An ode to the fascinating history of Diptyque as the maison celebrates five decades of olfactory artistry
Toeing the line between the traditional and the avant-garde has always been the hallmark of Diptyque’s artistic spirit. Established in the early 1960s by theatre set designer Yves Coueslant, painter Desmond Knox-Leet, and interior designer-architect Christiane Gautrot, the brand, even in its earliest stages, was a culmination of shared values and fine tastes. Their vision fit right in, for it was a period that celebrated innovation and encouraged progressive ideals. Operations started via a chic little bazaar, and later moved to a charming concept store at 34 Boulevard Saint-Germain in Paris, where they sold unusual, eclectic finds such as fabrics, toys, fine china, and Diptyque’s first-ever scented candles. Despite the volatile unrest that pervaded the times they were living in, the founders quietly sought to revolutionise the world in their own way.
Since 1968, the maison has been tirelessly innovating the way we understand fragrances, treating them not just as scents, but as works of art with distinct personalities. Each product is the result of a harmonious collaboration between the perfumer and illustrator, who must both employ skill and imagination to fully capture the essence of the fragrance. L’Eau, the maison’s first fragrance, was born from an illustration done by Knox-Leet. The scent was a mix of ingredients one might find in an apothecary: clove and cinnamon laced with floral and woodsy notes. Most notable of all, it did not adhere to a gender code; the appeal was universal, speaking to both men and women. This process was later applied to the fragrances that followed in its footsteps, each conceptualised by means of an illustration that would inspire the perfumer, making it an integral part of the total creative framework.
