Fragrance house

Diptyque

Diptyque was founded in 1961 by Desmond Knox-Leet, Christiane Montadre-Gautrot, and Yves Coueslant, who opened their first boutique at 34 boulevard Saint-Germain in Paris. The business began as a concept store combining the founders’ textile designs with decorative and antique objects gathered through their travels. Their backgrounds were distinctly artistic: Knox-Leet was a painter, Montadre-Gautrot an interior architect, and Coueslant a globe-trotter associated with theatre and administration. In 1963, Diptyque introduced scented candles, beginning with Hawthorn, Cinnamon, and Tea. Five years later, it released L’Eau, its first eau de toilette, inspired by a sixteenth-century recipe and the tradition of English pomanders. Diptyque’s creative identity is rooted in nature, travel, and the graphic arts, with perfumes developed through collaboration between perfumers and illustrators. Manzanita Capital acquired the brand in April 2005. Among its fragrances, Philosykos is recognized as a leading fig fragrance.