It’s here! The Diptyque Limited-Edition Baies Candle 2020 ($74) has launched from 11/27 to 11/30 while supplies last. For the past three years they have launched a special design for their best selling Baies candle and this year’s design is beautiful! It comes in a black glass jar in the Classic 190 g size. The design is embossed printed onto the black jar (versus a sticker). It has black wax and has the special 2020 mark labeled on the back. This Black Friday 2020 Baies Candle is available at Diptyqueparis.com.
Baies is my most burned candle in my home. It has a beautiful unique mix of berries, blackcurrant and rose with a slightly green undertone. I love that it’s sweet but not sugary sweet. Both Andrew and I adore this in the candle, large candle and spray versions. We’ve tried a number of room sprays and while they won’t last as long as a candle or diffuser the Diptyque room sprays are among the strongest we have bought.
The 2020 Black Friday Baies comes in the standard size which is 190 g/ 6.5 oz. Approximate burn time is 60 hours. If you’re interested in this particular scent it is also available in their regular line up with the clear glass jars and white wax and a few other formats:
Mini Scented Candle 35 g size (usually a GWP size or in their mini sets)
The Diptyque team kindly gifted the Black Friday Baies 2020 candle. Each year they’ve launched I’ve also bought an extra backup. Here’s a look at the candles from 2018, 2019 and 2020.
You can find the Diptyque Limited-Edition Baies Candle 2020 available 11/27 to 11/30 while supplies last at Diptyque. They usually have special gift with purchases available. Check out their Special Offers page for the latest one (they have the promo code there too).
Baies 2020 gifted for review. All other items purchased by me.
I’m so excited to share a look at the Diptyque Coloring Spring collection today. As one of the biggest fans of Diptyque I could not be more thrilled to see some beautiful limited-edition jars for spring. They’re currently exclusive online to Diptyque and (update) now as of May 11th available at Nordstrom! I have a look at each one as I ordered them the day they launched. There are five options in Iris, Geramium Rosa, Freesia, Mimosa and Choisya and retail for $74 each. All of the scents are available in the standard clear glass jars as well.
I know that buying scents without smelling them in person first is always tricky. While I do have a Diptyque counter near me, they don’t carry all the scents that the individual Diptyque stores do so I’m often buying blind. Especially now with everything closed with stay at home orders, everything is online only! There’s no substitute for being able to try in person but I hope this will will be the next best thing to help with some descriptions!
Iris
Iris a new one for me and I think it will be a new favorite. It’s a sweet iris blossom with notes of violet that has a soft warm powdery feel to it. Throw is good but soft and gentle.
Geranium Rosa
Geranium Rosa is one of the cleanest green scents I’ve ever tried. I’ve burned this one numerous times in the past and it smells like geraniums. Fresh, green, a bit spicy. There are supposed to be rose notes in this one but I can’t detect them very well.
Freesia
Freesia is new to me as well and my second favorite in the launch. It’s a well rounded floral that isn’t too powdery or too sharp. It has a soft relaxing vibe to it which I think is going to be the most universally appealing floral.
Mimosa
Mimosa seems to be everyone’s favorite (next to Baies). I love the soft but bright yellow jar – it brightens the mood and makes the whole house smell like a warm honey-like flower. It has a bright feel to it which is hard to describe but has a warm clean feel, almost like velvet but fresh and soft.
Choisya
Choisya is another newer one for me. I have burned this in a mini in the past from sets but it has been a while since I tried it. This one is the botanical name for Mexican orange blossom. It has a fresh green feel to it and smells like orange blossom leaves. This smells like nature to me!
Each candle comes with a coordinating box to match the color of the glass jar. I love the little detail flower prints inside! They add a special touch.
Out of the five my favorites are Freesia, Mimosa and Iris, but all of them are really nice. As a die-hard Diptyque fan these were worth the splurge for me even though they are available in the standard clear glass jars. They brighten the home and lift the mood!
There’s nothing quite like a good bougie candle to make your home feel extra fancy, warm and cozy all at the same time. By popular request I have an updated favorites roundup for the holiday season! My tried and true favorites remain the same with my top three favorite brands being Diptyque, Byredo and Cire Trudon. Many of these I started burning in late fall and will continue using many of these through early spring.
Diptyque
1. Diptyque Baies is in my top three favorites and this one is my most burned, repurchased and recommended candle ever! It has notes of rose and blackcurrant, it smells like berries and rose to me. I’ve bought this in almost all the different sizes. If you are new to Diptyque this is the one I recommend to everyone.
2. Diptyque Feu de Bois is one of the best firewood smokey scents. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea but it always feels like Christmas to me! It smells warm and cozy.
3. Diptyque Vanille is a smokey vanilla. It’s not your typical sweet gourmand vanilla. It’s almost like a leather smokey kind of vanilla that has a warm vibe.
4. Diptyque Ambre is my favorite amber scent. It has the perfect mix of wood, vetiver and patchouli with a hint of spice. It’s another warm one – I bought the large colored glass version a few years ago and found it a lot more potent than the standard size (which is still very good).
5. Diptyque Santal is the best sandalwood candle. It’s not too strong or spicy and is perfect year round.
I bought the Mini Carousel Set and standard size Lucky Charm carousels last year and love them! They usually have them out only during the holiday season. Both are still available right now at Nordstrom.
Cire Trudon
6. Cire Trudon Ernesto is the best candle of all time to me. It’s a magical mix of leather and tobacco – but I find it hard to describe. I have yet to try all the Cire Trudon candles (I have also tried minis of Positano and Rose Poivree which were lovely!). They’re the most expensive candle splurge I’ve made for the home in past years. Every Christmas they launch special edition packaging for a selection of scents. The Cire Trudon team was generous enough to send this year’s for review and it’s GLORIOUS! I have the Classic size but it also comes in two larger options.
7 / 8 / 9 Cire Trudon Gabriel, Nazareth and Fir have been on my radar for years but every time I’ve decided to buy one I always go back to Ernesto. They have a beautiful Odeurs D’Hiver Christmas Trio which is boxed in the most beautiful packaging I have ever seen. Every candle in the box is carefully packed with inserts around the edges and also in the top to protect the wick/wax. Gabriel is glorious mix of leather, chestnut and wood. Nazareth is a mix of clove, oranges and cinnamon (smells like Christmas!). I’ve always been more of a pine lover for Christmas scents but Cire Trudon Fir is so unique and sweet while still being very green.
Byredo
10. Byredo Tree House is my favorite one from the line. When I first smelled it years ago I actually did not like the way it smelled straight out of the jar. It wasn’t until I smelled it burning in their New York store that I decided to give it a try. It has the most amazing mix of cedar, bamboo, sandalwood, guaiac wood, hay, spice, myrrh and labdanum. It’s warm and cozy with wood and spice mix.
11. Byredo Bibliotheque is almost like a smoky candle version of Bal D’Afrique perfume to me. It’s not as sweet but to me it has a similar vibe that is so unique and unlike anything else I’ve tried. Even the little one has amazing throw.
Room Sprays
12. Aesop Room Sprays – For those who cannot burn candles room sprays are a great alternative. I’m completely obsessed with all the Aesop Room Sprays and was thrilled to find they launched a mini trio this holiday! I’ve also loved Diptyque Baies and 34 Boulevard St. Germain sprays as well for our home. I’ve been dying to try one from Byredo but haven’t yet.
How I recycle and clean out wax to recycle/repurpose candles in this post here. What are your favorite home scents for the holiday season?
Cire Trudon candles gifted. All others purchased by me.
Every year I look forward to the Diptyque Roses Collection they launch for Valentine’s Day. This year they launched two new limited-edition candles called Centifolia and Damascena, available in a few different forms:
Individually in the full size ($72 each for 6.7 oz)
Individually in the small sizes ($36 each for 2.46 oz)
Also in a Small Candle Duo Set ($72)
The jars are frosted tinted glass with the prettiest rose patterns on the exterior. Nothing would have stopped me from buying these and I bought these sight unseen just for the packaging.
As much as I love Diptyque I don’t consider myself a pure rose fragrance lover. I do really like the rose notes when it’s blended with other notes like it is in their Baies candle. Same goes for many perfumes that I love and wear. For me rose is best when it’s blended with something other than floral notes. If you love all things floral and true pure rose then these will be perfect for you. Alone I found these very strong, floral and powdery. I do think they are beautiful but they’re not my favorite. The Mini Duo Set seems to be sold out most places but this morning I still saw it in stock at Barney’s New York. You can still buy the mini sizes individually.
Centifolia is the softer variation and out of the two, I like this scent the most. It has the tiniest bit of spice to it and I found it really interesting to read more about the flower itself, per Diptyque, the flower is from the “Grasse region of France since the 16th century, the Centifolia rose is also called the May rose for the month in which it is harvested. It comes by its Latin name (centum=one hundred + folio=leaf) because of its profusion of petals, said to number one hundred.”
Damascena has a beautiful color combination of the bright pink and orange. This one is very potent, floral, powdery and sweet. I found it a little too overwhelming for my taste. If you love pure rose scents you will absolutely adore this!
I have no regrets purchasing both. I will burn them to the end but will most likely combine with another scent like Baies or something woodsy like Byredo Tree House. Compared to previous limited-edition rose candles Diptyque has launched I find these two to be more of a pure powdery floral rose while previous years seem to be a little bit sweeter and softer.
The jars will be used to recycle for me as well. A quick note on the frosted glass jars if you’re new to recycling them – I’ve owned a few others in the white frosted glass and the finish can be a little delicate. I’d definitely recommend you take care with the exterior when cleaning as they can wear off or scratch off if you use a stiff sponge. It’s not so delicate that you have to baby it, but if you want to recycle, after your first burn, make sure you trim your wicks with a Wick Trimmer before you burn to avoid burning the sides or tops.
To clean them and recycle after they’re done burning I take a small butter knife and remove the metal circle that’s at the base if it hasn’t popped out already. To clean the sides I soak hot water and dish soap and wipe out with a paper towel. I repeat until wax is completely gone. Don’t use boiling water as it can crack the glass. Hot water from the tap works just fine to soften any residue and the soap helps clean the sides. Anytime I recommend this method someone without fail tells me freezing them is the better method but it has never worked for me.
Bottom line beautiful and romantic! I just think some scents are best when layered or blended with other notes, with these I prefer them when burned with something else. I still think they’re gorgeous, they’re just not my absolute favorites.
The Diptyque Roses Collection is limited-edition. They have other options including the scented ovals, scented liners and more. You can find Diptyque Centifolia and Damascena candles out now while they last. I bought mine from Nordstrom. Also available at Diptyque, Space NK, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, Barney’s New York and all other Diptyque retailers.
P.S. Right now there’s a cute GWP available at Diptyque, I’m not sure how long it will be available but just wanted to let you know. Also Space NK’s beauty bag event is coming up soon!
Have you tried these yet? What did you think? Do you love rose notes or prefer it blended with something else?
For Black Friday Diptyque launched a special limited-edition Black Candle in their classic Baies variation ($72 for 6.5 oz). It’s available online through 11/26 while supplies last and comes in a special black and white glass jar. I was so lucky to get an early preview to share in my Black Friday roundup and wanted to give you a closer look.
Baies is Diptyque’s best-selling candle with a mix of rose and blackcurrant leaves. It’s my favorite and I think it’s one of the most unique scents I’ve ever burned in candle form. The Black Friday Baies comes in the same size as the Standard Candles, 6.5 oz, approximately up to 60 hours of burn time. The wax is black like their Tinted Colored Glass Candles and 3-Wick Candle. It also comes with a 2018 stamp on the side which I think is super fun.
In case you’re new to the brand many of the scented candles come in multiple sizes and also other formats in case you cannot burn candles. I’ve purchased almost all the different forms over the years, my favorite is still the candle form.
Above from left to right. You can find these at a number of places, but I usually buy mine from Diptyque stores, Diptyque online and Nordstrom:
Three Wick Candle, 21 oz ($165) only comes in the Baies form right now, there’s actually a larger size Outdoor with Five Wicks that have 51.3 oz, the jar is a matte glass black and is a lot stronger than the standard or minis
Room Spray, 5 fl oz ($68) is a potent kind of room spray, it’s very strong and scent lingers for at least several hours and fills a decent size room with a few spritzes, it still won’t last quite as long as a candle but we’ve bought a few of these over the years and every scent we’ve tried is amazing
Tinted Glass, 10.2 oz ($95) comes with approximately 90 hours of burn time, their best sellers come in different colors of glass and matching wax which make it more fun and unique
Standard Candles 6.5 oz ($65 and up) come with approximately 60 hours of burn time, most are clear glass with the white and black sticker label. Limited or special editions have different colors of exterior and are usually a little more expensive.
Mini Candles 2.4 oz ($35) have around 30 hours of burn time. They make nice gifts. After I burn and clean out the interior I fill them with Q-tips or long match sticks.
Scented Oval ($48) is the only format I’m really not that crazy about since the strength isn’t as potent as the room spray or candle.
The perfume version of Baies os the L’Ombre Dans L’Eau which has really good lasting power on me. It smells exactly like the candle. I’ve tried the Eau de Toilette version but they also have an Eau de Parfum as well. One shown is a travel size which was limited-edition. Current sizes are larger.
In addition they have a few diffuser variations which I have not tried yet. There are currently three different options for home diffusers and each one is very expensive. They’re beautifully designed but for now I’m sticking with the candles.
Some of you asked for more thoughts and a closer look at the Carousel. Each holiday there are usually two options. This year they have the Full Size Carousel ($60) which fits the standard candles. It sold out multiple times on the Diptyque website but just restocked so I ordered it on Black Friday. In addition they have the one that fits the minis available in a Baies + Tubereuse Carousel and Candle Set ($125). In my previous post I had photographed it without the ornaments attached. Below I have it with the ornaments attached and I also uploaded a quick video on my Instagram @beautylookbook. You can check it out in action in this post here.
Overall I think the Black Friday Candle is perfect for Diptyque lovers. I ordered a second one as a backup along with the full size carousel on Black Friday. Diptyque is an expensive luxury brand for sure and if you’re new to the line it can be a little overwhelming to pick one. I still recommend the mini sets if you can’t smell or try in person. They’re the perfect way to sample a wide range.
For the size options I hope the side by side photo helped. I’ve purchased a number of these over the years. The Three Wick was a newer launch last year and Andrew bought it for me as a birthday gift (by my request).
You can find the Diptyque Black Friday 2018 Baies online at Diptyque through 11/26 while supplies last. They are running a Cyber Weekend promo with a 35g mini Figuier candle, a mini Philosykos soap and a set of decorative ornaments with a purchase $100 or more using code CHEER until 11/27 or while supplies last. If you’re shopping be sure to check the Exclusive Offers Promo page in case they have a new one for Cyber Monday.
Black Friday candle gifted by Diptyque. All other items purchased by me.
I’m getting in the holiday spirit more and more as the days go by! Burning warm and cozy home scents are one of the best ways to put me in the mood for the holiday season so I’m rounding up my favorites. Many are these are same tried and true year over year. I tend to stick to a few brands because I’ve ordered some sight unseen (they weren’t available near me) and while I’ve had mostly hits I had a few misses which made my wallet grouchy enough to shy away from trying too many new brands.
Diptyque always has the most beautiful offerings each Christmas season. I just bought the holiday Legende Du Nord Candle Set in the minis but will review in a separate post if you’re interested! Each year they make the best Pine scented candle called Sapin that is fresh and green, but not too green. This year they have the Sapin de Lumiere Candle with Room Spray in a set.
The carousels have been launched a few times past holidays, but this is the first time it seriously caught my eye. The full-size has restocked and sold out several times but the small one in the Carousel and Candle Set can still be easily found. I absolutely love it! It comes with the smaller size to fit the 2.4 oz candles and the set comes with Tubereuse and Baies. The heat from the flame makes the carousel twirl and I’ve been playing with it non-stop since I bought it.
Out of all the questions I receive, the ones I probably receive the most are, “what are your favorite Diptyque scents?” and “which one do I need to try first?” I haven’t come across one I didn’t like, but I have not tried them all. Someday I hope to. If you haven’t tried the brand before I 100% recommend you buy either the 5 Piece Mini Set or 10 Piece Mini Set. They come with miniatures in 35 g which give you just enough burn time to sample the scents.
My favorite picks change based on season. I always have back ups on hand as I burn through a lot. For fall to winter my most-burned through candles are Baies, Vanille, Ambre and Noisetier. I have several of the size options below to show scale and variation:
Baies is the classic rose and blackcurrant mix which is my favorite, I have it in the 3-wick below with 21 oz which is pretty spendy for a candle but I love recycling the jars afterwards, this also comes in the Standard Clear Glass Jar 6.5 oz, Small 3.2 oz, Room Spray, 10.2 oz Colored Candle Jar, and the extra large 51.2 oz outdoor version
Ambre is a nice well rounded woody scent with vetiver and patchouli, incense and Tonka bean, I splurged on the colored glass version which is larger priced at $95 for 10.2 oz size versus the standard 6.5 oz size which currently run at $65 each
Noisetier is the warmest creamy fruity hazelnut I’ve tried
Byredo is another brand I have so much love for. I asked Andrew for the Woods candle for Valentine’s Day and I’ve been rationing it to make it last longer, lol! Notes include raspberry, jasmine, Tuscan Leather, ambroxan and white cedarwood. I love the mix of the fruit, floral and cedar for an earthy mix. To me this is better than the traditional firewood or wood scents. For fall I absolutely love Tree House. I visited the Byredo store in Soho for the first time last year and this was burning in their store. Notes include bamboo, pimento, hay, labdanum and leather. It’s so hard for me to describe but it has a good leather + sandalwood mix.
New this season is Chai which is the perfect Masala Chai scent. I don’t think I’ve ever burned anything chai scented in my home and this one smells just like the perfect spicy chai tea latte. It does have a very seasonal feel to it, so if you want something more neutral I’d opt for Woods or Tree House.
For this season they’ve brought back the minis! You can buy a few of them individually or in a 3-box set with La Selection Violette Mini Candle Trio with Fleur Fantome, Bibliotheque and Burning Rose or La Selection Bois with Bohemia, Cotton Poplin and Tree House. With the minis I was gifted a set and am so excited to burn through them. I’ve bought and used up Bibliotheque and Fleur Fantome before. This was my first time trying Burning Rose.
Burning Rose is one I have not yet burned, it smells like a smoky leather with rose notes
Bibliotheque has peach, plum, violet, peony, patchouli, leather and vanilla, to me it smells similar to the Bal D’Afrique perfume
Fleur Fantome is a soft floral with rhubarb, lemon, violet, tulip, galbanum, heliotrope and suede
Lumira is another brand that I’ve had a long love affair with. The Tahitian Coconut is the best coconut and the Persian Rose is the best rose in my humble opinion. The line is based in Australia but their website does offer international shipping. This year they recently launched at Barneys New York in the US and Selfridges in the UK so if you have a store near you I’d recommend checking them out. It’s rare that I like all the scents in a brand but with Lumira, Almira the founder has created exquisite variations in every single candle.
For the holiday season she launched Nuit de Noel which smells like Christmas. Notes include black pepper, clove, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, aniseed, pear, cumin, rose, lavender, coriander, clary sage, oriental, amber, labdanum, sandalwood, tonka bean, cedarwood, patchouli. I really adore her accessories. She has the prettiest Glass Dome (shown below) along with the best Wick Trimmer I’ve tried (it has an angle which makes it easier to get into smaller jars without tilting the trimmer part) and a Candle Snuffer which I’ve never invested in before but am really happy to own one.
Many of you love classics from Jo Malone and Le Labo. I’ve burned through a few scents in each line but still keep going back to Diptyque and Byredo. From Jo Malone right now I’m burning Wood Sage and Sea Salt which is a nice option for fall if you don’t want your house to smell like cinnamon, pine or spice. From Le Labo the Santal Candle is my favorite for a strong sandalwood kind of scent, notes include amber, coco, vanilla, cedar, spices, musk and sandalwood. I bought the Violet Grey x Le Labo Santal candle and stocked up when it was in stock. It’s the same as the clear glass version just with black glass.
Cire Trudon is my most expensive splurge for candles. One of my readers messaged me on a weekly basis for months urging me to buy Ernesto. I finally did and there is no going back. It’s one of the best ones out there. I know scent is so personal but so many of you have told me you also love this. It has a masculine vibe with notes of leather and tobacco. Because it’s so expensive I’ve only burned through a small handful of these (and a few minis). Sometimes they’ll do this one in special packaging so I bought the Rose Gold Ernesto which is a little more pricey but really beautiful. Notes include rum, grapefruit, bergamot, clove, oak wood, patchouli, labdanum, tobacco, moss, leather and amber.
The entire line is available at a local store near me and I smell them all every time I visit. Nazareth is the most Christmas-like smelling candle I’ve ever smelled. I really want to buy their Six Candle as well but the steep price tag is pretty hard to justify.
Other brands that I love that are more affordable and have great gift options include Nest Fragrances and Henri Bendel. The Nest Fragrances Holiday candle is a classic that comes in a wide range of size options. I’ve tried several of the mini ones and the throw is pretty impressive! For the sizes the prices are very reasonable. Henri Bendel makes some really amazing options for the price and the scents are nice – not overly sweet or saturated. Their Vanilla Bean is one of the best not-too-sweet vanillas I’ve ever burned.
For those who cannot burn candles, diffusers and room sprays are nice alternatives. I haven’t tried many diffusers although I have loved the ones from Antica Farmacista. In terms of room sprays Molton Brown makes amazing ones. Andrew is obsessed with the Coco and Sandalwood one. Diptyque also makes some amazing ones, unfortunately if you’re in the US you don’t have easy access to all the scents, but I’m happy they have at least a few. I’ve been drooling over the Byredo ones for months now but haven’t taken the plunge to splurge. Putting it on my Christmas Wish List though!
For me, a key accessory for candle care is a wick trimmer. You can definitely use your regular scissors but having one just for candles is nice because the tip is beveled so you can cut the wick straight. It also prevents your scissors from getting burnt remnants on them and the tip catches the cut off end.
The Diptyque Wick Trimmer has been one of the best things I’ve ever bought but I think Lumira makes a better one. It’s sleeker and the angle of the wick trimmer makes it easier to trim wicks straight. Also the angle of the handle makes it easier to hold for me. I never felt the need to invest in a candle snuffer but Lumira sent over their Candle Snuffer and I think it’s really nice.
I hope you enjoyed this holiday candle roundup! With all the options out there I think mini sets are the best way to sample candles, especially if you can’t smell them all in person. It can be overwhelming with all the options out there. I think it’s nice to treat yourself to a small handful at a time. They set the mood for the home in such a nice way.
I’ve linked the accessories shown in the post in case you want to know the details of the trays, books and lights for your own home decor. What are your favorite holiday candles?
Press samples include Byredo Mini Trio and all Lumira products shown. Senreve Bag also gifted. All other items purchased by me.
I’m thrilled to share that the Diptyque City Candles will be available online at Diptyque and in Diptyque boutiques for a limited time starting today 9/27 through Sunday 9/30. There are currently 9 city candles that have been created for Beverly Hills, London, Miami, Tokyo, New York City, Shanghai, Berlin, Paris and Hong Kong. Each candle comes in a beautifully designed jar. Since they are only available to the stores in each corresponding city they’re harder to find and track down, but Diptyque is launching them all online for a limited time. Two new launches this round for online include Hong Kong and Paris. There is also a new Boxed Set of Six City Candles that comes packaged together in a white box.
While these are typically only available in city boutiques (similar to the Le Labo city perfumes), there have been a few times where Diptyque has launched the collection online so I was able to buy the ones I didn’t own from boutique trips, but they sell out very fast! Earlier this year I found a wonderful Paris shopper who travels from the US to Paris frequently for work to purchase a couple of the Paris ones for me. Every single one is amazing and beautiful. The boxes these come in are just as beautiful if not prettier than the actual candle jars themselves.
I have a review for each one today except Berlin. I have the older version which is packaged in a clear glass jar and based on the description I think the tinted design jar is same as the clear one but I haven’t smelled it to confirm.
Quick note for the US city candles and if you’re based in the US. While the candles are only available at each city boutique (Beverly Hills, Miami, NYC) – you can call the store to order and they will ship to you! Every store I’ve ordered from and called is very friendly, patient and helpful.
Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills was the first city candle I discovered. I reviewed it several years ago when we were still living in San Diego. I am a little embarrassed to admit how many I stocked up on but this was my go-to for a long time. It has lemon, mint, orchid and freesia. It smells like a fresh citrus and the mint is a sweet mint but it’s really subtle.
The description, “With its palm trees and lush gardens, the Beverly Hills candle embodies the aroma of an iconic city. A unique citrus scent blending mint and lemon with a hint of Freesia, the candle exudes a bright and zesty scent. The candle’s colorful design has a psychedelic touch that is native to the west coast and pays homage to the famous Martinique wallpaper, the iconic pattern used in the Beverly Hills Hotel.”
Miami
Miami is another one I bought online the first time city candles were offered. I also bought a couple in person at the Diptyque store at Bal Harbour. This is another floral citrus with magnolia, lemon, lime, vanilla. To me it’s similar to Beverly Hills, but Miami is creamier and a little more green while Beverly Hills smells sweeter and more vibrant.
The description, “The scent of the Miami candle offers an exotic aroma of delicate magnolia blossoms enhanced by delicious citrus notes. Reminiscent of the tangy lemon and lime native to the city, the candle suggests hints of vanilla and an homage to its signature tropical atmosphere. Its design pays homage to the city’s iconic Art Deco architecture, lively atmosphere and unique culture.”
New York
New York is inspired by New York City nights. I don’t know that I can attribute a smell to the city, but this candle has a warm patchouli, cedar and vetiver. It smells like fall in a warm cozy leather chair to me. It has a strong masculine vibe with the cedar. The candle doesn’t smell like New York to me but regardless I think it’s a beautiful one.
Description, “New York City candle evokes the spirit of speakeasies and the atmosphere of New York City by night… Like an echo: cedar, vetiver, and patchouli together are heightened by incense, reviving the scent of New York City at its golden age.”
London
London candle has beautiful floral notes like a garden. The lilac and juniper are what I smell and it has a very soft airy feel to it. I haven’t been to London in over 15 years, I have fond memories and am dying to go back to visit. When I was in college I did a summer study abroad trip to Oxford and went to London frequently. This was a life-changing experience for me not only to see England for the first time, but also because I met a boy who I married nearly 10 years later. I also roomed with a girl who became my long-time bestie even to this day we still keep in touch.
Description, “The scent of the London candle takes you to the heart of the Columbia Road flower market. Its unique notes of heliotrope, lilac, juniper and hyacinth are warmed with a touch of spice. With its floral detailing, the vessel celebrates a traditional bright and refined English wallpaper—paying homage to the pattern of the historic Westbourne Grove diptyque boutique.”
Paris
The Paris candle is something I can’t quite describe. It’s described has having chypre accord with aromatic twist of lavender. It smells fresh, light, floral, deep all at the same time. It feels like a little bit of citrus, lavender and cedar all mixed in one. This is in my top picks because of the name Paris. It’s a dream of mine to live there (always dreaming of the croissants and beautiful gardens!).
Description, “The newest addition to the City Candle Collection, the long-awaited Paris candle. Dressed in an ornate vessel that reveals the capital as seen from the sky, the pattern pays homage to the iconic city of light. The scent is marked by a chypre accord that permeates the enigmatic Parisian chic atmosphere.”
Hong Kong, Tokyo and Shanghai
Hong Kong is one of the newest online launches. I haven’t had a chance to burn this one as this is my first time seeing it in person. I love the bold red reflective jar with the design inspired by the high rise buildings in the city. The scent has floral notes that are built around the Bauhinia Blakeana one of their orchid trees. There are also also supposed to be notes of steam rice which usually doesn’t have a scent to me. It’s a creamy floral with a musk feel to me.
Description, “The Hong Kong vessel presents a setting inspired by the citys colorful, graphic, urban density. Ever present is the persistence of nature as it attempts to reassert its power throughout the city. The olfactory tribute to this city is expressed through a floral accord, built around the famous Bauhinia Blakeana, Hong-Kong’s emblem, complemented by comforting steam of rice. Come, discover the newest addition to the city candle collection online or at our Hong Kong boutique.”
Tokyo is one of my favorites because it has a fresh light scent of pine and cedar but doesn’t feel as green as those notes typically are. There’s a hint of hinoki and incense in it with subtle floral feels. This was one I was really excited to be able to buy online.
Description, “The aroma of the Tokyo candle takes you on a stroll amongst the majestic Japanese cypress trees. Notes of pine oil and cedar leaves celebrate majestic branches shading a hidden temple path and diffuses notes of soothing incense. Inspired by the art of the Japanese garden, its design evokes the harmony and serenity of two of Tokyo’s most famous parks, Yoyogi Koen and Shinjuku Gyoen.”
Shanghai smells like a sweet flower mixed with green tea. It almost smells sweet like a dessert I’d want to eat.
Description, “The scent of the Shanghai candle is closely linked to a Chinese tradition. Deliciously perfumed osmanthus flowers complemented with notes of green tea and maté to reveal the aroma of a freshly brewed cup of tea. The candle’s design is an ode to the beauty of Huxinting, Shanghai’s oldest tea house. The vessel’s deep red shade, blue porcelain and gold are an ancient symbol of good luck.”
City Candles Box Set 2018 Edition
The amazing 6-piece box set with Beverly Hills, London, Paris, New York, Tokyo and Shanghai. It retails at $432 and while you don’t get a price break compared to buying individually but I can’t think of a more amazing gift that this would make having them in a beautiful white box.
The only one I’m missing is Berlin but as mentioned at the top of the post I have the original glass jar version and while I’m almost 100% sure the colored green and yellow jar they have right now is the same, I haven’t smelled it to confirm.
Going through all the descriptions again has me itching to travel overseas. I have such good memories of travels to Europe and I have only been to one country in Asia before but have so much on my travel wishlist. I love these city-inspired candles and as a Diptyque lover it’s fun to have something a little rarer and harder to find.
The Diptyque City Candles retail for $72 each and the Boxed Set of Six retails at $432. Available online at Diptyque for a limited time through 9/30, in limited quantities. Also available in the free-standing Diptyque boutiques.
Have you tried any of these before or visited any of the Diptyque stores in these cities? If I’m traveling to a place with a Diptyque boutique it’s always a MUST that I stop inside one. They’re beautifully designed and the staff is always so knowledgeable and friendly.
Huge thanks to Diptyque for sending me all the candles for this feature. Being the Diptyque fan that I am I had already purchased all the scents on previous occasions except for Hong Kong. I’m the happiest person on earth to be stocked up on these scents from a brand that I’ve adored for many years.
