The third version of Diptyque’s unmissable summer rendezvous is an invitation to slow down and ease yourself into the pace of summer. A scented interlude that’s ideal for spending a little personal time reflecting and reconnecting with nature – the Maison’s inexhaustible wellspring of inspiration, celebrated afresh in this latest summer collection. Simple, eternal, and opening onto the sea: the nature found in the Mediterranean landscapes where Yves Coueslant and Desmond Knox-Leet, two members of the trio who founded Diptyque, loved to recharge their batteries and from which, from 1960 onwards, they brought back plenty of materials and memories for their creations and perfumes to come. Summer 2023 sees the emblematic Mediterranean scents highlighted as olfactory reminiscences of the landscapes of Italy, Provence, and Greece, where the two friends valued the unadorned beauty. In the Mediterranean, they found their “landscape of the soul” – the place where they felt most fully themselves. Here, it seemed they could suspend time – seizing the present moment, surrounded by unspoiled natural scenery.
This is also a location that American artist Erik Winkowski – who has been invited to visualize the world of the summer collection – loves to represent in his videos. His unique style is a hybrid of animation and collage, energizing and shaping its painted elements. His experimental digital creations present a succession of scenes from Mediterranean nature and the effect is playful, startling, and colorful. It was inevitable that he would one day collaborate with Diptyque. Traits marking him out as a natural choice include his taste for experimentation, his modern touch, and his love of color and of combinations of motifs, all shared by the Maison since its early days and perfectly matching Diptyque’s celebration of the simple, essential qualities of nature.
One summer in the Mediterranean: filtered through the artist’s perspective and imagination, the inspiration for this limited edition collection acquires the contours of a joyful, unexpected celebration. Winkowski brings an uninhibited vibrancy to the colors of the sea, the sun, and the vegetation of the region, embracing the essence of the Mediterranean setting with a spirited gesture.
The sun lies at the very heart of Ilio, the eau de toilette of the summer collection, also available as a hair mist. Taking its name from ilios (the Greek word for “sun”), Ilio is a concentrate of summer itself captured in a bottle – a breath of warm air cut across with addictive fragrances from flowers and fruit trees. Unfolding to reveal prickly pear – an emblematic, unconventional fruit from the Mediterranean basin – Ilio will both brighten and freshen up the summer, adding notes that blend bergamot, iris, and jasmine.
Celebrating lemongrass – another characteristic summer scent, known and valued for its tangy coolness and its mosquito-repellent properties – two limited edition Citronnelle candles enrich this summer collection. One classic format candle and its larger counterpart – the latter entirely decorated with illustrations courtesy of Erik Winkowski. Enhanced with floral and green touches, these candles will be the perfect accompaniment to summer evenings spent al fresco after night has fallen. Ideal for perfuming large spaces, the Citronnelle home fragrance diffuser – a newcomer to the summer collection – will be a further source of enchantment, extending the joy of these moments thanks to the interplay of light passing through its glass sides.
For this summer period, Diptyque – always an innovator in the perfume industry – has specially developed a body spray based on essential oils of lemongrass, geranium, and lemon eucalyptus, all known for their abilities to repel mosquitoes. The product also symbolizes the spirit of the Maison – both functional and beautiful, combining the useful with the enjoyable. Softened with floral notes and a closing touch of musk, this summer body spray is sure to become the indis- pensable item of the season.
Bringing the collection to a beautiful conclusion, Diptyque reinvents the ultimate summer gesture with an accessory that’s ideal for hot days: a fan ready to be perfumed from the accompanying sample of Ilio eau de toilette. Symbolizing both time to yourself and harmony with nature, and illustrated with motifs from the collection, this object was conceived in collaboration with Duvelleroy, a Parisian house of craft fan-makers dating back to 1827. With a cord the color of the sun, it can be worn strap-wise and taken wherever you go.
This limited edition collection of essential items invites you to slow down, relaxing into the rhythm of summer and absorbing inspiration from nature. It was made to help you make the most of every hour of the day, gently and with all your senses stimulated. The collection holds out the promise of a summer break – a summer day spent by the Mediterranean sea, lulled by the song of the birds, a salty gust of sea wind and the scent of flowers and citrus fruits, contemplating the azure horizon and savoring the beauty of the moment.