This year marks the 60th anniversary of the French fragrance maison, diptyque. To commemorate this milestone, they have created a scent inspired by "Orphéon," a late-night bar that once stood next to the brand's original boutique, symbolizing a connection between the maison's past and present. We spoke with Laurence Semichon, Senior Vice President of Fragrance & Beauty, about the maison's enduring spirit, its dedication to scent, its consideration for those who use its products, and its vision for the future as an innovative maison.

As the founders once said, "We are not artists, but a brand born from a passion to create something true," diptyque was born purely out of passion, without marketing logic or commercial objectives. Therefore, from its inception to this day, the maison has remained free-spirited, unswayed by trends. The common thread among the three founders, who came from different backgrounds, was a shared passion. This led them to be drawn to true beauty, regardless of nationality or origin, and to expand their imaginations, resulting in the creation of numerous products. I believe that being open, thinking broadly, and allowing their imaginations to roam freely is what has shaped diptyque into what it is today.

The fact that the three were friends, and also lovers, was their greatest strength. Each had an artistic background, and their shared passion for art was the link between them. Paris in the early 1960s was a time of free spirit and brimming with energy. It was in that era that the maison was born from the resonance of their shared sentiments. Had it been ten years later, diptyque might not have emerged, or perhaps a different spirit would have prevailed. Furthermore, the 5th arrondissement, where the boutique is located, was also a hub of free thinking and inspiration, which became a great asset to them. A confluence of various connections led to the founding of the maison and its boutique.

Our most representative creation is the first Eau de Parfum, "L'Eau." It's a scent that, in a way, embodies the maison's history and its inspirations. It's a fragrance that one of the founders, Desmond Knox-Leet, recreated from an idea in his mind. He conveyed this to a perfumer friend, and together they meticulously blended various ingredients like spices and woods by hand to achieve a unique taste. This method, quite revolutionary at the time, continues to inform diptyque's approach today: mixing diverse elements and arriving at the solution through intuition. "Fleur de Peau" is a recent example of this. After dozens of trials, we felt it wasn't quite right, and it ultimately took three months longer than anticipated to create. However, the unwavering commitment to perfecting a single fragrance until complete satisfaction is the same approach we've had since our founding.

Our inspirations are truly diverse, but many are born from nature. For instance, "Eau Rose" is a scent created by seeking out the most beautiful roses and distilling them. It was crafted to be as close as possible to the scent of the flower itself. "Philosykos" was inspired by a trip Yves Coulandon and Desmond took to Greece. As a souvenir for Christian, they gathered various items, and the scent of fig leaves from one of those finds became the basis for this fragrance. For them, it's a scent that evokes memories of Greece.

To celebrate our 60th anniversary, we wanted to reflect on our origins as a maison. "Orphéon," originally a jazz club, still has parts of its original structure within the current diptyque boutique, and we wanted to pay homage to it with a fragrance. We were particularly inspired by the shimmering blue neon-like pillars that remain in the current diptyque space, linking them to the perfume. Olivier Pescheux, our current perfumer, was a student in this neighborhood when the maison was founded. He recalled the atmosphere of that time and created a fragrance that evokes various scents, such as wood, powder, and the essence of makeup.

Additionally, we imagined what kind of music would be playing if the jazz club Orphéon were reimagined for today. We approached a prominent French electronic musician to create original music for this concept. As a result, the fragrance is designed to be an experience for all five senses.

Interestingly, our customers who connect with diptyque are the very ones we wish to connect with. There's a mutual understanding. However, they are not people who fit neatly into a single category. We strive to create products that can be enjoyed universally, transcending gender and age. We want our products to be worn by those who appreciate beauty and are drawn to beautiful things, and I believe many already do.

Above all, we want to remain a brand that inspires dreams. While continuing to convey beautiful values, we aim to remain an innovative maison. We have new surprises planned for the upcoming autumn season. Through our designs and fragrances, we hope to provide moments that spark inspiration.

French composer Louis Offman and perfumer Olivier Pescheux collaborated on a song inspired by "Orphéon." The process of creating the music, along with the music video, is available on YouTube. We encourage you to check it out.