Diptyque at Liberty: A history
How the Parisian scent icon’s history is entwined with Liberty’s artisan roots.
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Diptyque at Liberty: A history
How the Parisian scent icon’s history is entwined with Liberty’s artisan roots.
A staple of Liberty’s Beauty Hall, Diptyque’s tantalising olfactive world is synonymous with an esoteric, eccentric and exquisitely refined sense of Parisian artistry, and has been since the brand’s launch in 1961. It’s a world and ethos closely entwined with Liberty’s own artistic legacy, and behind the decades of collaboration there’s a twin history behind Diptyque and Liberty. Read on to delve into our tandem, artisan worlds.
A Tale of Tandem Origins
Despite almost a century between the opening of Liberty’s doors in 1875 and Diptyque’s debut at 34 Boulevard Saint Germain in Paris, the original stores shared more in common that you might guess.
Founded by three friends, a painter, a set designer and an interior designer, Diptyque’s initial store was home to much more than fragrance. Brimming with bohemian treasures befitting Paris’s trendy rive-gauche, the store served as an emporium of artisanal curiosities: with fabrics, eclectic goods gathered from far-flung shores and niche luxury creations. A slice of the world brought to Paris in much the same way as Sir Arthur Lasenby Liberty sought to build with Liberty: envisioning a merchant ship of the globe’s most exquisite creations landing on Regent Street.
Print Histories Entwined
With their elegantly crafted scents and exquisitely designed vessels and insignia, it comes as little surprise that each of Diptyque’s founders held a longstanding connection to the artistic world and, in particular, the world of print.
Long before the founding of their own brand, two of the eventual co-founders: Christiane Gautrot and Desmon Knox-Leet spend time designing exclusive fabrics and wallpapers for Liberty itself – designs which remain in Liberty’s extensive archives to this day. With this shared dedication to the artisanal world, an eventual connection between the two houses seemed almost a foregone conclusion.
The Scent of Craftsmanship
With its foundations grounded in artistry and exploration, Diptyque soon became renowned for the scented candles it created – with many designed to evoke a sense of exploration. Early creations included Do Son, inspired by founder Yves Coulesant’s childhood memories exploring Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay and Philosykos, inspired by Grecian fig.
Today, its reputation is defined by innovation, experimentation and an unerring commitment to quality. For many, no room is complete without a Diptyque candle, be it Roses, Baies or Feu de Bois burning in the corner. In the years since its creation, elegant perfumery, skincare and bodycare, plus a host of room sprays and unique creations, have steadily grown to become treasured staples in the Diptyque canon, each new creation remaining defined by the founders's original commitment to creative expression and exploration. It follows, that with such a defined, artisanally grounded identity, Diptyque remains closely entwined with Liberty’s own purpose as the years go by.
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