There are a few purchases that likely will always stand out in your memory: the first CD you ever bought (humblebrag, mine was The Most Beautiful Girl in the World by Prince), the first designer bag you acquire, and, perhaps, your wedding dress. For me, however, one of my fondest retail memories centres on something else: a candle. But not just any candle, a Diptyque candle.
It was 2011. I was 21 and had just moved to London to start my career in fashion. I was a junior assistant at Look magazine working at the fashion desk, and I couldn't have been more excited. The first month passed in a blur, and when I woke to discover my pay had landed in my bank account, I hopped straight on the Tube and went to the fanciest shop I could: Liberty. Determined to treat myself to a luxurious candle (something that would mark my first-ever non-part-time paycheque), I chose Diptyque's Baies candle. I've been hooked on them ever since.
Diptyque was founded by interior designer Christiane Gautrot, theatre set designer Yves Coueslant and painter Desmond Knox-Leet. The trio opened their chic shop of curiosities—think far-flung fabrics and exotic treasures—at 34 Boulevard Saint-Germain in Paris in 1961.
It was unlike anything Paris had seen before, and as demand grew, in 1963, Diptyque's founders launched their own scented products—a selection of three candles. Today, Diptyque's vast candle collection is one of the most revered in the world and holds a special place not just in my heart but in anyone who has had the pleasure of smelling its beautiful scents.
Each Diptyque candle is inspired by a time, place or story. For example, the Figuier (Fig Tree) candle was created to capture the memories of the founders' many holidays in Mount Pelion, Greece, where, each day, they crossed a natural grove of wild fig trees to reach the sea.
There's no denying Diptyque candles have a certain je ne sais quoi about them, which can only be understood when you've burned one for yourself. Unsure which Diptyque candles you should invest in? Keep scrolling to discover the brand's best sellers, the three candles that started it all, and some of the Who What Wear UK team's all-time favourites.
THE BEST-SELLING DIPTYQUE CANDLES:
While some fragrance trends will come and go over time, others prove themselves to have lasting staying power. And that's the case with the following five candles. In no particular order, these are Diptyque's best-selling candles, all of which have become iconic in their own way. My favourites are undoubtedly Baies (Berries) and Feu de Bois (Wood Fire).
Key notes: blackcurrant leaves, blackcurrant buds, Bulgarian roses, ambergris
Key notes: wood, Lapsang tea
Key notes: fig tree, fruit
Key notes: tuberose
Key notes: aniseed, tonka bean, vetiver, patchouli
THE ORIGINAL DIPTYQUE CANDLES:
In 1963, Diptyque released its first three scented candle creations: Thé, Aubépine and Cannelle (Tea, Hawthorn and Cinnamon), all of which you can still purchase today. This edit would soon evolve into what was to become a vast repertoire of scents derived from rare and precious raw materials, all paying a simple, yet sincere, tribute to nature.
Key notes: hawthorn, bitter almond, honeyed pollen
Key notes: black tea, cumin, coriander, pepper
Key notes: cinnamon bark
OTHER DIPTYQUE CANDLE FAVOURITES:
While there are plenty of other Diptyque candles to discover, below, you'll find the Who What Wear UK team's edit of the other Diptyque candles they love.
Key notes: rose
Key notes: freesia, jasmine, bergamot, rosewood, pepper
Key notes: white flowers, jasmine
Key notes: jasmine, warm vanilla
Key notes: vetiver, grapefruit, rose
Key notes: straw, honey, salty accords
Key notes: candied bitter orange zest, festive spices
Key notes: patchouli, resin, herbs
Key notes: medley of rose
Key notes: sandalwood
Key notes: lemon verbena, herbs
Key notes: oud palao, sandalwood, patchouli
Key notes: cedarwood, artemisia, marine accord, eucalyptus and cypress
This post was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
Opening Image: @sabinasocol
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