Diptyque - Vetyverio - Eau de Parfum
Open the door and step inside. You are at diptyque, where perfumers and artists transform their inspirations into new creations. For diptyque, perfume is an art, and art is a journey. An imaginary journey of the senses through fragrant landscapes, off the beaten track, in search of precious raw materials and surprising accords. A journey between past and future, tradition and avant-garde, bound for a elsewhere brimming with history, yet also rich in new ideas and stylistic departures.
Diptyque constantly oscillates between two worlds, between dream and reality, ignoring the boundaries between genres and cultures, emphasizing the interweaving and intertwining from which the brand draws its inspiration. Creators of essences and creations that appeal equally to the eye, hand, and nose, continuously searching for reinterpretations in the astonishing universe of haute perfumery.
A vetiver with golden hair
The rainy season is just ending in Haiti… It's December in Cayes, in the south of the island. It has taken a whole year for the vetiver roots to reach their optimal length of one meter and be harvested by hand. After this process, known in Haiti as "digging," the roots are bundled and taken to the distillery. Now, patience is required once again. It takes 24 hours for the vetiver essence to distill out, resulting in a fragrant essential oil with golden reflections. This essence is as precious as gold in Haiti, and a solidarity project has been established for it in collaboration with the Swiss company Givaudan. Diptyque is committed to this project long-term, purchasing the essence from organically grown plots in three villages—Massy, Faucault, and Bazelais—for its Vetyverio Eau de Parfum. This solidarity project thus contributes to securing the supply chain of this unique Haitian vetiver. The long roots of this tropical sweetgrass can reach up to three meters in length and penetrate deep into the soil. With its dense root system, vetiver anchors the island's volcanic soil and slows its erosion. In turn, the roots absorb the many minerals of this fertile soil, which give vetiver its aromatic complexity, fiery temperament, and finesse, shaping its irresistibly smoky, racy fragrance. Here, there are no thick, dark rhizomes with earthy, harsh notes, as can be found elsewhere, but only delicate root threads in light nuances like angel hair, brimming with exquisite fragrances. A vetiver of astonishing subtlety, which the diptyque perfumer uses for his reinterpretation of the Eau de Parfum Vetyverio.
Wood inlays and genre mix
When a perfume focuses on vetiver, it traditionally creates a masculine scent, as the woody aromas convey uncompromising virility. With its Eau de Parfum Vetyverio, diptyque dares to do the complete opposite, presenting itself not only as entirely feminine but going even further. Like an inlaid piece of art, this vetiver composes a complex composition with unexpected facets, at times full of freshness, then smoky, or even almost floral.
A kaleidoscope of olfactory nuances revolves around a single substance, presented here in an original, sublimated, and highly concentrated form. With its delicate bitterness and lemony notes, grapefruit underscores the natural freshness of the wood. As a counterpoint to this almost sparkling characteristic, patchouli accentuates the smoky, spicy aroma of vetiver with its inherent density. This verticality is set in motion by Turkish rose, creating a surprising sensuality, a floral softness that lends this vetiver a new harmony of blossoms and woods. Like other fragrances from the house, such as Eau Duelle with Madagascan vanilla, Oud Palao with Laotian oud, or Eau Mohéli with Comorian ylang-ylang, Vetyverio showcases a single essence, expressed with utmost purity and clarity. Instantly recognizable, yet unique, it presents itself as both familiar and entirely new.
Diptyque pays double tribute to vetiver: with an Eau de Toilette in 2010 and now with an Eau de Parfum. Two variations created by perfumer Olivier Pescheux. In the Eau de Toilette, two essences, one from Java and the other from Haiti, met and intertwined to form a subtle balance. In the Eau de Parfum, Haitian vetiver shines in a new concentration, unfolding in its full dimension: intense, captivating, yet incredibly subtle. A unique olfactory aura emerges, revealing the full complexity of this raw material. Whether worn by a woman or a man, Eau de Parfum Vetyverio is utterly addictive.
© For the love of fragrance (p/hb)