Bleecker Street in Manhattan's West Village features a remarkable array of intimate designer shops, and the Parisian perfume house of Diptyque recently joined this chic line-up. Diptyque's New York boutique is one of only two in the United States (the other is located in San Francisco), so if you're in the metropolitan area and you're not planning a trip to Paris any time soon, a visit to this store is the best way to experience the Diptyque aesthetic. Just like the company's signature packaging, the boutique's decor is a mix of minimalism and poetic detail. One wall is painted matte black, one is veiled with sheer white fabric, and one is currently hung with a larger-than-life reproduction of a Rococo painting of Bathsheba performing her toilette.
Diptyque's cult-classic candles, in every available fragrance, occupy one side of the shop. On the top shelf of their display, a row of small flat-screen monitors shows a continuous video loop of the candles lit with flickering flames. Another area holds the full range of Diptyque Eaux de Toilette, including certain scents that were temporarily discontinued or have become hard-to-find elsewhere (such as Virgilio, L’Autre, and Eau d’Elide). Newer products are also displayed on nearby tables, and you can examine and test Diptyque's quartet of citrusy colognes and its line of L'Art du Soin body products with the assistance of a well-informed sales assistant. Whether you're repurchasing a favorite Diptyque fragrance or you're looking for a comprehensive introduction to the brand, this boutique offers a stylish immersion in its products and scents.
Best selling fragrances: L'Ombre dans L'Eau, followed by Philosykos and Tam Dao.
Not to be missed: Diptyque's classic candles in occasional limited-edition packaging
Details: Diptyque, 377 Bleecker Street, New York, NY 10014, (212) 242-2333, website.
Nearby: L’Occitane (247 Bleecker St.), Aphrodisia (264 Bleecker St.), Enfleurage (321 Bleecker St.), Village Apothecary (346 Bleecker St.), C. O. Bigelow (414 6th Ave.), Aedes de Venustas (9 Christopher St.), Patyka (33 Carmine St.), and any number of designer clothing boutiques. Post-shopping, you can enjoy coffee and a dessert at Café Angelique (49 Grove Street).
— report and image filed by Jessica.
See also: Perfume Shopping in New York City