Browsing department stores can be a bit on the depressing side, especially when there are no worthwhile new fragrances to sniff and all you can see for miles are celebuscents. But I had a happy surprise last week when I scooted through my Neiman Marcus. On the way out the door to the parking garage, I thought I’d swing over to the home fragrance corner to see if anything was new. Well, yes and no. Nothing new as far as home lines per se, but lo and behold, what should I see but shelves and shelves of Diptyque!
My store carried it ages ago (before I was a full-blown perfumista) but it dwindled down to nothing and hasn’t been seen there for several years. It might have been carried online, but that’s not the same in my book. I want to see, feel, hold, and of course, smell.
So hooray, Neiman Marcus! In my city there’s only one or two little doors that carry Diptyque and they’re in out-of-the-way locations, and a bit quirky, with odd, often changeable hours that are tough to get a handle on. So a spontaneous visit there is just as likely to result in disappointment as not.
Anyway, it was so lovely to see all the black and white boxes of Diptyque laid out in all their glory over a whole wall.
No need to travel to New York, San Francisco and the like to get my Diptyque fix. Now I can go in and do a fully sprayed wrist-to-wrist comparison of Volutes EDT and EDP, Do Son EDT and EDP and Eau Duelle EDT and EDP. And whatever else strikes my fancy. Alas, I was in a hurry that day and already had wall-to-wall scents on myself or I’d have had a ball spritzing right then and there.
Also, they had those Diptyque hourglass-looking diffuser thingies, too, which were nice to see, and of course, the lovely candles. So I’ll definitely be spending more time in NM on my next visit.
What about you – what are your favorite fragrances, candles, etc., in the Diptyque stable? Or have you had any pleasant retail surprises lately?
Nordstroms in San Diego started carrying Diptyque last year, I bought my Volutes edp there in November. My favorites are Oyedo, Olène and Ofresia, in addition to the Volutes. Love their pomander, feu de bois and seringa candles… I wanted to get the Christmas incense one this year but decided I just had way too many unburned candles to justify it, and it was hella expensive at Holt Renfrew, so I passed.
Howdy, Tara! So glad to see another Diptyque fan — I love all of those you mentioned. I kept hoping that one of our Nordstroms would get the line in store but Neiman’s beat them to it. How did you find the Volutes EDT compared to the EDP? Thanks!
Our Nordstrom recently started carrying Diptyque and I was so excited! It was so nice to be able to smell the stuff in person instead of ordering samples. And they had a big drawer of boxed samples, and were very nice when I asked for one. I need to go back and try some more!
Yay!! And isn’t that great about the boxed samples — love those! Even if they didn’t have those, though, Nordies is so nice about making samples. Let us know which ones are your favorites.
Love Diptyque! I guess L’Ombre dans L’Eau is my favorite. Also love Olene, Virgilio and L’Eau. Also want Volutes but haven’t been able to decide between the EDT and EDP.
Hi, lady! You’re the second or so person to mention the L’Ombre, so methinks I need to try it again (might have years ago but can’t recall). I,too, liked both the Volutes EDT and EDP but have only tried each dabbed, so a hefty spray of each ought to help make the decision.
BTW, have you tried any of their candles? Thanks!
When I was in Seattle in December I bought the 10-piece mini candle set to give them a spin. They were pleasant, if generally without much throw. My favourite was the patchouli one. I think the regular-sized candles are very expensive for what they are even in the U.S. — Dyptique is available at Holt Renfrew in Canada, but at a big markup.
Howdy, Annie! Sorry to hear the candles didn’t have a lot of throw — at those prices you would think they would. Must smell the patchouli one now.
Dyptique is one of those weird lines for me – I have no favorites at all in the perfumes and haven’t given the candles much thought at all…..and then came that blasted Creme Riche. In the stupid jar. But what’s IN the jar? ahhhhh! Pure Bliss. I would fight a dozen velociraptors with the broken shards of that stupid jar for that gorgeous elixir. Stupid jar. xoxoxoA
Ha, ha, sweetie — stupid jar, amazing contents! A tube would be better, except for the recyclability, I guess. I really need to try that. On my buzz through NM I didn’t look long enough to see if they had any of the body products stocked. Hope you are doing well; we are getting ready for another round of the deep freeze/snow/ice wringer. And it’s only January, ha! I know I’m being a baby, but this is the South — waaahhh …
I don’t have any mall or free standing store is any reasonable distance that carries Diptyque. So I don’t know what my favorite would be. With candles and home stuff, I gotta be able to pick up the item and sniff it. I’ve made the mistake years ago to order a candle unsniffed and guess what, it was a real stinker.
I’m right there with you, lady — we’ve just got to smell it ourselves. I’ve done that, too, once (bought something unsniffed) and was so disappointed.
I live in Milan, so I am happy to say there is good variety of perfumes available in shops here (every other street there is a profumeria selling Serge Lutens and so on), however I was pleased to discover Nicolai perfumes in the Exelsior mall here, I had been having a good deal of trouble locating them, and there are not so many sample/decant sites that ship in Europe for reasonable prices.
My favourite Diptyque is definitely L’ombre dans L’eau, I used to like philosykos but got tired of it quickly… Eau Duelle is nice too, a bit thin but pretty, havenot tried others.
xx Chiara
Hi, Chiara! Milan is a great city, so much wonderful fashion and terrific food. I visited there years ago and have always wanted to go back and then go up to Lake Como and surrounding areas. How lovely it must be to have so many perfume shops to choose from, and I’m so glad you found Nicolai. I really need to try the L’ombre again; thanks!
Nashville got its Nordstrom a few years ago which was a big thing for us! It has a great Diptyque counter! Up until that point, there was only one little boutique that stocked only the candles. Probably the most pleasant surprise recently was to fnd Loree Rodkin Gothic perfumes in Absolution (independently owned boutique at the mall). Online, I was thrilled to see Roja perfumes available at Bergdorf Goodman!
Howdy, dear Sherri; so glad you stopped by. I agree, Nordstrom is great, and lucky you that yours has a Diptyque counter. None of ours stocks the line. Very cool about the Loree Rodkin and hallelujah that BG is now carrying Roja Dove (although it’s way too rich for my wallet, I’m so glad it’s now more easily available).
I’m jealous you have a Neiman Marcus! Our Nordstrom’s has a small perfume department compared to other stores. I keep hoping it will grow but not sure they even have the space to do so.
No retail surprises here. Has been been too cold and/or too snowy to venture out. I’m happy to stay home when I can.
Hi, Tiara! We do feel fortunate to have a Neiman’s, although it is over an hour away and I don’t get there very often. So thank heaven for decant sites. Gotta agree with you, It is so nice to be cozily tucked in at home, isn’t it? Stay safe and warm!