In our 10 Minutes With … Laurence Semichon, the senior vice president of Diptyque’s fragrance and cosmetics department, reveals her personal favourite from the label’s repertoire of scents
It’s no secret that in the world of candles and perfumes, Diptyque is a force to reckon with. Since it was founded in 1961, the Parisian brand has been known for its high-end candles and scents that have, over the years, developed a cult following with their intoxicatingly complex aromas that are derived solely from natural ingredients.
One of the people carrying on the maison’s rich legacy to this day is Laurence Semichon, the senior vice president of fragrance and cosmetics at Diptyque who is in charge of product creation, design, merchandising and much more. We sat down with her to talk about her favourite fragrance, Diptyque’s new flagship store, and how the brand stays relevant.
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With so many new niche candlemakers and perfumers in the market, how does Diptyque manage to stay relevant?
At Diptyque, the fragrances are created like works of art. The maison’s distinctive DNA [is derived largely] from its three founders: Desmond Knox-Leet, Christiane Montadre-Gautrot, and Yves Coueslant, who invented a unique creative process that has been the our signature from the very beginning.
The maison has always been about freedom and innovation. Seemingly simple, our creations are a sophisticated reinvention of nature. We make no compromise on quality, and we always select the best ingredients and raw materials. The olfactory experience is all that matters.
Last but not least, one of the secrets why Diptyque is such a timeless brand is because of the way we mix our technical know-how and heritage—the way we combine our strong cultural background with a constant capacity for renewal. To stay on top of the times, we ensure that we are open to change and can adapt ourselves to new environments despite massive trends, and to keep up the momentum of modernity.