The 7 Best Diptyque Fragrances for Men, According to Our Expert
Established in 1961 in Paris, Diptyque has emerged as one of the most recognisable and popular fragrance houses of the last half century. You’ve probably seen the candles, those simple glass vessels with the telltale oval sticker. When it comes to the intersection of aesthetics and fragrance, the Diptyque candles are ubiquitous—instant signifiers of a certain taste level. But if you think the house of Diptyque is all about candles, then you’re in for a surprise. Their wearable fragrances are not to be missed, either.
At its core, Diptyque is all about storytelling; many of the fragrances are inspired by specific stories from the brand’s past or by special moments in nature. Most recently, the Les Essences de Diptyque collection drew inspiration from little-celebrated elements of the natural world like bark and coral. But even with such specific inspirations as that, the fragrances are richly layered and never literal. What makes Diptyque fragrances so special is that they’re almost never what you think they’re going to be. Whether inspired by a location, an object, or a moment in time, they’re surprising, often nostalgic, and most definitely conversation starters.
It’s no surprise that a house that’s more than 60 years old would have quite a lot of offerings, so we’ve tested every single one to pick out the very best for every type of wearer. Whether you’re a fan of woods, citrus, spice, or anything else, Diptyque offers a unique take that’s well worth a smell—and wear.
Orphéon Eau de Parfum
Inspired by a legendary Paris bar where the three Diptyque founders originally met in the 1960s, this nostalgic scent is both unique and subtle. It’s not the kind of fragrance that people smell as soon as you enter a room. Instead, it develops a skin-like quality that’s slightly understated. Anchored in notes of cedar and tonka bean, which give the base a warm, smoky, woody vibe, there’s also a hint of powder, which trails through from start to finish, adding a dash of lightness and surprise. It doesn’t smell traditional, per se, but it does smell vintage, like you just stepped out of a time machine from a night out at its namesake bar.
Tam Dao Eau de Parfum
It can be easy for woody fragrances to smell, well, too woody—like you just came back in from chopping logs or sitting around a campfire. This sophisticated take on woods, however, walks the line between spicy and fresh (the cypress and myrtle in the opening) and smooth and warm (the sandalwood and rosewood). It’s an interesting take on what a woody fragrance can be, since it somehow combines both ends of the spectrum into something interesting and unique. The spices mingle from top to bottom and interact with each phase differently, alternatively bringing out green freshness and warm sensuality as it dries on your skin.
Philosykos Eau de toilette
Instead of just being packed with herbal notes, this interesting and unique green fragrance is all about the fig tree. It hits every element: the juiciness of the fig itself, the verdant leaves, and the smooth and creamy wood of the entire tree. There’s an unmistakable freshness to this scent, which makes it ideal for spring and summer, but it’s anything but one-note. As it dries, the green qualities stick around while a smooth, almost milky quality emerges as it mixes with your skin. It’s not about a wide projection with this one. It’s more of a subtle, gotta-be-close-to-smell-it fragrance—which is exactly what you want with a green scent.
Eau Rihla Eau de Parfum
No bones about it, this is a leather fragrance. The leather note takes centre stage, but the sweet notes of raspberry and vanilla, as well as the floral spice of saffron and pink pepper, stand up to the more aggressive leatheriness to infuse it with a layered, sophisticated vibe. As it dries, the other elements like cedar, iris, and musk emerge to soften the edges and make it surprisingly subtle for a leather-forward scent. Let’s call this a daytime leather, unaggressive but still unmistakeable. It’s versatile in a way that many other, stronger leather fragrances just are not.
Eau de Minthe Eau de Parfum
Instead of a blast of citrus like many fresh fragrances, this one relies on the note of mint at the opening. It’s bright and incredibly fresh, like something picked straight from a garden. The minty quality sticks around even through the dry down, but the base note of earthy patchouli keeps it from smelling too cloying or literal. The mix of mint and patchouli gives it a slight barbershop quality and bring it over to a more masculine vibe. It’s the kind of warm-weather scent that never goes out of style.
Tempo Eau de Parfum
According to the brand, this scent is a tribute to patchouli, but if you worry it’s going to smell skunky, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. The patchouli note that this is built around isn’t the pungent stuff that may come to mind. Instead, this take on patchouli is mixed with herbal notes like clary sage and violet leaf, which lend it a fresh, clean quality (the bergamot helps here) and turn it from something that could be overwhelming into a very wearable, albeit mature, fragrance. This is best worn for elegant occasions, ideally paired with a well-fitted tuxedo.
Vetyverio Eau de Toilette
Even though this fragrance is all about vetiver (hence the name), it definitely comes off as very citrus forward, thanks to the cornucopia of citrus notes in the opening. As it dries, the floral elements emerge to soften the zing of the citrus and the grassy, earthy vetiver emerges as the star, but it still never loses that fresh, clean quality. It’s not a statement maker, per se, but is ideally suited for daytime and for the office, when you want to smell good but not overwhelming.
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