One of my favorite home fragrance lines through the years has been Diptyque. I stumbled on their brand shopping and was at first drawn to the word-scramble-like labels. I’m a sucker for a puzzle! With closer inspection I was also drawn to the rare and unusual fragrances they offer. What was a Feu de Bois (Firewood) candle? Baies (Berries & Bulgarian Roses) ? Mousses (Moss) ? The list went on and on. Each candle I picked up was a treat. The florals were the closest I’d ever smelled to the actual flowers.

When I opened my shop, of course Diptyque was on my list of must-have products. I learned more about their brand. Diptyque is a small production house based in Paris. Their one pet peeve is that they never cut costs and use a substitute or faux fragrance oil for their candles and perfumes. All fragrances are actually distilled down from natural products. Yes, the Roses Candle starts out as a live Rose – a few hundred pounds of them to be exact. These fragrance oils are made in the French Perfume tradition. They do it so well.

Since the oils they use are so authentic and fragrant, it doesn’t take much to fragrance your home. I usually burn my Diptyque candles about an hour or so and then put them out. I’ve fragranced one or two rooms and the warm wax still gives off aroma as it cools. The Room Sprays I use for an instant shot of fragrance. A couple of pumps is all it takes.

People often ask “what is your favorite?” It’s hard to say… I like so many of them. I usually have fragrances on hand that are with the season. Woody and warm fragrances for the cold weather months, light florals and greens for the Spring and Summer. One trick I like to do is create my own blends. Burning a Feu de Bois with a sweet Gardenia or Baies is amazing. The aroma has such depth! I usually always have a Feu de Bois Room Spray on hand to pepper the air when I’m burning a very sweet or floral candle. It seems to give the fragrance a little more depth and character.

If you ever find yourself in Paris during your travels you must stop into the original little Diptyque shop on Saint Germain Avenue. Look for their trademark awnings. Once inside you’re in for a treat.