Christmas time, in a large part of the world is a time of the mini ice age, when snow flurries swirl across the sky and treacherous ice threatens road users and pedestrians. It is a time when the skies will go dark by mid-afternoon and the cold chills you to the bone. It’s no wonder then, that candles and warm scents do well at this time of year. Every bit of cheery light counts!
And no one does Christmas candles quite like Diptyque. Every year, I wait to see what Diptyque has dreamed up for their Christmas collection, and I’m rarely disappointed. Ok, perhaps I have been a little disappointed, but that’s more to do with personal preferences.
This year’s theme at chez Diptyque is Une Nuit Chez Diptyque (A Night at Diptyque), a theme with an interesting story. Legend has it that a long-serving Diptyque staff, Henri who has been with the brand for over 25 years, was snowed in the store at 34 Boulevard St. Germain one Christmas. He fell asleep and had a dream about the store coming to life. He might have overdosed on the Nutcracker, methinks LOL! 😀 But it’s a cute story, and a lovely tribute to a long serving staff member 🙂 I have the video up on the MWS Facebook page, if you’re interested to view it. It’s really cute! 🙂
I’ll just run down some of the offerings, for those who are keen.
Diptyque Christmas Candles – RM170 | £28 | US$35 for 70g and RM295 | £48 | US$70 for 190g
First off of course, are the Diptyque Christmas candles. They come in 3 limited edition scents, in beautiful limited edition metallic jars. There is a theatrical feel about the design, and the full size candle boxes come with an outer sleeve, with a pull open window, giving you a peep at the design. Very well executed.
The 3 scents and my impressions are:-
- Un Encens Etoile (Blue) – a spicy, heady scent that I feel would work better in a colder atmosphere. So if you live where it’s hot around Christmas-time, now’s the time to crank up that air-conditioning
- Epices et Delices (Red) – A gingerbread scent captured and distilled from 1.5 tons of freshly baked gingerbread cookies! I was absolutely fascinated by this as it didn’t have a heavy buttery scent, the way cookie-based scents tend to smell. There is that spiciness you associate with gingerbread coming through in a most intriguing manner.
- Le Roi Sapin (Green) – This is your classic Christmas scent of pine. One sniff, and you’d nod your head going “Yep, that’s the smell of Christmas right there!” That’s what I did anyway. I was told that this year’s Sapin scent is that of a Balsamic Fir, so it has been slightly tweaked from previous years’ offerings.
Of the 3 limited edition scents, I’d pick Le Roi Sapin for its fresh pine scent that I find uplifting, and in our weather, more suitable. I can imagine I might be overwhelmed after a spell so I wouldn’t burn it too long. Just an hour or so, and then blow it off and let the scent linger in the air 🙂
The mini candles are sold separately or in a coffret set. The thing with Diptyque’s mini candles, I’ve found, is that they are really meant for small enclosed rooms, unless you burn a few of them together. In a larger area, you’re basically just wasting money, so don’t do that.
Diptyque Mini Candle Set – RM789 | £120 | US$190 for 12 35g mini candles, RM369 | £60 | US$78 for 5 35g mini candles
I bought this one year when it wasn’t carried locally, and I have to say that while I’m not crazy about it due to the fact that I made the mistake of burning them in my living hall (too wide a space for the scent to cover so it dissipated too quickly). In a smaller, enclosed, or better yet, air-conditioned room, it smells much stronger and scents the air better.
There are 2 sets available – 12 mini candles and 5 mini candles. What is great about these sets, is how they allow you to try the different scents, without having to buy the full sized candle and to figure out what works for you and what doesn’t. You can also burn a few together, which allows the scent to mingle in the air, and create a whole new and different scent and feeling as well. Lots of fun, if you enjoy things like this 🙂
Diptyque Eau de Parfum Discovery Set – RM399 | £75 | US$115 for 5 x 7.5ml
I’m quite interested in this one, personally speaking. What you get in a box, are 5 spray minis of 7.5ml Diptyque scents.
Like the Jo Malone set I showed you a few days ago, this one from Diptyque similarly allows you to sample 5 of Diptyques iconic scents, to work out what works for you, or what doesn’t. Diptyque scents are a little different, I feel. They aren’t your usual pretty perfumes, so they can take some getting used to. A sampler pack is a nice way to be introduced to a brand, and I like that it comes in a spray!
There are a couple more items in store you can check out, but these were the ones that really caught my attention.
Will you check out the Diptyque Christmas offerings?
Candles are quite a luxury, I’m the first to admit that. But it’s a little guilty pleasure of mine, and these Christmas candles from Diptyque are really a collectible work of art! I had a good time sniffing in store, but have no plans to pick any up just yet. Gotta wait and see what else is out there, before I decide 😉
Paris B
WHERE TO BUY: Diptyque counters and KENS Apothecary stores and online at: Diptyque, SpaceNK, Selfridges, Nordstrom
The holiday candles are so pretty that I’d feel obligated to give them as gifts rather than buy for myself.
I’m a big fan of L’Artisan Parfumeur candles so I will probably check those out first.
HAHAHA Maybe you could buy it, wrap it up and leave it under the tree to yourself. Might not feel so bad then hehe… 😉 I haven’t tried anything from L’Artisan. I’m not sure we get the brand here