DIPTYQUE

Sometimes the road to success includes a few little twists and turns, hidden in the smallest of details. The founders of Diptyque know all about this. Christiane Montadre-Gautrot, Yves Couelsant and Desmond Knox-Leet first combined their talents in 1961 to specialise in fabric and wallpaper designs. The first was a graduate from the Academy of Fine Arts, the second, a former banker who had retrained in theatre, and the third, a painter. Together, they acquired a boutique, located at 34 Boulevard Saint-Germain in Paris. With an entrance door surrounded by two symmetrical window displays, it was obvious to anyone with an arty eye that the shop façade was a diptych. The brand had found its name along with its home where it still resides today. Soon this haberdasher's den grew into a treasure trove of curiosities. Decorated with objects brought back from all over the world by the three friends, this Ali Baba's cave attracted lovers of interior design, wanting to treat themselves to a piece of this lavish and eclectic universe. Gradually, the list of items featured in the Parisian bazaar expanded with more variety. In 1963, the trio came up with the idea of producing their first candles in the colours of their fabrics. This business was further enhanced by its wax craftsman, who suggested scenting them. Cinnamon, hawthorn and tea (a rarity at the time) were the three scents chosen for this first venture into the world of interior design. Their charm? An oval label, inspired by Roman shields, ensuring these pieces are instantly recognisable. The following year, beauty products joined the Diptyque selection thanks to the introduction of little British treasures including Penhaligon's celebrated colognes and Rimmel's luxury selection, adding a very British touch. Four years later, in the midst of the student revolution, the brand launched its first own fragrance label, named L'Eau, which has since been joined by dozens of other scents, all inspired by the designers' childhood memories. Home fragrances, candles, eau de toilette, decorative objects and body care... today, the Diptyque range covers a wide spectrum, whose fragrances are just as famous as its packaging. > View more

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