Les Essences de Diptyque: An Olfactory odyssey in search of nature’s treasures

Since its inception, the Maison Diptyque has always drawn inspiration from nature, an endless, enduring source of beauty and poetry. From nature in the wild to nature tamed by man, Diptyque celebrates the sensual, dreamlike dimension of each element, breathing life and emotion into a universe of scents and sights.

With Les Essences de Diptyque, the Maison is opening a new olfactory chapter. The collection comprises five eaux de parfum created in honor of natural treasures that are precious, captivating and yet, in terms of scent, imperceptible to man: coral, mother of pearl, bark, water lily, and the crystal formations known as the desert rose. A fresh initiative one that brings together all the creativity and olfactory expertise of our perfumers, interpreting through scent the emotions and sensations stirred when contem- plating the treasures of nature that Diptyque has selected.

Olfactory masterworks created by a group of artists

Since 1968, Diptyque perfumes have been the work of multiple creators—an alliance of the nose and the hand. First, it was thanks to the involvement of perfumers that the three founders of Diptyque were able to translate their memories of nature and of travel into fragrances. The founders illustrated these creations with drawings and graphic compositions, which they also referred to as «olfactory landscapes». An instinctive, delicate, visual approach and a skill that remains integral to Diptyque more than 60 years later, with total freedom in terms of tone and conception.

Les Essences de Diptyque carries forward this creative tradition, combining the expertise of the perfumer with that of the draughtsman to offer compositions that are both olfactory and visual, captivating the imagination and the senses. For this project, Diptyque called on a number of long-standing friends, all major names in perfumery: Fabrice Pellegrin, Alexandra Carlin, Nathalie Cetto, and Olivier Pescheux. Each was given carte blanche to imagine an olfactory composition that echoed these treasures of nature. Each took particular, exacting care when selecting ingredients, always opting for materials with exceptional olfactory qualities. The origin and traceability of each of these natural raw materials is guaranteed, exemplifying Diptyque’s commitment to excellence in all areas.

In line with a long-standing tradition of the Maison, Irish plastics artist Nigel Peake imagined visual compositions that hover between realism and fantasy. Through his creations, he invites us to discover nature in its poetic essence, every detail revealing the magic of the world that surrounds us, beckoning the imagination to journey deep into the Maison’s poetic soul.Using the tonal hues of watercolor on paper, Peake has delicately interpreted the natural elements that inspired the collection. Portrayed in shades and in monochromes, these elements emerge under the artist’s brush. The black line work on each bottle stands in contrast to the pastel watercolor hues, offering a finer, more abstract interpretation traced on the glass in relief. These drawings reduce each of the featured elements to their most essential form,their purest expressions.

The Diptyque bottle reinvented

A new yet archetypal vessel: inspired by the original Diptyque bottle, reinterpreted with a contemporary slant. Engraved in the glass, the emblematic oval of the Maison becomes a window to the Nigel Peake illustration on the back. Each bottle is capped with a spherical aluminium stopper. The opaque black contrasts with the crystalline transparency of the glass but compliments the decorative design traced in relief on the bottle. The inter- play of materials and shapes transforms the perfume inside into something both simple and sophisticated. In creating this striking new object, Diptyque paid special attention to ensuring an eco-friendly conception. The bottle is endlessly refillable and produced using recyclable materials; the box is lightweight, and each perfume comes with a colored pouch for users to keep and carry wherever they go. Les Essences de Diptyque are an ode to nature, capturing the very spirit of each element in bottles that resemble precious treasures. This poetic, multi-sensorial collection transcends the boundaries that separate the real and the fantastical, offering one of the most exquisite olfactory experiences imaginable.

CORAIL OSCURO, by Alexandra Carlin
Olfactory family: FLORAL, MINERAL

Within the Venetian Lagoon, where shadows and light inter- mingle to create a captivating spectacle, expanses of coral drape the depths in a breathtaking cloak of vermilion. The red branches of these stunningly beautiful underwater structures sway, rippling along with the motion of the currents. It’s an image that evokes the spirit of Venice – a city that was close to the hearts of the founders and often provided the initial impetus for excursions to faraway lands. Taking its name from the contrast between the darkness of the seabed and the vibrant colouring of the coral that lives there, Corail Oscuro is inspired by chiaroscuro, that ar- tistic technique so beloved of Renaissance masters such as Cara- vaggio and Titian. The fragrance, created by perfumer Alexandra Carlin, blends rose bourbon absolute with the crystalline sparkle of mandarin, elevated by a warm, salty, mineral accord to capture the very essence of this marine creature.

“I wanted my work to suggest salinity, and the fiery red color of a coral garden. Plus the undulations of a stony mineral flower suspended between sunlit skies and the darkness of the sea.” On the white card of the sleeve, the bright red coral appears in a delicate watercolor rendition by Nigel Peake, resembling a tree spreading out over the bed of the lagoon, sheltering and protec- ting the marine fauna. 

― FOCUS ON: MANDARIN 

Cultivated in Madagascar by local communities, mandarin peel is processed in the traditional way, using no mechanical methods to obtain this unique essence, which is entirely traceable, biodegradable and renewable.

LUNAMARIS, by Fabrice Pellegrin
Olfactory family: AMBER, SPICY

Mother of pearl is formed in the hidden recesses of the shells of certain mollusks. Its bewitching charm derives from its radiance and iridescence. Symbolising purity and elegance, it rewards those who pause to admire it with glimpses of pearlescent re- flections. The evocative name “Lunamaris” celebrates mother of pearl, and that delicate shimmering that calls to mind the reflec- tion of the moon on the waters of the sea. Its fragrance, imagined by perfumer Fabrice Pellegrin, blends the luminous gentleness of rockrose with the spicy accents of pink peppercorn, like co- lors dancing upon an iridescent surface. Understated incense notes evoke both a mineral freshness and an enveloping warmth to create a perfume that is potent, yet subtle.

“I wanted to interpret in a perfume the iridescent nuances of mother of pearl. The signature comprises a blend of raw ma- terials selected to render this visual effect in olfactory terms. In this fragrance, each ingredient has its proper place, creating a radiant signature with silky subtleties. Pink peppercorn with its vibrant effects and spicy colours, the pure, resinous note of in- cense and the amber warmth of rockrose.” The profusion of brushstrokes in the drawing by Nigel Peake evokes the soft, subtle depths of mother of pearl. The combina- tion of pastel hues, from sky blue to a dark purple mauve, reflects that iridescence, inviting us to linger in daydreams.

― FOCUS ON: ROCKROSE

This rockrose, which local growers in Andalusia have now been culti- vating for over 30 years, follows a sustainable harvest cycle in harmony with nature’s own. Fields are left to lie fallow for several years, giving the soil time to replenish its stock of cistus shrubs naturally. The pickers avoid harvesting from the shorter branches, allowing for regrowth and promoting a sustainable approach to farming and harvesting.

BOIS CORSÉ, by Nathalie Cetto and Olivier Pescheux
Olfactory family: WOODY, AMBER

Amid the winding trails of the forest, bark is the hardy protector that encircles trees in its comforting clasp, shielding the vulne- rable core from the ravages of time and the elements. Bois Corsé celebrates this essential casing, which embodies the strength and resilience of nature. The name, inspired by bark and by the full-bodied flavours of coffee, evokes the depth of its character. Created by Nathalie Cetto and Olivier Pescheux, this fragrance is an invitation to explore the forest and its secret pathways. Com- bining the enveloping softness of tonka bean with the milky fluidity of sandalwood essence, this woody scent harbours un- rivalled depths. The composition is rounded out with notes of black coffee - a bitter quality sheathed in smoothness, reflecting the feel of living bark.

“For Bois Corsé, I drew inspiration from the beauty of nature at its most unvarnished. I played on the texture of wood, and particularly the roughness of bark, so pleasant to the touch despite its irregularities and randomness.” Nathalie Cetto The irregular shapes on the white card of the box interact to form a whole and create the impression of a bark-covered tree. Using warm brown tonalities, Nigel Peake lets us savour the tac- tile and visual aspects of rugged bark.

― FOCUS ON: SANDALWOOD

Santalum spicatum, the Australian sandalwood, grows on lands in- habited by Aboriginal communities and is cultivated in partnership with a foundation that protects their interests. Each year, new trees are planted to ensure the regeneration of this age-old resource. The income derived from its production is used for the active manage- ment of the natural ecosystem.