I Go Wild for This French Perfume Brand—These Are the 3 I Spritz on Repeat
I wholeheartedly realize that even when I'm completely ecstatic about a certain perfume brand or particular scent, that doesn't necessarily mean everyone is. Fragrance is a very personal thing, after all! But…
During my time as a beauty editor and self-proclaimed perfume savant, there have been particular brands, fragrance families, and bottles that I, and pretty much everyone I know and love, go absolutely wild for. My fellow beauty editors and I have a running chat solely dedicated to our current scent obsessions, and to this day, I've never recommended a perfume to a loved one that hasn't become an object of obsession in their life. Additionally, some brands and cult-classic perfumes are so iconic, beloved, and studded with best-selling bottles that it's impossible not to make the overarching conjecture that they're practically return-proof and bona fide compliment-getters. Parisian fragrance house Diptyque is one such brand.
From the carefully articulated melding of notes cozied into each bottle to the artistic packaging, there's a lot to love about Diptyque, and it's by far one of the most adored perfume brands of all time. Quite honestly, I've never sniffed a Diptyque perfume that didn't strike my fancy—each bursts with character and unexpected perfection—but there are three perfumes in particular that have earned a permanent spot on my dresser. Oh, and it's not just me. This trio is consistently found within the brand's best-sellers list, and they also earn top ranks at popular retailers like Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, Neiman Marcus… You get the idea! So without further ado, I'm sharing my personal favorite Diptyque perfumes along with nine honorable mentions in the best-of-the-best category. Keep scrolling to read my reviews!
My Top 3 Picks
#1: Do Son Eau de Toilette
Fragrance family: floral
Key notes: tuberose, orange blossom, jasmine, marine accord
Do Son is such a classic scent, and almost every single fragrance-loving human I know (whether they're in the beauty biz or not) owns a bottle. It's floral and fresh, but not preciously so. If you ask me, nothing is worse than a perfume that's so flowery it becomes stuffy, and this best-selling perfume from Diptyque is the antithesis of that. It's the perfect balance of cool and delicate. It's the Diptyque favorite I recommend above all others.
Customer review: "I received a sample of this and fell in love immediately! I am extremely picky with scents, many give me headaches but the more I smelt this the more I loved it! It’s very fresh but not too citrusy. I was already a fan of their candles and now it looks like I’m a fan of this too."
#2: Philosykos Eau de Toilette
Fragrance family: woody
Key notes: fig leaves, fig tree sap, fig tree wood, black pepper
Philosykos is definitely one of the most instantly recognizable perfumes—not just within the Diptyque family but also on the market in general. Each and every spritz is truly transportive (something I love in a fragrance), and owning your own bottle is the next best thing to booking an actual trip to the Grecian mountains. Philosykos is a true ode to the fig tree, but somehow, it's not overbearing thanks to how the brand has balanced the tribute. You get a crisp greenness from the fig leaves, a smooth creaminess from the fruit itself, and that inherent earthiness from the white wood.
Customer review: "Garden-fresh fig, plus a beautiful green note. Wears nicely, the vegetal nature mellowing out and the fig becoming sweeter and juicier as it sits on the skin. Lasts moderately long for a fruity, green freshie. About 4 plus hours of wear."
#3: Tam Dao Eau de Toilette
Fragrance family: woody
Key notes: sandalwood, cedar, cypress, myrtle
Tam Dao is one of Diptyque's reigning best sellers, but I will say it's a wild card—you will definitely really like it, or you definitely really won't. Like Philosykos, it's classified as "woody," but where Philosykos has a subtle undercurrent of juicy fruitiness, Tam Dao is a modern take on a classic warm and woody perfume. It's heavy on the sandalwood and cedar, so if that's not your vibe, you've been forewarned. That said, I'm not typically a huge fan of woody scents, but this one has slowly but surely completely won me over.
Customer review: "Tam Dao is a woody wonder in Diptyque's lineup. With a harmonious blend of sandalwood, cedar, and cypress, it's a grounding, earthy fragrance. The scent is both soothing and exotic, making it an excellent choice for a calming and meditative atmosphere."
My Honorable Mentions
#4: Eau de Minthé Eau de Parfum
Fragrance family: fougère (aka fern)
Key notes: patchouli, géranium, menthe, oxyde de roseIf
I hadn't been so set on just choosing three personal Diptyque favorites, this relatively new addition (it's been around for a few years now) would definitely be in my top selects. I'm pretty sure I scrunched up my nose when I first received it. How could a minty fragrance possibly work? Alas, leave it to Diptyque to create something that not only works but that is also completely brilliant and unique. The blend of notes is inspired by Greek myth, which makes it feel dreamy as you wear it.
Customer review: "This is without doubt one of my go-to perfumes. It’s fresh and the staying power is amazing I apply it each morning and it’s stays all day. I love the hint of geranium and the fresh tang of mint although it’s a unisex perfume I find it totally feminine and sexy. I will always have a bottle in my bathroom."
#5: Eau Rose Eau de Toilette
Fragrance family: floral
Key notes: damask rose, centifolia rose, litchi, ambroxan
Rose lovers, this one is for you. Fluttery, exquisite, and artfully inspired by the diverse group of scents a rose takes on in its lifetime, it's the quintessential ensemble for anyone who loves a beautiful twist on an old classic.
Customer review: "I visited a store today and smelt a range of perfumes as I am in the market for a new staple scent. I don't normally go for a rose based perfume but smelt this and fell in love. It is a beautiful and sophisticated smell that wears even better on the skin!"
#6: Eau Moheli Eau de Toilette
Fragrance family: floral
Key notes: ylang-ylang, pink peppercorn, ginger, vetiver
Ylang-ylang is a dark horse in so many beloved perfumes, so it's no surprise it leads the charge in this best-selling fragrance from Diptyque. It's floral but has a complex aftertaste thanks to subtle hits of spice and green woodiness.
Customer review: "This fragrance is beyond anything I’ve ever smelt before. I just think it smells so wonderful it’s so unique. It’s both very feminine but also masculine but not in the conventional sense. It also smells like places. Above all it’s just so individual. Amazing."
#7: Eau Duelle Eau de Toilette
Fragrance family: oriental
Key notes: vanilla, pink peppercorn, cypriol, calamus
Admittedly, I have yet to smell this perfume from Diptyque, but the reviews and ratings across the internet are too good to ignore. (Considering how much I adore vanilla perfumes, I know this is a must-try for me!) Inspired by travel and serving as a tribute to vanilla, the star ingredient is anchored by duskier nuances from smoky cypriol, spicy pink peppercorn, and dewy calamus. So no, this isn't your teeny-boppery, cotton-candy vanilla, friends.
Customer review: "This is a beautiful, comforting, warming scent that is ideal for the autumnal and winter months. I recently tried this scent through a Diptyque Discovery Set, and Eau Duelle was one of the immediate standouts. The vanilla is elegant and not cloying at all. Highly recommended as a scent for the cooler months."
#8: L'Ombre dans L'Eau Eau de Toilette
Fragrance family: floral
Key notes: rose, black currant buds, petitgrain, black currant leaves
In addition to the above power plays, part of what makes this perfume so magical are the strategic additions of bergamot, mandarin, and musk. It's a little bit floral, a little bit fruit, and slightly heady, but in a really whimsical way. If you stepped out into a faraway land or fairytale, this is what I imagine it would smell like!
Customer review: "I was given a travel size of this to try and instantly fell in love with it! It is a soft floral with fresh green notes and it strongly reminds me of my much loved Baies candle. The scent lasts very well and I found it lasted even better if I moisturize my skin before spraying lightly. Really gorgeous scent."
#9: Eau des Sens Eau de Toilette
Fragrance family: floral
Key notes: orange blossom, angelica root, patchouli, juniper berry
"A composition that creates confusion. It caresses the skin and makes your mouth water like an indulgent treat, awakening you with its freshness." Intriguing, no? If the brand's rich description of this best-selling perfume isn't enough to spur your interest, perhaps the decadent mixture of orange blossom, angelica root, patchouli, and juniper berry will.
Customer review: "This is my favorite perfume and my most complimented every time I wear this. It smells amazing and lasts a while considering it’s eau de toilette, it’s such a light floral fragrance and smells wonderful. The matching hair spray is also really nice."
#10: Oud Palao Eau de Parfum
Fragrance family: oriental
Key notes: oud, rose, vanilla, incense
I really avoid describing any kind of beauty product as "sexy," but I just really can't help it here because this perfume's intoxicating blend of rose, oud, vanilla, and incense is (sorry) undeniably sexy. So tread with caution. That's all I'm saying!
Customer review: "Oud Palao floats in on a light camphor and rose. Soon the rose deepens and is joined by a deep and dark oud. Tobacco, vanilla, rum, and patchouli are the gorgeous pedestal supporting the lengthy development of Oud Palao. This is one of the best woody florals around."
#11: Eau Capitale Eau de Parfum
Fragrance family: floral
Key notes: rose, bergamot, patchouli
This perfume is a day in Paris bottled. It captures the heart of the City of Love by entwining airy and earthy notes for a fragrance that feels free-spirited, like the city itself.
Customer review: "It's an elegant and refined scent and I can imagine it fitting best in Autumn and Winter seasons. It's somewhat in the middle of masculine and feminine scent, but definitely leaning more towards feminine. Sillage is great as well as performance on both bare skin and clothes."
#12: Orphéon Eau de Parfum
Fragrance family: woody
Key notes: tonka beans, cedar, juniper berries
Like a dark bar and a stiff drink, this fragrance feels comforting and alluring. Smelling it is like being transported to a jazz bar in Paris in the 1960s. It's smoky, leathery, rich, and downright electric.
Customer review: "One of the most beautiful skin-scents ever created. Perfectly balanced, very blended, clean, complete. Very well rounded. It is a perfume out of the mainstream white floral boring zone. Orphéon has personality and sensuality."
Shop More Editor-Approved Diptyque Products
Customer review: "A very luxurious feeling hand cream, it literally is everything written in the bottle! I have been using this on my really dry hands particularly knuckles, due to washing my hands more frequently. It really helps smooth and nourish my hands—very lovely and hydrating."
Customer review: "The Baies scent, I have no words. How can I describe such luxury? I savor this candle when I have it. It fills the room. The smell is classy, elegant, rich, not overwhelming. It is the perfect balance of floral, berry freshness. If I could only buy one candle for life, it would be this one. Any time of year. I have had a million candles in my day, nothing compares to this candle in scent and quality. It is worth every penny for the value you get when this candle is lit."
Customer review: "Every time I use this on my furniture and entryway when I have a guests come over, my guests always want to know what that wonderful scent is. It’s recognizable but it’s subtle and has a crisp fresh scent not overpowering."
Customer review: "The Diptyque Eau Shower Foam smells divine, with a delicate rose scent. The foam is gentle on my dry skin without leaving it feeling stripped and lathers beautifully, leaving the skin feeling fresh, hydrated, and soft. I will continue to repurchase, and I would highly recommend."
Customer review: "I’m on my 4th bar of soap, this is truly devine. It is creamy and soft on the skin. I have since bought other products of this brand and scent including the perfume, as the scent is just beautiful. And it doesn’t lose its smell over time. Luxury!"
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has been updated.
Erin has been writing a mix of beauty and wellness content for Who What Wear for over four years. Prior to that, she spent two and half years writing for Byrdie. She now calls Santa Monica home but grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and studied writing, rhetoric, and communication at University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She studied abroad in Galway, Ireland, and spent a summer in L.A. interning with the Byrdie and Who What Wear family. After graduating from UW, she spent one year in San Francisco, where she worked as a writer for Pottery Barn Kids and PBteen before moving down to L.A. to begin her career as a beauty editor. She considers her day-to-day beauty aesthetic very low-maintenance and relies on staples like clear brow serum (from Kimiko!), Lawless's Lip Plumping Mask in Cherry Vanilla, and an eyelash curler. For special occasions or days when she's taking more meetings or has an event, she'll wear anything and everything from Charlotte Tilbury (the foundations are game-changing), some shimmer on her lids (Stila and Róen do it best), and a few coats of the best mascara-type product on earth, Surratt's Noir Lash Tint.
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