A whiff of Paris in Manila
Olfaction is often relegated to being a secondary sense, much less important than sight or hearing. But tied vividly to memory, emotions, and imagery, scents that are able to set a certain frame of mind and mood continue to enjoy a flourishing appreciation, growing beyond being a mere indulgence and earning an irreplaceable spot in the everyday.
Luxury fragrance brand Diptyque has perfected the art of aroma, capturing a wide range of dreamy essences—and even concocting a handful that otherwise should not exist.
During a unique candle-lighting (in lieu of the usual ribbon-cutting) ceremony, Rustan’s Commercial Corp. senior vice president for store development and expansions Michael Huang joined representatives from the French label to mark 25 years of collaboration as they led the grand opening of Diptyque’s Greenbelt 5 boutique.
Stepping past the classic green facade and over the iconic “Diptyque a Manille” floor mosaic, shoppers feel transported to a cozy Parisian apartment with all its charming details that tickle the senses.
“You see the moldings, you see the niches, you see the libraries. You can find these in a lot of apartments in Paris,” said Diptyque Paris export director Antoine Bertheuil.
Inside, flourishes that reflect the curiosity and creativity of the fragrance house’s founding artistic trio are exquisitely evident in the new store and its featured products. “Artistry and storytelling distinguish Diptyque,” said Huang.
Subtle artistic surprises
The 48-sqm shop is enticing, comforting, and full of subtle artistic surprises. The used glasses that formerly held candles are given second lives as receptacles for displaying miniature bottles of scents. The featured art on the back labels of eaux de parfum and eaux de toilette is always a gift, but even the names and quirky typography are well-thought-out and become diverting brainteasers.
The inventive ways for delivering the scents on the body—solid perfumes in alluring metal cases, hair mist, and a variety of body care—and the home—reed, electric, hourglass, and oscillating diffusers—are likewise a delight.
What gives the inviting space its unique character, however, is the infusion of local elements: The hand-painted frieze that runs along the cornice takes inspiration from colonial Spanish architecture; the vintage oak table at the center holds a profusion of colorful native flora; and, in the corner, a relief of a vibrant waling-waling blossom finds its place on an ornate ivory column.
The floral motif is echoed throughout the boutique, etched delicately on a detached curved wall and beautifully drawn by artist Kara Pangilinan on the show window. Revered by the Bagobo people as diwata or fairy, the fragrant “Queen of Philippine flowers” is one of the country’s national flowers (alongside the sampaguita).
The lifestyle brand fits its diverse library of playfully and artfully labeled scents in this elegant space. Its signature candles, home diffusers, and other La Droquerie collection home care products such as room sprays, dishwashing liquids, and leather care lotion hold as much prominence as its premium perfumes.
Curious, though, how in the small room that is essentially a bouquet of smells—from floral to fruity to woodsy—only a restrained redolence lingers in the air, the absence of any overwhelming fragrance serving as a testament to Diptyque’s magical mastery of scents.
