60 Years Of Diptyque: Why It’s A Milestone Worth Celebrating And Dancing To

I know of people who have a drawer full of specific items that spark joy in their lives. Some have sunnies in every shape and shade you can think of. Some keep socks in every length available out there. Others collect eyeshadows in all textures – cream, matte, shimmery. Postcards from their loved ones abroad. Fancy pens from all the swankiest hotels and resorts they’ve stayed in around the world… you get the gist. As for me? Well, I collect candles. Luxury candles. Diptyque candles, to be precise.

All I had to do was open my drawer and all the sweet memories of my past travels would come flooding back – to an exact moment in time and place where I picked up each candle: Baies from New York, where I was about to enjoy a personalised facial when my skin therapist lit it up to relax my senses from the long-haul flight that I had taken to get there. The limited-edition La Madeleine that's part of the 34 collection from the original Diptyque store at 34 Boulevard Saint Germain in Paris that I had the pleasure of visiting one Spring day – and a place that has opened its doors to the public since 1961. Tubereuse from Shanghai where I remember soaking in a warm bath after a long day of exploring the city and lighting this candle to set the mood helped me wind down for the evening.

While many might argue that a candle is really just a candle, to me, a Diptyque candle is not. In fact, walking into any foreign place that has one such candle burning somewhere instantly makes the place seem somewhat familiar, a lot less intimidating and simply more sophisticated. And that is no secret to those who are familiar with the Parisian brand, its signature scents and the beautiful designs of the products that have been released in the past 60 years since Diptyque was founded by three friends, Christiane Montadre-Gautrot, Desmond Knox-Leet and Yves Coueslant.

To celebrate its diamond anniversary this year, the first drop – Dancing Ovals Collection – has been launched. It comprises a limited-edition release of four of Diptyque’s most-loved and iconic scents (all of which happen to be my favourites): Baies, Figuier, Roses and Tubereuse. What instantly caught my eye was how the boxes and glass containers of these candles have been dressed in different styles of contrasting black and white geometric lines by French-Greek designer, Yorgo Tloupas. They are all minimal yet aesthetically pleasing, bold without being too loud, and the best part of all: have the ability to produce countless optical effects, even at a glance.

As a brand, Diptyque clearly knows what its fans love and how to lay its codes down. The oval shape that holds the name of each scent in a playful, dancing manner is placed right in the centre of the glass and coated in red, pink, green and blue for the first time ever. The repetition of lines and motifs is deliberate while the interplay of shapes and colours gives the candles a good balance of modernity and tradition. It looks like this visual and sensorial treat is just the light that we need during this rather ‘dark’ and continuous MCO period. And it also looks like Diptyque will continue to reinvent itself and surprise us with more newold offerings throughout the year.

Diptyque’s 60th Anniversary – Dancing Ovals Collection retails from RM215 to RM785 and is available at its Pavilion KL boutique, KENS Apothecary stores and online.