Behind many of the world’s great perfumes is a great story, and Diptyque’s 34 Boulevard Saint Germain, the heftier of it’s black/white duo of fragrances (the white version being Trent Quatre), certainly has one. It’s said to be crafted to mimic the scent of Diptyque’s flagship store on Paris’ Saint Germain, the essence of years upon years of fragrance sprays seeping into the store’s cedar wood walls. It’s hedonistic in a Parisian way – understated, yet so unmistakably chic.
As you can probably tell from the story behind the scent, this fragrance has a plethora of notes that sound like they would all just be too much, a jumble of smells that might just result in a brash, clashing fragrance. Quite to the contrary, however, the cacophony of different notes come together to form more of a symphony than one expects. The top elements total much more than most, coming in at a whopping seven notes. The dreamy blackcurrant hits at first spray, flowing into a seductive blend of clove, cinnamon and cardamon that have been deliciously livened up by pink peppercorn and citrus. Next comes a chorus of flowers, with rose, geranium, tuberose, iris and violet giving this perfume a wistful heart reminiscent of a French garden circa early 20th century. The tuberose, in particular, brings through the almost soapy note that evokes memories of classic French parfumeries. The violet melds well with the earlier top note of blackcurrant, and one wonders why someone hasn’t thrown all these magical ingredients together in a perfume earlier.
As the perfume dries down and warms, you’re transported from what was an orchard, to a flower garden, and finally a forest. Resins, woods and eucalyptus nestled in cedar bring this rollercoaster ride of a fragrance to it’s final destination, yet parts of all stages still seem to be present. It’s perfectly balanced, and it smells like spring, summer and then autumn have all been united. This is a scent that smells just so lush, so intoxicating, so rich. Honestly, this just smells expensive.
Despite being a touch powdery, and not in a bad way, this is a scent that’s definitely unisex. (Can you tell by now we love unisex scents?) This is a fragrance so addictive that we’ve sprayed it on friends at dinner and witnessed them buying it online immediately at the table. Somehow, this seems to be one of fragrance’s best kept secrets – and it’s definitely our pick of Diptyque’s current line up. We’re longing to try the more green, citrus-scented L’Eau de Trent Quatre for spring, the pair combined just might give you a year-round solution to smelling oh-so Parisian.
Don’t miss this olfactory show-stopper – it’s complex, heady and altogether addictive scent is truly one of a kind in the fragrance world. Tell them we scent you. x
Notes:
Top: Blackcurrant, green leaves, citrus, pink pepper, clove, cinnamon, cardamom
Heart: Rose, geranium, tuberose, iris, violet
Base: Woody notes, eucalyptus, balms, resins
Season: Summer, spring
Destinations: Amalfi, Sardinia, Paris