that, while unique, are in dialogue with each other, much like the elements of nature themselves. The result is a collection that is cohesive yet diverse, with each fragrance contributing a different perspective to the overall story.

W*: How would you define a perfume by Diptyque in a few words?

AC: Every time I smell a perfume from Diptyque, there is a feeling of poetry. The formulas are bold, and simple but not simplistic, with a strong signature. Each creation has its own touch of ‘madness’, or ‘olfactory accident’. But the tone is always just right, the execution precise, and perfectly controlled. It’s an artist’s work.

FP: Elegance, authenticity, craftsmanship, and travel.

NC: A Diptyque perfume is a journey, where every scent is a carefully crafted masterpiece that celebrates the beauty and complexity of the natural world. It is a story told in fragrance – full of depth, character, and emotion.

The ‘Les Essences de Diptyque’ collection is available from 3 September, 2024.

diptyqueparis.com

Stepping inside the doors of Maison Diptyque, the new immersive space located at 107 New Bond Street in London, you will understand exactly why the luxury French perfume brand has described it as ‘its most astonishing boutique’ to date. The 400 sq m concept store is the sister location to a second Maison, recently opened at 7 rue Duphot in Paris. Each evokes an architectural setting fit for a ‘Parisian aesthete’, with no detail too small to be celebrated and no corner left unconsidered. (I was fortunate enough to preview both locations over the past few weeks, and found myself wanting to move right in, immediately getting lost in their respective charms.)

On the surface, Diptyque needs very little introduction. It is probably best known for its home-fragrance candles, and perfumes, and instantly recognisable black and white oval-shaped branding with ‘dancing letters’ that can be found in the most discerning of homes the world over. But, both of these new Maisons invite the visitor to discover the entire world of the brand in great depth, allowing the trajectory of its story, both past and present, to be told in full.

Maison Diptyque London: lose yourself in this immersive new home

Founded in 1961 by three artists (Desmond Knox-Leet, Christiane Montadre-Gautrot and Yves Couselant), Diptyque began as an artist’s studio-cum-exhibition space in the 5th Arrondissement, Paris, displaying antiques and curiosities discovered on their travels. (Knox-Leet and Montadre-Gautrot, had previously joined forces to create a range of fabrics for Liberty.) ‘We were artists. We were not driven by ambition, but rather by passion, imagination, creativity and the desire to do something with true integrity,’ Montadre-Gautrot once said.

The current CEO of Diptyque Fabienne Mauny naturally shares in this ethos. ‘The launch of Maisons Diptyque marks a new era, symbolising our commitment to broadening our national and international reach,’ she says. ‘Our new boutiques have been conceived as immersive locations that celebrate the art of living, Diptyque-style. As the world grows ever more digitalised, these spaces stand out because they offer experiences that are exclusive, sensual, intimate – in short, anything but standardised.’

As such, Maison Diptyque is part boutique and part cultural space; not only has the brand turned to contemporary craftspeople to shape its interiors, but it will also act as a hub for exhibitions, workshops and more. The boutique includes stone tables from British sculptor Steven John Clark, a winding staircase adorned with iron wrought vine motifs by the Atelier de Forge, and a ceiling in the ‘services area’ by Claire Coles, who has made a sort of botanical Sistine Chapel, with paint, embroidery and gold leaf referencing the work of William Morris (one of the Diptyque founders’ most enduring inspirations).

The cultural space, named ‘The Ephemeral Space and Heritage Gallery’, is curated in collaboration with the founder of Colette, Sarah Andelman. Currently, it pays homage to Café Verlet, with a coffee and pastry bar. This will soon be followed by a collaboration with Villa Noailles, the contemporary art centre in Hyères, France; an exhibition of the sculptor Cyril Lancelin in September 2024; and at the end of the year, British contemporary artist Lucy Sparrow will showcase her felt trompe-l’œil creations at a ‘pop-art-inspired’ Christmas market.

The journey through the Maison starts at the entrance, with walls of candles and fragrances chronicling every scent you can imagine: from Feu de Bois to Tam Dao.

Ascending the staircase reveals ‘The Bathing Salon’ with skincare, bath and body products, from hard soaps to hand creams. (It’s difficult to pick a favourite aspect of the boutique, as it is almost overwhelmingly beautiful. But, if I were to play favourites, The Bathing Salon would be the one.) An ode to the art of English and French horticulture, a 1930s art deco sofa sits beside a travertine basin with fine-gold swan taps, and a copper bath is illuminated with stained-glass panels in shades of verdant green made by Studio Virtrail Bianconi. (The Maison in Paris also has the same stained glass feature.)

‘[Maisons Diptyque] exemplify our dedication to expertise, as evidenced both by our own skills in the creation of perfumes and by those of the artisans and artists who contribute to our universe,’ continues Fabienne Mauny. ‘Enriching the customer experience is central to this initiative – a reminder that when it comes to the conception of its boutiques, Diptyque remains faithful to its disruptive, poetic vision.’

Maison Diptyque London is open now, located at 107 New Bond Street, W1S 1RR. Maison Diptque Paris is located at 7 Rue Duphot, 75001 Paris, France.

diptyqueparis.com

Investing in a selection of new home fragrances is a surefire way to reset your living space for the year ahead, and help stave off the January blues in the process. Scents are a trigger for memories and emotions. So, bringing a whole new olfactory experience to the home can help with the formation of new memories as the calendar months go on. Wallpaper* has selected some of the best home fragrances to help you along the way. From the freshness of Loewe’s Cucumber candle, to Celine’s indulgently scented paper, and Frédéric Malle’s dreamy linen spray, we hope you’ll discover something you love.

Home fragrances to reset your living space

1. Loewe Cucumber scented candle

What could be more cleansing and refreshing than the scent of cucumber? This luxury candle by Loewe (created in collaboration with Chinese actor Leo Wu, one of the brand’s ambassadors) packs an intense verdant fragrance, which also reveals notes of mint when lit. As with most candles from the fashion house, creative directed by Jonathan Anderson since 2013, the natural wax is contained in a glazed terracotta pot, which can be reused. Combine it with a Tomato Leaves candle, also by Loewe, for a delicious olfactory salad.

Loewe Home Scents Cucumber large candle, £345, available at mytheresa.com

2.  Officine Générale Smoky Olive room spray

French fashion label Officine Générale launched its first range of home fragrances at the end of last year (December 2023). For the brand’s founder Pierre Maheo and its image director Nina Maheo, ‘scent is ever-present... connecting back to childhood; bringing comfort or familiarity; providing a simple, everyday pleasure’. The scent that has been created for this new product offering is called Smoky Olive, and is infused into a candle, hand wash and room spray, each with top notes of bergamot and ginger, heart notes of iris, patchouli and vetiver, and base notes of tobacco, cedar, incense and leather.

Officine Générale Smoky Olive home spray, £55, available at officinegenerale.com.

3. Diptyque Baies scented oval

Designed in a white porcelain holder by Jean-Marc Gady studio, and containing a wax perfume diffuser, this Diptyque scented oval provides a sculptural take on the brand’s iconic candle (the latter now also available in a refillable version). Crafted with a black cotton rope, allowing the object to be placed at various locations throughout the home, the fragrance will last a minimum of three months (so will take you seamlessly from winter into spring). Diptyque’s Baies scent evokes ‘the tangy coolness of blackcurrant berries and lively, flowery rose accents’, diffusing an energising aroma into any space. (A new launch from the brand for 2024 includes the La Drogurie odour-removing room spray with basil, as part of its home cleaning collection, if you’re in the market for something a little more practical).
Diptyque Baies scented oval, £53, available at harrods.com; La Droguerie Basil odour-removing interior scent spray, £56, available at selfridges.com.

4. Trudon Cyrnos reed diffuser

Trudon has been producing candles since 1643 and was the official provider of the royal court of Louis XIV at the Palace of Versailles. The scent of this reed diffuser, however, is inspired by the citrus gardens of the Belle Époque-style Villa Cyrnos on the Côte d’Azur, designed by Hans-Georg Tersling. Your home may not be quite as lavish as either of these buildings, but it deserves an equally flamboyant fragrance nonetheless. With notes of lavender, pine, cedarwood and fig, this scent will last for around four months, with the diffuser itself made in Trudon-green glass.

Trudon Cyrnos reed diffuser, £178, available at selfridges.com.

5. Gabar 01 Float scented candle

Fragrance and personal care brand Gabar is based in London, but rooted in the culture and heritage of Myanmar, and has newly released its home fragrance line this month (January 2024). The 01 Float scented candle draws inspiration from the Inle Lake in Myanmar’s Shan Hills, with notes of jasmine and violet leaf combining with amber and white musk, to welcome a much-needed sense of calm into the new year and beyond. (It also makes for a perfect bathtime companion.)

Gabar 01 float scented candle, £48, available at gabarmyanmar.com

6. Celine Parade scented paper

Celine scented papers are designed to be placed into a drawer to fragrance clothes and linens, with Parade, the Parisian label’s best-selling perfume, dreamt up by Hedi Slimane. Embossed with the house‘s Triomphe logo, the papers are a decadent way to enliven your wardrobe after a January cull. Although, as Wallpaper* contributing editor Mary Cleary pointed out upon the product’s launch in 2022: ‘...there is plenty of room to get creative with how you use them – perhaps as a perfumed card slipped into a gift, an elegant bookmark, or a clever addition to your suitcase, for example’. Indeed, the possibilities over the year ahead are almost endless.

Celine parade scented paper, £65, available at celine.com.

7. Santa Maria Novella scented terracotta

Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella is the ‘world’s oldest beauty brand’, founded in 1221 by Dominican friars in Florence. This scented terracotta pomegranate can double up as an incredibly fragrant paperweight (or simply a pleasing handcrafted object to rest on any surface in the home). It is imbued with Santa Maria Novella’s Melograno perfume, which is said to be ‘emblematic of fertility and abundance’, led by top notes of bergamot, bitter orange and fresh spices, followed by pomegranate accord, rose, ylang-ylang, labdanum, musk, oakmoss and patchouli.

Santa Maria Novella, Melograno scented terracotta, £60, available at libertylondon.com.

8. Byredo Rose hand wash

It’s time to ditch the Dettol and rid the edges of your sink from Radox. Containing pink pepper, patchouli, white musk (and what Byredo describes as a ‘radiant chord of raspberry’) this rose-scented hand wash is your new bathroom or kitchen staple, a gentle, vegan formulation that cleanses hands whilst leaving them delicately perfumed. The complementary lotion – which is rich in shea butter – also helps aid in soothing and softening dry winter skin.

Byredo Rose hand wash, £44, available at spacenk.com.

9. Mad Et Len x Lemaire Bois d’Orange scented candle

Artisanal French brand Mad Et Len emphasises the evocative power of scent. (In fact, it takes its name from Marcel Proust’s ‘Episode of the Madeleine’, from In Search of Lost Time). All of its fragrances are made in Grasse, with containers crafted from rolled metal. Mad Et Len has recently collaborated with Lemaire, to produce a range of fragrances for the home. The Bois d’Orange candle releases notes of Japanese cypress and Haitian vetiver, and is described as an ‘enveloping perfume that delicately slips into the atmosphere like a thin thread of material or a light fabric’.

Mad Et Len x Lemaire Bois d’Orange scented candle, £90, available at matchesfashion.com

10. Frédéric Malle Dans Ton Lit linen spray

Frédéric Malle says that this fragrance can recreate the effect of ‘sleeping on a bed of roses’ or ‘dreaming on a perfumed cloud’. So if your New Year resolution is to make rest a priority, then investing in a bottle of Dans Ton Lit linen spray is a good way to help you keep it. Containing half Turkish rose essence, and half Rose Water Essential (an ingredient that has been developed as an exact rendition of rose water’s natural scent), simply spritz on your pillow, close your eyes, and drift into redolent slumber.

Frédéric Malle Dans Ton Lit linen spray, £85, available at selfridges.com.

11. Maison Francis Kurkdijan linen care set

In a new release from Maison Francis Kurkdjian for 2024, this scented laundry soap set is ‘the ultimate in refinement’, says the perfumer. (We would be inclined to agree – we’ll be adding it to our clothes care routine.) Infusing garments with the notes of Aqua Universalis, a fresh citrussy scent containing bergamot from Calabria, citron from Sicily, white flowers and the subtle scent of light and musky wood, the set is available for both light and dark colours, and contains a laundry detergent and fabric softener.

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Universalis Linen Care Set, £95, available at harrods.com

12. Perfumer H Ink incense

Perfumer H, founded by British nose Lyn Harris, is known for its unconventional fragrances. This extends to its offering for the home, including this incense, which has been made by one of the few traditional incense makers in Kyoto, Japan (who also provide incense for the local Buddhist temples and monasteries). Notes include elemi, juniper wood, cedar wood, papyrus, vetiver and frankincense, to evoke the illusion of blue ink.

Perfumer H, Ink incense, £30, perfumerh.com.

13. Discothèque milk candle

Discothèque candles are created to evoke the memories of hedonistic nights out and are made using fully traceable, sustainable, high-grade vegan wax in the United Kingdom. This particular candle is named after the Milk! night club that was up and running in Mannheim, Germany, between 1990 - 1993. With top notes of weeping juniper, citrus limon, bergamot, and black pepper (and with a sandalwood, vanilla bean, leather and balsamic base), lighting it will bring a slice of nightlife into your home, setting the tone for many dinner parties to come.

Discothèque Milk! candle, £54, available at harveynichols.com.

The Diptyque Marylebone pop-up shop has opened in a prime position on London’s Marylebone High Street, in time for Christmas shopping ahead of the festive season. The Parisian heritage brand first heralded our now deeply embedded appreciation of the world of scent and scented objects – candles and beyond – and it continues to expand its sensory vision with beautiful new creations. 

The opening of the new shop marks a fitting conclusion to the 60th-anniversary celebrations of the brand’s original, emblematic Diptyque candle – the ‘icon of Diptyque’, which was created in 1963. The entire candle range is presented at the Marylebone store, which also offers a fantastic array of scented and decorative items and gorgeous ceramics and tableware – all designed for the pleasure of the senses.

On our Christmas list at Diptyque Marylebone

The spacious shop is resplendent in red drapery, with a mood of opulent luxury in which to enjoy Diptyque’s classic creations, as well as discover exciting new pieces conceived especially for the holiday season, among them the limited-edition Diptyque Holiday Collection (also available to buy at diptyqueparis.com), which takes the candle flame as its central motif.

The new designs were inspired by a poetic definition of flame from the Encyclopédie des Lumières in 1751: ‘Thus is called that subtle, light, luminous and glowing body that is seen rising above the surface of objects that are burning’.

The Holiday Collection presents three new classic candles, in vessels decorated with coloured, black and golden flames: Sapin (Pine Tree, £67), Délice (Delight, £67) and Coton (Cotton, £67). 

The collection also includes Murano glass diffusers, and elegant dinner candles moulded entirely from scented wax. The Baies (Berries) giant candle is a magnificent object that presents a lavish five kilos of wax and nine wicks, encased in dramatic black enamel embossed with the Diptyque oval emblem – an extraordinary festive centrepiece.

‘Magic and Wonder’ the new decoration collection, features golden candle accessories that enhance the beauty of dancing flames. There are striking candle holders crafted from leather and metal, and delicate golden lanterns and carousels that sit atop the candle, whose heat creates movement that scatters the light in mesmerising patterns.

The Diptyque Marylebone pop-up store is a wonderful gifting emporium where you may immerse yourself in the brand’s sensory world and delight in all the joyful possibilities of this holiday season. Happily, the brand’s story is set to continue at the Marylebone location, which will become a permanent Diptyque boutique in the spring of 2024.

Diptyque Marylebone, 35C Marylebone High Street, London W1U 4PY

diptyqueparis.com

Les Mondes de Diptyque is a new quintet of candles that explores the French brand’s history while looking at the future. The first refillable candle collection by Diptyque was created in collaboration with Italian designer Cristina Celestino, while the scents were developed by French perfumer Olivia Giacobetti 

Les Mondes de Diptyque: Cristina Celestino interprets the brand’s 60-year history 

Celestino's experience working in glass and her colour sensibility make her a fitting collaborator for Diptyque. Her design work, encompassing furniture, objects and interiors, is characterised by balance and carefully considered shapes and palettes, referencing natural forms. 

Her glass vessels for Diptyque nod to the maison's iconic symbolism, with an oval imprint and three totem-like stacked tiers, each representing one of the brand’s founders. Made of thick glass in subdued colours, the vessels for the candles were manufactured using pressed glass technology mixing craft expertise and cutting-edge glass-making techniques. 

The maison launched its first candles in 1963, to translate nature’s olfactory experience into an object that can add a new layer to an interior, create a sophisticated atmosphere and enhance one’s spirits.

‘Diptyque is the embodiment of culture, freedom and cross-cutting design,’ says Celestino. ‘To me, perfumes and candles are a means to recreate real olfactory landscapes in your own home. The idea of an emotional journey is the base of essences – and the candleholder conveys these messages.'

A journey through scent

The five candles are imagined as a journey, each scent inspired by a location around the world that forms the base for an exploration of nature and culture. The olfactory journey starts near Milan, in the grounds of Villa Borromeo Visconti, its sculpted grottos and gardens lined with orange trees the inspiration behind the fresh 'Nymphées Merveilles' candle, while Las Pozas, an ancient orchid garden in the Mexican jungle, is behind 'La Forêt Rêve', whose scent recreates ‘an identifiable tropical flower’.

'Temple des Mousses' takes us to Kyoto: ‘On the southern slopes of the Arashiyama mountain you will find a Japanese temple, with a zen garden where 120 rare and delicate varieties of moss flourish in the half-light of the forest.’ This location is translated into a rich olfactory experience featuring accents of green moss, bark and lichen, mixed with velvety notes that bring to mind a plethora of vegetation. 

Over to China, 'La Vallée du Temps' transports us to  Jingdezhen, a town known for the surrounding tea plantations, supported by ancient practices; this blend of history, nature and craft is reflected in the scent. Finally, red cedar is at the heart of 'Terres Blondes', referencing Mesa Verde in Colorado and a connection to the earth and land. 

Les Mondes de Diptyque candles, £208 each, are available via diptyqueparis.com

Perfume has the power to transport you almost anywhere in the world. An intrinsic connection between scent and memory means that the unfolding notes of a single spritz can conjure visions of languorous summer holidays on the Italian coast; hiking through the verdant Californian Palisades, or taking a city break in the balmy climate of Kyoto.

So, whether you’re managing to take a holiday this year, or staying put in your home town and looking for a little escapism, let the below fragrances take you on an olfactory journey. Lie back, inhale, and enjoy the trip.

Paris with Celine

Hedi Slimane’s newest fragrance for Celine is an ode to the gamine icons of 1960s Paris. Called ‘ZouZou’, an affectionate French nickname for women with short hair, the scent recalls the idiosyncratic sexiness of Jane Birkin, Jean Seberg in Breathless, and writer Françoise Sagan, with warm notes of vanilla and amber, mixed with caramel overtones and a touch of powdery sweetness. It’s a sensual gourmand fragrance that’s still light enough to be perfect for summertime wear, day or night.

celine.com

Ibiza with Loewe 

The newest addition to Loewe’s collection of Paula’s Ibiza perfumes is ‘Cosmic’, a gourmand fragrance dreamed up by Jonathan Anderson and in-house perfumer Nuria Cruelles as an olfactory portal into psychedelic daydreams. Fresh notes of ripe pear and juicy mango are mixed with sweet coconut and warm amber for a fragrance that has the sweet and minerally scent of skin after a day at the beach, when suntan lotion mixes with sea salt and drops of melted popsicles.

perfumesloewe.com

Portofino with Victoria Beckham

The exceptional performance of Victoria Beckham Beauty’s makeup products has earned the brand a dedicated legion of followers, and the VB’s fragrances, launched last year, have proven just as impressive. For summertime, try the brand’s ‘Portifino ‘97’ perfume, which is a musky, aquatic blend of Calabrian bergamot, sea notes, musk and incense that is halfway between a masculine cologne and a feminine perfume. Beckham wanted the scent to echo the smells of incense, bedsheets and ocean breezes that she remembered from the secret seaside getaway she made with her then-boyfriend in the early days of their romance. ‘I remember the light, I remember how the hotel smelled and how exciting that time was. I remember it all like it was yesterday,’ says Beckham in the perfume’s press notes.

victoriabeckhambeauty.com

Greek Islands with Diptyque

Diptyque’s ‘Ilio’ fragrance pays homage to summer days spent cooling off among breezy seaside cliffs. Its central note is Barbary figs, a rare ingredient in perfumery and one that gives it a uniquely soft and woody smell. Touches of lavender and lemongrass add freshness to the scent, making it well-suited to those who want a bright, easy-to-wear fragrance for the season.

diptyqueparis.com

Kyoto with Regime des Fleurs

If you’re looking for a truly unique summer fragrance, look no further than Regime des Fleurs’ ‘Himitsu’. Founder of the New York fragrance brand, Alia Raza, worked with master perfumer Dominique Ropion to create a scent that asks: ‘What does the colour purple smell like?’ (The word ‘Himitsu’ translates to ‘purple’ in Japanese, and the perfume is described by Raza as a ‘love letter to Kyoto’). Delicate notes of violet and heliotrope are undercut with the smoky sweetness of tolu balsam and powdery suede. It's a wispy floral with strange, synthetic undertones that develop as you wear it, making it a good summer option for those who prefer more dynamic, peculiar fragrances.

regimedesfleurs.com

California with Louis Vuitton

‘Pacific Chill’ is the latest addition to Louis Vuitton’s collection of California-inspired fragrances. In-house perfumer Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud was inspired to create the fragrance after days of drinking green juice (a California staple) and hiking through the Palisades. The result is a tasty blend of carrot seed essence, blackcurrant, orange, mint, and basil that is sweetened by a hint of apricot. As for previous fragrances in the Californian-inspired series, the bottle was designed by LA-based artist (and former Wallpaper* Design Awards judge) Alex Israel.

louisvuitton.com

New York with Gabar

Gabar’s newly launched Urban Collection pays homage to New York. In particular, the art of exploring the city at nighttime. ‘05 (LUDLOW) Lull’ opens with notes of orange blossom and black tea, leading into a heart of red apple, cherry and rose. The scent is rounded off with a base of sandalwood and white musk. ‘We imagine that moment of unwinding: letting go or letting loose, the rhythms of going out and seeking connection, or taking time to re-connect with ourselves,’ say Gabar’s founders Phway Su Aye and Susan Wai Hnin. The perfect scent for a swelteringly hot summer evening amidst the concrete jungle.

gabarworld.com

Italy with Bvlgari

Bulgari’s ‘Baciami’ fragrance takes its name from the Italian word for ‘kiss me.’ It’s a fitting moniker considering the fragrance, designed by Louis Vuitton perfumer Jacques Cavallier, is inspired by iconic Italian romances from history and literature, like Romeo and Juliet (Verona), Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton (Rome), Dante and Beatrice (Florence), to name a few. A 'steamy floral,’ ‘Baciami’ is characterised by a heavy dose of creamy gardenia flower enriched with warm notes of vanilla. It's a rich, feminine fragrance ideal for those looking for an interesting alternative to rose-based scents.

bulgari.com

The Swedish Archipelago with Colekt

Travel to forests of Sweden's famed summer islands with the ‘La Chambre’ fragrance by Stockholm-based brand Colekt. Featuring notes of oakmoss, pink pepper, and lavender, La Chambre is a delicate, woody fragrance that is ideal for those who prefer musky scents but want something lighter for the summer months.

colekt.com

The Amazon with Fueguia 1833

The ‘Agua Magnoliana’ fragrance from Argentinian brand Fueguia 1833 is inspired by the magnolia fragrantissima flower, a delicate-smelling bloom that comes from a mammoth Amazonian tree. Its aquatic floral scent is enriched by notes of jasmine and sandalwood, making it an elegant fragrance that is light enough for the most humid conditions.

fueguia.com

Valencia with Perfumer H

The ‘Orange Leaf’ fragrance from Perfumer H transforms the tangy citrus notes of Valencia oranges into an uplifting summer fragrance. The orange valencia scent used in the perfume is extracted from the fruit itself, rather than synthetically recreated. This is blended with petitgrain essence extracted from the twigs and leaves of oranges for an extra-zesty scent and then toned with notes of basil, frankincense and cedar wood.

perfumerh.com

The French Riviera with Dior 

Dior's fragrance ‘Eden-Roc’ is an ode to the luxurious Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes. The hotel was and still is the epitome of French Riviera elegance, inspiring F. Scott Fitzgerald's Tender is the Night and playing host to the likes of Picasso, Jean Cocteau, Marlene Dietrich and the Kennedys. The fragrance blends sea salt, jasmine, coconut, and pine to evoke ‘a salt crystal placed on the tip of the tongue, bronzed skin warmed by the sun, [and] the protective canopy offered by a pine tree in the south of France’.

dior.com

Gambia with Maya Njie

Swedish-born, London-based perfumer Maya Njie created ‘Tropica’ as a sensory ode to her childhood trips to West Africa, particularly Gambia and Senegal. ‘For me, it’s evocative of these places, as they represent the transition of leaving a very cold and dark Sweden for warmer climates, sticky beaches, salty oceans, late nights and late mornings, where we could really roam free,’ says Njie. To create the fragrance, she blended uplifting notes of citrus and pineapple with fig, coconut, and musk. It's a lush and bright perfume, more evocative of a tropical savannah than other beach-centric summer scents.

mayanjie.com

Mumbai with DS & Durga 

DS & Durga’s ‘Radio Bombay’ is ideal among summer scents for those who prefer something slightly richer than the typical citrus or floral. This medium-bodied fragrance is designed to evoke a day spent under the hot Mumbai sun with a copper-tube radio playing ragas in the background. It's a woody and fruity scent with top notes of copper and cedar, heart notes of sandalwood and iris, and base notes of coconut musk and ambergris.

dsanddurga.com

Mexico with Xinú

Xinú’s ‘Monstera’ evokes the verdant jungles of the perfume brand’s native Mexico. The freshness of the monstera plant is blended with damp earthy accord for a musty depth. It’s finished off with a creamy white floral tone and a touch of bitter cocoa and vanilla. Once finished with, Xinú’s perfume bottles, made from blown glass and wood, are designed to be turned into an elegant, modernist vase.

xinu.mx

Luxury scented candles can transform the ambience of a space with one strike of a match. The Wallpaper* edit takes into consideration both intriguing scent profiles and designs, spanning from sleek sophisticates to colourful creatives, and everything in between.

For the former, think Celine’s collection of candles crafted by the house from faceted black glass and black wax. For the latter, Bottega Veneta’s recently launched range has one-of-a-kind volcano-glazed pots that can be kept and re-used once the contents have burned down. No matter which from our ongoing list is your preference, this advice remains universal: do not forget to trim the wick.

Luxury scented candles to intrigue the senses, as selected by Wallpaper*

Celine

Celine’s candles are undeniably chic, with their faceted black containers and candle wax, which is created in-house by the Maison’s own wax maker. His dual training in perfumery (something of an anomaly in the trade) provides a unique understanding of how fragrance and wax work together to saturate a room. Like the brand’s perfumes, all of the candle’s scents are designed by creative director Hedi Slimane. Each one is a crowd-pleaser but we have a soft spot for ‘Illuminations’ (a blend of incense and resinous rockrose that is inspired by Rimbaud’s poetry) and ‘Nightclubbing’, based on Slimane’s memories of Paris after dark, with white orris butter, patchouli, tree moss, vanilla and musk.

celine.com

Bottega Veneta

Bottega Veneta candles come in a one-of-a-kind volcano-glazed clay pots, that are designed to be reused around the home when the wax has burned down. For a gentle scent, try ‘Raintree’, which is inspired by a hot Italian sun warming fresh fig leaves. There’s also ‘Redstone’, a richer scent with notes of plum nectar and woody tobacco leaves. While ‘Lantern’ makes for a slightly more subtle option with notes of suede rose and woody vetiver roots.

bottegaveneta.com

Tom Ford

Tom Ford perfumes have gained a cult following thanks to their opulent, distinctive and overtly sexy scents. His candles are no different. And, although they come in relatively streamlined packaging, their scents pack a punch. If you’re having trouble deciding which one to get, we recommend trying ‘Fucking Fabulous’ which lives up to its name with a heady blend of leather and amber-hued tonka bean.

tomford.com

Diptyque

Part of the Dipgtyque’s summer fragrance collection, the ‘Citronelle’ candle is full of zest, with lemongrass, verbena, neroli and orange blossom. It’s currently available in a limited edition design, featuring playful illustrations by artist Alexandre Benjamin Navet. The candle is ‘an instant reminder of balmy summer nights’, and has the added benefit of warding off any bugs and insects that might interfere with the mood.

diptyque.com

Trudon

In a list of luxury scented candles, it would be remiss to exclude Trudon, a storied fragrance house that once made candles for Marie Antoinette. (A recent collection even paid olfactory tribute to Versailles). The brand’s ‘Ernesto’ candle – a blend of tobacco and leather – is the most classic choice. If you prefer a slightly less heady fragrance, however, then ‘Abd El Kader’ is decidedly refreshing, containing slightly spicy notes of Moroccan mint tea, tobacco and ginger. Or, there’s ‘Carmelite’, a woody incense-tinged scent inspired by the mossy stone walls and silent chapels of medieval convents.

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Harriet Allure

Harriet Allure is a niche Stockholm-based candle brand created by childhood friends, Freddy Mackensy and Alex Adu. Each of the brand’s four candles is inspired by the founder’s friends and family and is intended to conjure up the feeling of ‘home’ from anywhere one might be in the world. The most impressive scent in the collection is perhaps ‘Faiyaz’ which blends tobacco with violet, saffron and pine cedar. But ‘Amu’ is the perfect option for those who prefer the slightly sweeter fragrance of apple and cardamon.

harrietallure.com

Loewe

Loewe’s plant and vegetable-inspired scented candles have become icons of the genre, inspired by Creative Director Jonathan Anderson’s own garden. There’s ‘Mushroom’, ‘Luscious Pea’, ‘Beetroot’, and the now quintessentially verdant ‘Tomato Leaf’, to name but a few, each housed in colourful terracotta pots based on the design of a 5th-century BC Greek mug.

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Acqua di Parma

The Acqua di Parma ‘Chapeau!’ candle is a brand collaboration with designer Dorothée Meilichzon. Infused with the notes of Luce di Colonia: orange, lemon, petitgrain, neroli, patchouli and vetiver. Crafted from ceramic, the candle weighs a total of almost 2,000g, with a two-in-one design inspired by the Art Deco forms of Acqua di Parma fragrance bottles. The glazed top (in the signature house colours of either yellow or blue) slots onto a matte white base, revealing itself as a small candle in itself once removed.

acquadiparma.com

Cloon Keen

Cloon Keen is an Irish fragrance brand that has garnered a devotional following among those in the know. Brand founders, Margaret Mangan and Julian Checkley have curated a range of phenomenal scents inspired by their home country. ‘Aesthetic Lily’ pays homage to Oscar Wilde, blending the delicate freshness of lily with spicy ginger and Egyptian jasmine on fine, carved mahogany.

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Le Labo

A candle from cult fragrance brand Le Labo is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Its three-pack discovery set is a great way to find out which is your favourite. But fortune favoures the bold. So don’t hesitate in taking the plunge with ‘Ambroxyde 17’, a candle infused with synthetic molecule Ambroxyde, which produce the scent of ambergris or ‘floating gold’. This alluring ‘can’t quite place it’ note is paired with musks, woods, and jasmine for a heady, distinctive scent.

lelabofragrances.com

Maison D’Orsay

Maison D’Orsay was founded 200 years ago by French aristocrat (and inspiration for The New Yorker’s top-hatted mascot) Alfred d’Orsay. The brand’s range of candles are inspired by romantic meetings, with names corresponding to the time and place for each. ‘02:45 Enfin Seuls’ is a blend of incense, burned birchwood and rose inspired by a fireside conversation that goes on until the early hours; ‘23:15 À l’abri des regards’ is a heliotrope and lavender fragrance that pays homage to incognito rendezvous late at night; ‘21:30 Sous les draps’ is a spicy, floral blend of cumin, rose, patchouli and moss; and ‘06:20 Où tu sais’ combines linden flower, acacia wood, and hay, designed by celebrated perfumer Olivia Giacobetti.

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Haeckels

Fans of Haeckles natural skincare will want to extend the love to the Margate-based brand’s candles, too. The collection sees its cult perfumes become home fragrances in the likes of ‘Dreamland’ (a singular mix of rose and charred wood inspired by the 19th-century amusement park) or the ever-popular ‘Pluviophile’, which evokes the smell of rain hitting coastal pebbles. Repackaged in recycled sandblasted containers made by UK glass manufacturers, the containers are also emblazoned with coordinates from the Kentish coastline.

haeckels.com

Ormaie

Haute parfumerie Ormaie has made a name for itself with some of the most beautiful, modernist-inspired perfume bottles (and perfumes) around. It’s no surprise, then, that their candles are equally as elegant. Five of the brand’s scents can be purchased in gold-toned refill containers, held in a white porcelain vessel. When it comes to choosing between them, we have a soft spot for ‘Pain Perdu’, a blend of bran, cedar, and tonka beans meant to evoke the smell of an after-school snack in a French kitchen.

ormaie.paris.com

Perfumer H

Perfumer H’s candles come in elegant hand-blown glass containers that can be endlessly refilled in-store after purchase. Scents conceived by brand founder and Grasse-trained nose Lynn Harris include ‘Smoke’, a deeply intense blend of burnt cade, smoking birch tar and frankincense that smells like scorched wood in a dense forest. Or, there’s the the gentler ‘Dandelion’, created to evoke the first waves of a childhood spring, with green leaf, basil, honeysuckle, tagete, neroli, oak moss and vetiver.

perfumerh.com

Diptyque launches its ‘Simple Objects’ collection, a new series of household items curated by French designer Sam Baron and inspired by the maison's luxury candle. 

‘Although simple in shape and conception, the candle calls for some serious savoir-faire handed down through the ages: from the artisan chandler to the wick maker, glassblower, perfumer, and their priceless age-old techniques,' reads a statement for Diptyque introducing the project. 'Decked out in its emblematic oval, the Diptyque candle occupies a most singular role in bringing enchantment to the home. Its flame reveals hidden shapes, its fragrance awakens the senses. It is a whole world in itself.'

The new collection was created by global designers, artists and craftsmen that were invited to interpret the maison's aesthetic codes, working in wood, ceramic, wax and glass. 

Among the simple objects is a set of four love boxes, made of white porcelain and each bearing a letter inspired by the calligraphy work of Desmond Knox-Leet, one of the three founders of Diptyque. There are also peculiar objects, such as Jean-Marc Gady's and Samuel Accoceberry's wax vases, inspired by antique objects (in the case of Gady's design, replicating the shape of the Médici vases) and made of fine white wax that will gradually adopt a charming patina over time. 

More minimalist contributions include ceramicist Toma Blok's ceramic soap dishes and artisan woodturner Nicolas Mareau's trio of circular dishes, an interplay of the objects' precise lines and the wood's natural veins.

Mareau also collaborated with Baron on a series of distinctive, wood-turned candleholders shaped as sinuous columns, pillars and balusters, designed for Diptyque's classic candle size and inspired in its forms by the maison's oval logo. Also imagined to hold a Diptyque candle is Cécile Bichon's drip-effect ceramic vase, made by porcelain manufacturer Maison Bernardaud – one of many artisanal collaborators to the collection dotted between France and Portugal (where Baron is based).

It's a series of objects that plays with the maison's icons with a modern approach, offering an exquisite combination of materials, shapes and concepts.

The collection is available from diptyqueparis.com

Diptyque Do Son perfume was launched in 2005, nearly 45 years after the brand’s three founders, Christiane Montadre-Gautrot, Yves Coueslant and Desmond Knox-Leet, opened their boutique at 34 Boulevard Saint-Germain in Paris. 

The original boutique was conceived as a modern-day bazaar, selling knickknacks and art pieces from around the world, as well as the founders’ own graphic textile designs, before pivioting to handmade luxury candles and fragrances. In all the years that have followed, the brand has continued using its platform as a showcase for unique curios and art objects. 

Recent examples include Diptyque’s 60th anniversary project, which saw artists such as Zoë Paul, Johan Creten, and Hiroshi Sugimoto create one-of-a-kind fragrant objects; and photographer Tim Walker’s 2022 limited-edition book, inspired by Diptyque Do Son perfume. 

Now, Diptyque is once again celebrating Do Son, this time with a whimsical short film directed by Werlen Meyer and scored by James Blake.

Watch the film

The Do Son fragrance was crafted by perfumer Fabrice Pellegrin in collaboration with Coueslant and Montadre-Gautrot, and was largely inspired by Coueslant’s youth in the Ha Long Bay area of Vietnam. Its delicate blend of tuberose, orange blossom, jasmine, and amber wood evokes honeyed, floral scents carried by the crisp sea breeze, and has made it one of the most popular scents in the Diptyque repertoire.

Speaking about the collaboration, Pellegrin says, ‘The fragrance was my attempt to recreate, via the distinctive scent of tuberoses, the atmosphere and the memory of a childhood spent in Vietnam. Tuberose is an exceptional flower – majestic in every respect and for Yves, enveloping and material. It became our point of reference. I worked on it with great care, developing its green, aquatic, floral, creamy and sunny facets. And that’s how the accord came into being.’ 

New Diptyque Do Son perfume range

The new film is an animated short by acclaimed Parisian design studio Werlen Meyer, best known for its work with Wes Anderson on Isle of Dogs and The French Dispatch, and charts Do Son’s creation from the streets of Paris to the shores of Vietnam. Alongside its launch, the brand has debuted a limited-edition range of Do Son products, including a perfume, a candle, a handwash, and soap in bright blue packaging.

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Home fragrance gets a new look with this selection of inventive tools for decorating and scenting your domestic space. From scented papers to lava rock potpourri, these objects outshine any candle.

Piro by Moooi

Dutch design icon Moooi has delved into robotics with Piro- a dancing scent diffuser that combines the brand’s keen aesthetic eye with a playful sensibility and keen interest in new technologies. The brand developed Piro in collaboration with the US-based design company Ideo, who are best known for their human-centred approach to technology. Along with dancer and roboticist Catie Cuan, who choreographed the graceful movements of the diffusers, the group seek to explore how something as seemingly cold as a robot can be infused with warmth and beauty. 

moooi.com

Infra Luna by Byredo 

Created in collaboration with French designer and light artist Benoit Lalloz, Byredo's Infra Luna is a unique design item that simultaneously illuminates and perfumes the home using an innovative heating mechanism. 

Instead of burning candles, Infra Luna melt the wax into liquid to potently diffuse scent throughout the room, while a coloured candle cap can be placed over the candle to create a moody wash of light in the colour of your choice.  

byredo.com

The Townhouse Collection by Jo Malone 

Jo Malone’s ability to continuously produce scents that are equal part inventive and accessible has garnered it a cult status within the fragrance world. The brand’s new Townhouse Collection presents a new range of characteristically distinctive scents with new packaging that references the architectural details of Georgian architecture. In keeping with the brand’s traditional sense of English sense of refinement, the five candles are rendered in delicately textured bisque ceramic and hand-applied with fine details that evoke the cornices and columns of classic English manors. Each of the scents represents a different moment of life within a townhouse, from the sunlit garden breakfast evoked Fresh Fig & Cassis to the nights spent by a crackling fire with Glowing Embers. 

Perfumed papers by Ponsont 

Crafted by perfumer Justin Vaughan, Ponsont transforms a simple everyday object- paper- into a unique tool for scenting a space. A booklet of the paper strips, which are made out of tree-free cellulose, can easily be kept in your back pocket and given to friends or lit up for your own instant hit of aromatic bliss.
 
The brand’s bold graphic design makes it instantly eye-catching, but it’s the unique, painstakingly crafted fragrances that stay with you. Vaughn is a fragrance virtuoso, who draws his inspiration for the scents from everything from Rothko paintings to drugstore candy.  

Find out more about the brand’s fragment Re-made collaboration with Wallpaper* in this month’s issue.

Light candle by KANA x Evermore

Evermore’s distinctive black candles get a new summertime look courtesy of ceramic powerhouse Kana London. The collaboration sees Evermore’s vegan waxes contained within a playful gingham design by Kana, and are perfect for use either indoors or outside.

Once the candle is fully burned, the containers can be re-purposed as a chic bowl or serving dish for long-lasting usage. Available in two of Evermore’s most refreshing summertime fragrances, ‘Flore’ and ‘Light,’ these candles are a sure-fire way to infuse some extra ambiance into long summer evenings. 

'Deep Forest Soil to Form' scent and soil diffuser by Frama 

The bold, yet elegant, aesthetic that has come to define Danish and Korean design is on full display in this original room diffuser. With ‘From Soil to Form,’ Copenhagen-based design studio Frama and Seoul creative agency Be My Guest make elements of the natural world suitable for a domestic setting. 

The home diffuser consists of nine Korean red soil spheres contained in a pinewood box. Each of the spheres can be coated in ‘Deep Forest’ essential oil and then liberally scatted around the house, or kept in the box and displayed as a unified piece. 

Monarchia potpourri totem by Mad et Len 

Mad et Len takes its name from Proust's famous madeleine, a pastry-turned-portal into a nostalgic journey through time. Like Proust, the French fragrance brand is fascinated by how sensory experiences can transport us back into the past. 

Handcrafted in a secluded village in the French Alps, Mad et Len products come in iron vessels that, with their blackened and hammered texture, could have easily been made by a medieval ironmonger. For this innovative take on potpourri, the brand has filled one of their signature containers with lava rocks sourced from the Sahara. A few drops of their hand-crafted musk and honey scent can be periodically pipetted onto the rocks for a rugged take on the typical dried flowers. 

Incense1 by Affix Works 

Affix Works has collaborated with the London-based perfumers at Cremate to create incense cones that mix natural scents of pine and lemongrass with industrial tones of creosote and tar. To correspond with the launch, Affix has commissioned designer Dean Edmonds to create a series of limited-edition incense holders. The designs range from a bright green steel tree, a minimalist pine block, and a lacquered steel ring.

Says Edmonds of the project, ‘I’d like to think of each burner as a stage for the cone – some capable of holding many, others with a single offering. I guess they a nod to ritualistic objects although clearly conceived of practical materials within my practice; they could also seem like specimens collected.’ 

INFORMATION

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Diptyque, the Parisian maison that last year celebrated its 60th anniversary with the launch of Diptyque Home Décor, continues its expansion into homeware with a new tabletop collection named ‘Artist’s Palette’.

The brand has also unveiled a beautiful range of wallpaper designs. 

Diptyque Home Décor draws on an enviably rich artistic heritage; the maison boasts an archive of drawings and designs that date back to the beginnings of the original Diptyque store, in the 1960s, at 34 Boulevard St Germain –  a bazaar of treasures that functioned as a kind of creative salon and welcomed and inspired a diverse clientele from the literary and artistic world. 

Its three talented founders – Christiane Montadre-Gautrot, Desmond Knox-Leet and Yves Coueslant – were a decorator, a painter, and a designer who worked together and established an impressive library of art, patterns, and designs, some of which are currently listed in the collections of the Museum of Decorative Arts, Paris. 

The Diptyque brand has become evocative of a certain style and mood – one of cultivated chic and sensory pleasure. This, after all, is the brand that heralded our now deeply embedded appreciation of the world of scent and scented objects such as luxury candles that have become part of the art of living. The Home Décor collections offer the opportunity to further immerse oneself in Diptyque’s unique sensory world, the brand’s unmistakable aesthetic now traversing tabletop and walls in an opulent variety of textures and materials. 

The new ‘Artists Palette’ range is available as a permanent collection that joins previously released tableware lines such as ‘Basile’. In contrast to the latter’s monochromatic lines and curves, ‘Artists Palette’ presents an exuberant colour palette, with gorgeous cerulean blues and soft greens dancing playfully over vases, dishes, glasses and trays. The collections complement each other and may be combined to create unique and spectacular tablescapes.

The new wallpaper designs are just as inspiring. They draw on the maison’s extraordinary archive with fantastic effect. Its heritage patterns are beautifully represented: ‘Pretorian’ features the distinctive ovals that recall the shape of antique Roman shields, whilst the black and white ‘Basile’ design offers bold drama.

The wallcovering range is theatrical, and sometimes unexpected, with a rich array of patterns and hues. There are three panorama wallpaper patterns (‘Landscape’, ‘Les Lilas’, ‘Jardin Clos’), which are inspired by the travel journals and pointillist sketches of Desmond Knox-Leet. 

With an eye on sustainability, the maison has chosen a digital printing technique on non-woven wallpaper, instead of a fabric, using cutting-edge contemporary techniques that allow for an extreme level of precision during printing.

Diptyque’s foray into wall décor offers a fabulous journey through its history and into its present-day incarnation as a titan of style.

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There is no shortage of icons in Diptyque’s olfactory arsenal, but it's the house’s Eau Rose, a sumptuous rose perfume, that has been given a renewed attention in honour of its tenth anniversary this year. Originally an eau de toilette made from the essences of the two best-smelling roses in the perfume industry, the fragrance has now been reimagined as a rich eau de parfum by perfumer Fabrice Pellegrin. 

Together with an expanded offering of new products and an eye-catching collaboration with the American florist Maurice Harris on its campaign imagery, the revamped Eau Rose collection is no shrinking violet. 

A known rose fan and expert, Pellegrin is the creator of other recognisable Diptyque scents, such as Do Son and Eau Duelle, which are also constructed around notes of rose. For the new Eau Rose, he builds upon his original scent, featuring damascena and centifolia roses, to create the stronger eau de parfum iteration – which has a robust bouquet that surprisingly includes hints of artichoke, lychee and chamomile.

The fragrance also features a third rose, the fiard – in the form of an upcycled extract made from discarded damascena rosewater during the distillation process, which supports Diptyque’s move towards greater sustainability in its work.

Pellegrin says, ‘With Diptyque, I have the precious opportunity to create without any boundaries. This freedom allows me to explore territories where aesthetic is the only objective. Together, we create unique olfactive stories that are true to nature, true to culture, true to travel memories.’ (Travel was a key inspiration in the brand’s collaboration with artists including Zoë Paul, ‘Le Grand Tour’, which marked Diptyque’s 60th anniversary in 2021.)

‘Diptyque scents all have a strong signature. They are elegant, unique and have a sophisticated olfactive construction,’  says Olivia Grimaux, the brand’s international communications director.

To fully celebrate the new perfume, Diptyque has released three new luxury candles devoted to its distinctive facets – a floral spin on artichoke with a seductive iris accord; a tangy lychee, already a well-established companion to rose; and an aromatic, honey-infused chamomile that’s enhanced by powdery violet leaves. 

For the accompanying brand imagery, completing this offbeat, heady fantasy vision of rose, Diptyque’s classic black and white packaging is juxtaposed by sculptural, colour-drenched arrangements created by LA-based florist Harris. Uninhibited, surprising and exuberant, the Eau Rose collection is everything you might expect of this classic flower, and more.

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The artist Zoë Paul hadn’t planned to end up in a cave. A few months prior, the French perfumery maison Diptyque had approached her to take part in its 60th anniversary show, which opens in Paris 14 September with pop-ups around the world to follow. The exhibition features original works by nine artists.

Of these artists, five have created editioned objects fragranced by Diptyque perfume, with Paul drawing inspiration from Greece; Joël Andrianomearisoa from France; Johan Creten from Italy; Hiroshi Sugimoto from Japan; Rabih Kayrouz from Lebanon.

These five destinations were chosen because they were places Diptyque’s founders, Christiane Montadre-Gautrot, Yves Coueslant and Desmond Knox-Leet, have often travelled to or taken inspiration from.

When the trio launched Diptyque in Paris in 1961, it was not a fragrance house but rather a chic curio shop packed with knick knacks – an ode to the wonders that can be found through travel. Each item was selected for its intriguing design or compelling story, be it a bistro sugar holder or Indian incense sticks.

‘Le Grand Tour’ harks back to that origin story, but with a more elevated collection of artist-designed objects, befitting the brand’s evolution into a luxury house. Like Diptyque’s founders, Paul knows what it is like to be in between places, having been raised between the UK and Greece by South African parents escaping the apartheid regime.

She is now settled in Athens and much of her work is informed by Greek traditional crafts. Using materials closely tied to her surroundings, such as clay and wool, or scavenged industrial waste, Paul creates works focusing on the corroding effect of modern technology on our sense of community. 

Notable works include a series of rusted refrigerator grilles interwoven with wool tapestries that examine the effect that the arrival of domestic refrigerators had on rural Greek communities. Since people could keep food longer, rather than share it with others before it spoiled, they tended to stop eating together; crafting together also ceased, with the arrival of mass-produced objects.

Paul’s 2017 installation La Perma-Perla Kraal Emporium also examined the link between craft and community by inviting visitors to roll clay beads together. As people sat together, they inevitably started talking, transforming a gallery, which tends to encourage isolated observation, into a relaxed communal space. Paul’s work for Diptyque, The Cave of Chiron, referring to the centaur of Greek mythology, incorporates all of these facets.

Myth and Diptyque fragrance inspire artwork

A curtain of clay beads, fired for days over a metal drum, forms an image of a single hand, held together by a hand-pressed gold tin frame. For Paul, this curtain technique was a natural choice for a project with Diptyque: ‘There’s a fragility to it, in the same way that the perfume has this fragility to it and it hangs in there,’ she explains.

Paul visited the Greek village of Milies – the inspiration for perfumer Olivier Pescheux’s eponymous fragrance for Diptyque – after receiving the maison’s commission. ‘What struck me the most about the place was its profound spirituality,’ she recalls. ‘Following the road to the village, quite by chance I came upon Chiron’s cave. It was surrounded by laurel bushes and little violet-coloured wild irises. Inside, the space opened out, taking on an unexpected resemblance to a sepulchre.’

Inside the cave, Paul found the inspiration she was looking for. Mythical Chiron is a healer and practitioner of herbal medicine. His name translates as ‘hand’, a symbol of healing and protection, and one that the artist already had in mind before her visit. As she describes it, when she first smelled Diptyque’s Milies perfume, a rich blend of cypress notes, fig trees and immortelles, ‘I was thinking about these hands crawling their way out of the earth, because the perfume smelled kind of soily and earthy’.

On a personal level, she found being in Chiron’s cave so affecting that it ‘kicked into place’ a desire to start seeing a healer herself, and examine more closely how she uses imagery in her work: ‘It got me thinking about what these symbols mean; it’s not so much about religion as it is something that brings people together spiritually. The figure of the healer is something which brings people together, there’s a lot of reaching out of hands, of holding hands.’

To reaffirm this sense of spirituality, Paul looked to the village’s ornate Orthodox church to create the frame for The Cave of Chiron. She found a reliquary craftsman (with a studio ‘filled with drawers of diamonds’ and ‘the little toe of a priest’) to handcraft the tinware crown that sits atop her artwork, holding a ceramic dish imbued with the fragrance. ‘I wanted to make something that was in between the feeling of nature and these two spiritual places in Milies – the church and the cave,’ says Paul.

‘Something that combined their energies,’ she adds. For Paul, there is not much difference between the art people have on the walls or the table they eat off – ‘everything should have that energy’. It’s a philosophy reflected in her use of everyday materials to create a communal atmosphere.

A special energy

Creating a communal atmosphere is not so far off, in turn, from the mission of Diptyque’s ‘Le Grand Tour’. The brand’s UK managing director Amanda Morgan explains: ‘In the past 18 months particularly, people have been looking for sensory experiences – visually or through fragrance – to heighten everyday life. That’s what’s exciting about having our 60th anniversary at this moment. There’s a different level of excitement and of gratitude.’

In its early years, Diptyque was a cultural scene in and of itself. During the day, the Paris shop would play music, from Beethoven to The Rolling Stones, and at night the crowd that had gathered there would flow into the Orphéon nightclub next door.

Some time later, the Diptyque trio created three candles fragranced with hawthorn, cinnamon and tea, the first of many strange but intoxicating perfumes that would define the brand in the decades to come. ‘Le Grand Tour’ is in some ways a recreation of that founding ethos. The exhibition is a collection of finely crafted art instillations, each with its own story, bringing people together and creating a special energy.

For those in London, The Cave of Chiron can be viewed and purchased from The Selfridges Corner Shop 6 September to 3 October.

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Diptyque – the name alone has become evocative of sensory pleasure, fragrance, and a certain mood. Diptyque is the brand that heralded our now deeply embedded appreciation of the world of scents and scented objects that have become part of the art of living.

This year, the Parisian maison celebrates its 60th anniversary and to coincide with the event is launching its first-ever home entertaining collection. This new Decoration collection explores the brand's heritage and expands on the Diptyque story using its rich archive of references and designs.

The Parisian maison has retained its unique position in this sphere, and this year, Diptyque introduces its home Decoration Collections, which explore their heritage and expand on the Diptyque story using its archive of references. The classic Diptyque oval, for instance – key to the brand’s visual identity and logo – is taken from a textile design made in-house during the early days of the brand, and which was in turn inspired by the shields of the ancient Roman Praetorian guard. 

Diptyque’s foray into homewares and decoration maps a perfect circle, as the shop at 34 Boulevard St Germain (which is still there) was originally a bazaar of treasures and objets trouvés collected from every corner of the globe – from wallpaper to ceramics and curiosities. The original founders of Diptyque were a painter, a designer, and a decorator respectively, and their store functioned as a kind of salon that welcomed and inspired a diverse clientele of characters from the literary and artistic world. 

Now, under the eye of product creation director Myriam Badault, Diptyque is once again expanding into decoration, but this time with its own line of entertaining and tableware.  

This new chapter in the Diptyque adventure will be introduced over the course of 2021 through the Decoration collections. The first, launching this month (February 2021), is named ‘Entertaining Geometry’, which sees the brand’s classic black and white tones and serpentine graphic lines flowing over porcelain dishes and Murano glasses, across vases, lanterns, candle stands, and infusers.

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Diptyque celebrates is 60th anniversary with a new line of graphic candles that are a nod to the fragrance house’s storied history.

The brand began in 1961, when three art students, Christiane Montadre, Desmond Knox-Leet and Yves Coueslant, opened their boutique in Paris’s Saint-Germain neighbourhood. The store was a modern day bazaar, selling knickknacks from around the world – bistro sugar holders, lorraine glassware, Indian incense burners – as well as the trio’s own graphic textile designs. It wasn’t until 1963 that Diptyque started producing their own candles, after a local wax maker gave them the idea to create scents to complement their fabrics designs. 

In homage to that graphic past, Diptyque has commissioned the designer Yorgo Tloupas to create four geomatic patterns to adorn their Baies, Tubéreuse, Figuier, and Roses candles. Each of the designs is intended to visually reflect the scent it’s attributed to, like concentric ovals that mimic the shape of the figs that inspired ‘Figier’ or overlapping curves that are similar to the berries that make up ‘Baies’.

As always, the brand’s signature oval crest is at the centre of each candle. Designed by one of the original founders, Desmond Knox-Leet, the seal was inspired by the shields of ancient Roman soldiers. At the centre of each is the candle’s name, purposely scrambled as a playful take on the codes and word games Knox-Leet was obsessed with. 

For the first time in Diptyque’s history, the signature seal is coloured red, green, pink, and blue respectively as a complement to the surrounding black and white designs.

A playful homage to the history of a brand that, over 60 years, has established itself as one of the most beloved names in candle making.

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Everything old is becoming new again for Diptyque. The French fragrance brand has commissioned digital floral artist Bas Meeuws to refresh six classic floral fragrances through his photographic collages of blooming bouquets. 

For each perfume, Meeuws has created vibrant visual arrangements inspired by the floral compositions of the scents themselves. In his hands, the heady tuberose of Do Sun, inspired by summers spent in Indochina, are realised in ripe blooms and verdant stalks that explode out of their delicate china vase. While the tangy orange scent of Eau des Sens becomes visible in bright citrus coloured blossoms peppered with purple juniper berries. Each bouquet is different, but all are united in the elegance of their execution.

To create these unique arrangements, Meeuws photographs individual flowers and then digitally builds them into bouquets. The final images are reminiscent of Baroque still life paintings but captured in a distinctly modern format. In that way, Diptyque's and Meeuws' practices once again overlap. Meeuws takes that classical form but reinvents the medium, in much the same way Diptyque cultivated antique scents and aesthetics to create a contemporary brand.  

The series, entitled ‘Impossible Bouquets’, is a celebration of the near magical ability of perfumers and painters to transcend the boundaries of time and create, in their bottles or on their canvases, an eternal version of nature. The perfumer can gather a variety of ingredients and distill them into scent that, while derived from natural world, smells like nothing that has existed before. The painter, in this case Meeuws, does the same by gathering disparate flowers together to make a striking, unified image. 

Bas Meeuws digital bouquets will be featured on limited edition packages of the six scents – Do Sun, Eau des Sens, Eau Rose, L’Ombre dans L’Eau, Eau Moheli, and Olene. It’s a distinct collection that, like a painted flower, can last the test of time.

INFORMATION

diptyqueparis.com

The whimsical world of the French perfume label Diptyque has descended upon Brooklyn in the form of a pop-up in the borough's Boerum Hill neighbourhood. Located within The Invisible Dog, a multidisciplinary art community hub, the boutique delivers a proper dose of Diptyque charm with an environment embodying its creativity and playful elegance.

Open since Friday, the temporary boutique showcases Diptyque’s full assortment of home fragrance, body care and perfume collections. It also exclusively peddles the label’s latest offering, ‘Les Voyages’ – a collection of Diptyque cult favourites in travel-friendly sizes. From miniatures of its 'Protective Moisturising Lotion', which comes armed with a SPF 15 rating, and 'Nourishing Cleansing Balm', to portable versions of the 'Figuier' candle, 'Philosykos' perfume and 'L’Ombre Dans L’Eau' soap, taking a voyage without your Diptyque staples will be a thing of the past. Of course, the packaging of the ‘Les Voyages’ collection doesn’t disappoint, and features sun-drenched photographs of oceanfronts, fields of flowers and jungle cliffsides to complete the picture.

The Brooklyn shop will stay open within The Invisible Dog’s converted factory building until the end of the year. Decked out with vintage ephemera, an ample amount of potted greenery and even a stuffed peacock, the inviting space will hold exclusive products and seasonal launches alongside its old faithfuls, to keep New Yorkers from every borough trekking up the Hill.

INFORMATION

Thursday–Saturday, 1pm–7pm, Sunday, 12pm–6pm; Tuesdays and Wednesdays, by appointment only. For more details, please visit Diptyque’s website

ADDRESS

Diptyque Brooklyn (pop-up)
51 Bergen Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201

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No one could have predicted the power of emojis. These modern-day pictograms have become part and parcel of 21st century life so much so that to celebrate its latest creative collaboration, the classic French fragrance company Diptyque has launched a set of symbols of its own.

For its new Rosaviola scent, Diptyque has recruited the imaginative talents of fashion designer Olympia Le-Tan, daughter of famed illustrator Pierre Le-Tan. Every bit as detail-oriented as her father, Olympia Le-Tan has become known for her whimsical flair, if her successful collection of embroidered book-clutches is anything to go by.

Her collaboration with Diptyque sees Le-Tan interpreting the French house’s iconic packaging design in embroidered form, which in turn has been reprinted as labels and packaging for a quirky, trompe l’oeil effect. Each box is further emblazoned with felt-made motifs, such as kisses, hearts and keys with ribbons around them. The full range of designs has been digitised as an emoji keyboard, so that they can be enjoyed beyond the availability of the limited edition products. From lollipops and typewriters, to lipsticks and even a version of Diptyque’s recognisable shopping carrier, the icons delight the eye.

The fragrance is just as much of a treat. Inspired by the contents of a woman’s handbag, it blends soft rose and powdery violet notes to evoke the smell of lipstick, with notes of leather to bring it all together. Available in candle, solid perfume and scented oval form, the collection will stoke the fires of every heart.

INFORMATION

Diptyque Rosaviola, from $35–$67. Rosaviola emojis can be downloaded from the Apple App Store by searching ’Diptyque Paris’. For more information visit Diptyque’s website

It’s that time of year when the majority of us start to get excited about the Christmas countdown – even if we don’t always like to admit it. Whether we openly embrace the Christmas spirit or opt for a discreet celebration, there is no reason not to start the Christmas countdown this year in style. And so we have rounded up this year’s cream of the crop, the best advent calendars to lead us through December. From beauty products to truffle chocolates, this year’s selection will be sure to suit every taste. (Even those who favour a good old fashion wooden calendar.)

A 3D work of art, The Christian Lacroix ‘Shaman Night’ advent calendar by Libretto is sure to impress. Featuring a striking center pop-up with four unique characters — Zebra Girl, Shaman, Jungle Leo, and Wild Bird — and surrounded by panels that expand into a four foot long tableau. Along the tableau you’ll find the pop-up windows for the twent-four days before Christmas, and it all conveniently folds into a smart hardback folio - the perfect calendar to be brought out in anticipation year after year.

For those of us who prefer a sweet treat to indulge in (it is Christmas after all) the Harrods Brompton Road advent calendar, filled with Harrods Couverture Truffles, is a sure choice.

For a festive tiple, The Gin Foundary has teamed up with the Drinks by the Dram team to bring us the Ginvent Calendar. A gin-filled advent calendar featuring award-winning spririts from top distilleries. Behind each of the windows you’ll find a sample of gin.

For a more feminine Christmas countdown, there’s plenty of choice. The Beauty Workshop calendar by Selfridges, containing twenty four exciting products; Charlotte Tilbury's Book of Makeup Magic, made up of twelve make up cabinets, each containing a travel or full size product from the iconic collection; or the calendar from Diptyque, featuring a selection of mini candles, hand creams and fragrances.

Finally, for those who still prefer to fall back to the classic advent calendar, Fortnum & Mason, of course, does not disappoint. The traditional Christmas tree calendar has twenty-four little doors, behind which a small gift or chocolate can be hidden. Alternatively, a slightly more musical choice – a wooden advent calendar, decorated with the facade of Fortnum’s Piccadilly store – plays a different Christmas tune upon opening each of its little doors.

With all the choice there’s no excuse not to be prepared this year...

Not content with developing its formidable scent library, diptyque has stepped out of its comfort zone, teamed up with leaders in the field and launched two accessories to compliment its perfume and candle range, namely a crystal bottle and a lighter.

When it came to working with crystal, diptyque teamed up with the prestigious Cristallerie Saint-Louis and took on French designer FX Balléry. Inspired by Op Art, Ballery enhanced the oblong bottle shape and ran black filigree lines along the curves, while a long black crystal rod became both the bottle's seal and a device to extract drops of the scent to be dabbed onto the skin.

Each bottle is unique and completely hand made, with its molten crystal form manipulated and continually scrutinized by the master glassmaker, and finished off with a unique number and stamp. The bottle is sold with a concentrated version of one of diptych's signature scents - either Philosykos or L'Ombre dans l'Eau.

Not leaving the candles out in the dark, diptyque has also collaborated with lighter specialist S.T. Dupont to produce the UltraJet. Tapping into S.T. Dupont's most iconic creation, diptyque's jet flame lighter was created to complement the range of scented candles. An alternative to the box of matches, the lighter's streamlined form has been fashioned in the brand's colours of black and white, creating a piece that fits right into diptyque's mould of understated luxury.