One of my quests has always been a lilac-focused fragrance that would not only capture the opulent indolic sweetness of lilac, but also display its dewy freshness. A related wish was to find a candle that would allow me to recreate the evenings spent walking through my grandmother’s garden. Overgrown with ancient lilac bushes, it would be filled with the lush intoxicating aroma emanating from the blossom studded boughs. Yet, while Frederic Malle En Passant, Jean Patou Vacances and Kenzo Summer have managed to satisfy my lilac cravings, I have been less fortunate in the home fragrance domain. Most lilac scented candles and room sprays are too similar to Glade Lilac Grove to be satisfying.
However, Diptyque Lilas is the best lilac scented candle I have discovered thus far. It releases a gorgeous fragrance of lilac in full bloom, with just a touch of crisp verdancy to prevent it from being too heady. Nevertheless, there are several criteria that predispose me against repurchasing Lilas. For one thing, the candle has a poor throw, especially in comparison to Tocca and L’Artisan candles. Although highly fragrant at first, the candle lost much of its scent after only a couple of weeks, which was disappointing, since most of the wax still remained in the jar. The candle also sends off a fair amount of soot, despite careful wick trimming. In the end, neither the lovely fragrance nor the appealing presentation could compensate for the obvious shortcomings.
Fortunately, Lilas is also available in the room spray, which is my preferred way of enjoying its lilac beauty. Diptyque room sprays have a fairly good tenacity and diffusion, and Lilas is among my favourites, which include Coing (Quince) and Feu de Bois (Firewood).
The 7 oz candle is priced at $48, while the 3.4 oz room spray is $38. For purchasing information, see the listing for Diptyque under Perfume Houses.
hi Robin,
would you say the problem with the throw and soot are common to all Diptyque candles? I had been thinking of getting some as a present… what brand scented candles do you think performs best overall?
thanks for your expert advice in advance!
Darling V! Great report – A friend gave me the Lilas room spray and it is very pretty.
Thank you for the review – I will not bother to get the candle.
Kenzo Summer has lilac?? I used to use that a long time ago and loved it, back when I knew nothing about perfs. I'll have to retry it. This candle sounds lovely and I note that you have put your devil costume on again ;D.
I've just read the last part of your review, V, and am now disappointed. Kind of. One $$candle not bought is all to the good, actually.
What is it with Diptyque that its creations make us think of our grandparents' gardens?
My favorite Diptyque candle is Aubepine. I so wish they were a little less pricy.
I feel a little odd for saying this, but I do notice that lilac smells a bit different depending on where it grows. The lilac that grew in my childhood home in South Dakota smelled more “compact,” and almost berry-like. Whereas the lilac that my mother-in-law grows in her yard here in Oregon has a wider arc of smell, and more “white floral”ly. (God I hope that made sense! Words are not my strong suit some days.)
I also would like to know if all Diptyque candles have the soot and bad-throw problems. The room spray sounds like a nice alternative, though.
I have not tried all of them, of course, but the ones I have did–Figuier, Tubereuse, Orange Blossom, Jasmin. Very disappointed in their quality. Their room sprays are much nicer.
Good to know, especially since those candles are priced fairly high. Thanks, V!
Do you know anything about the Mizenir candles?I have seen a lilac one on Aedes but was curious about the throw.
I've noticed soot in the past with Diptyque candles, but I recently ordered a few of them (Lilas, Choisya, Baies, and Jacinthe) and they have performed beautifully – no soot. One that I was extremely disappointed in was Figuier – it had almost zero scent! Very, very strange. I guess their batches are inconsistent?
I love Diptyque candles,all brands have the soot thing. Just wipe the glass with a damp tissue.
Lilac I burn in the summer usually,love it. And I always get great sillage with mine,right until the end.
In the winter I usually burn Opoponax,Santal or Cedre
I have not had good luck with them. My favourite brand is still L'Artisan. Oh, and Tocca. I love their candles.
Dear N, if you have the roomspray, you are more than set. It is lovely, whereas the candle is a big disappointment.
It is not that great. However, get the roomspray if you wish to smell lilacs (and not that Glade variety either).
How true! Olene smells like my grandmother's garden too. Philosykos smells like a garden, but the one I encountered in Italy.
Katie, you are absolutely right! Lilac has as many different scents as jasmine and rose. The white lilac smells different from the red. I wish more of white lilac would be used. It is my favourite.
I have smelled their lilac candle, however I have not burned it. Their tuberose candle is absolutely delicious smelling.
You are not the first person who told me this. Another friend bought two candles in the same scent, and one performed well, while another was very sooty. It is very odd. I have been very disappointed in all of the candles I tried. Now, I just buy the room sprays.
I am glad to hear that you have had such a great experience with these candles. I suppose that I have not been lucky at all, because in comparison to other candles I have (even $5 Bed, Bath & Beyond ones), the soot and smoke are much more than what I would tolerate. However, I love the roomsprays and I would purchase those in a heartbeat, in every single scent :).
thanks Victoria! I will go test the L'Artisans instead. I liked Diptyque's packaging though…
ooops sorry, it was posted by Victoria not Robin! sincerely apologize for the mistake and appreciate your review!
No worries! For a floral fragrance in L'Artisan, I would highly recommend Sous le Glycine. I think that I also reviewed it here. It is just the loveliest wisteria scented candle.
Hi Victoria: can you believe I have a lilac in bloom NOW in Seattle? It's a Korean lilac and blooms once in spring and AGAIN in fall. It had a great fall blossoming in Sept.-Oct and now it's got “single flower” buds that smell great, even as the leaves are about to drop! It's an amazing shrub. I love the scent of lilac, the type of lilac you smell on a chilly day…dew or rain on the flowers…fresh. I'll try the lilac roomspray. Your Quince roomspray recommendation was a winner. I was going to write you yesterday and ask for you to review something on your site you HATE! HA! I thought better of it but today you have been 'kindly negative'…. It's not Tsvetaeva shouting to the winds in fury, but it's a start! Enjoy the holiday (days OFF). Kevin
Lilac in bloom in November! That is just amazing. I would love to smell that lilac.
There are not many things that I hate outright. That would actually be fun to write about. However, there are plenty of things that are much worse than repulsive. They bore me, and it is a torture to write about those. I am sure I will shout to the winds in fury in due course of time over one thing or another.
I haven't smelled the Lilas candle (I have the Bois Ciré – an old one, a 'good' one), but I can quite believe the room spray is better. I can confirm that their Mimosa room spray is 'the only one' that smells remotely like the mimosa in the South of France.
Thank you for mentioning Mimosa room spray. Now, I, of course, have to try it.
Have you ever tried a Mia Bella candle? I recently purchased one at a holiday bazaar. I was really impressed by the fragrance throw and it lasted all the way to the end of the candle. They're made with soy and other vegetable waxes so there was virtually no soot. The label on the one I bought indicates this website: http://www.bellamiacandle.scent-team.com
I'd be curious to hear your opinion if you've ever tried one.
Thanks
M
Robin, have you ever used the Dip. room spray as a personal fragrance? How would Lilas work for that?
I've never tried one, sorry!
I've never tried Lilas at all (note that Victoria wrote the article above) but I use the Diptyque Essence of John Galliano as a personal fragrance. It is rather flat — you can tell it is a room spray — but it smells great!