u/FunsizedJ

After reading all your reviews on the new candles, I finally got to go into a store today and smell everything for myself. I saw a preview of what the refillable candles are going to look like - they will be packaged in what looks like a cardboard coffee cup with a lid, with a paper label indicating what refill it is. I was told London stores will be selling the refillables around September this year.

I read this review that made me realise I'm not going crazy when I sniffed Ortie today at one of the stores and was kind of startled - it smelt like B.O to me as well and I thought my nose was malfunctioning. I smelt both the surface of the candle wax and then the jar with the wax popped out and there was no difference. The crazy thing about this scent was it was like smelling B.O on someone that you don't find repulsive...but it also wasn't pleasant either - bottom line is I wouldn't want my space to smell like it.

Café was nice, warm slightly creamy coffee scent but wasn't unique in any way that justified the price of £63. I feel like you could get something similar, potentially better for less when on sale, like DS & Durga's Breakfast Leipzig, or Earl of East's line of Café candles.\

Shisho I struggled to get much of a scent at all -  It was slightly minty and peppery to me but it was nether here or there; just vague.

Rhubarbe was probably my favourite but the scent was very soft. It was lit in store today and I was practically hovering directly over the flame before I got any scent.

Sesame Noir I was looking forward to this one the most because I wanted to see how it compared with Loewe's Black Sesame candle from their holiday collection at the end of last year. The verdict is... Sesame Noir cannot hold a candle to Loewe's Black Sesame. Loewe's one basically outperforms in all categories:
(Negatively,) Loewe's candle is twice as expensive as the Diptyque one (I've made my peace with how much I had to fork out for it). However, it terms of vessel - the silver-glazed terracotta vessel is a real decorative piece. Admittedly, I don't know what I'd like to repurpose it for but I'm optimistic that inspiration will strike me once I'm done with burning the candle, perhaps my art pastels/ drawing things.
The scent: Loewe's Black Sesame is so strong, cold and hot throw and the scent is delicious. It smells exactly like black sesame in desserts, and then there's an added layer of warm creaminess that Diptyque's Sesame Noir just does not have. I'm not actually sure what I'm smelling there. Sesame for sure, but not quite toasted, not particularly sweet or creamy like a dessert. Almost like a suggestion of black sesame but it remains undecided.

Maybe my nose was just having an off day today but I was disappointed. Walked away feeling no excitement for any of the scents. 

Updates to the existing lineup though: 

The Coriander candle has been reformulated; I think for the better. The candle now smells exactly like the fresh coriander you get on a bowl of pho. A fresh and bright scent, and great cold throw. 

Citronelle is now part of the permanent line. I noticed this pop up with the release of the new candles online, but wanted to ask in person to be sure. The SA confirmed that it will no longer be a summer special, and to her knowledge, there are currently no plans to have a special edition come out like in years past, where an artist is invited to decorate the candle. I'm not sure if this decision means no larger versions of Citronelle released during the summer with limited edition vessels though.

Also PSA: Diptyque has discontinued the solid perfume for 34!! I am so disappointed! It was a favourite of mine and such a lovely scent fitting for so many occasions. The SA mentioned only 3 or 4 of the perfumes are still available and I swear there were more than that (closer to 7?), so I think the solid perfumes might be another eventual casualty in this brand 'refresh' :(

The raised lettering is a nice touch but I am personally not a fan of the glossy paper label. I can see the new glass being more aesthetically pleasing placed on a table /desk as decoration compared with the old one. But as someone who has bought many (so many) candles, I’m not the habit of keeping these vessels around; I buy because I enjoy regularly burning candles and once I’m done with the wax, everything is recycled for me. Until recently, I struggled with throwing empty vessels away, but I came across this instagram reel earlier this year and it really resonated with me and inspired me to do something about letting go of things that no longer serve any real purpose for me.

I know there’s been a lot of discussion around whether the price increase is justified, a deeper dive into the price rise being in line with other brands. All great food for thought! At my peak, I was buying so much from them and I made trips to Paris solely to hunt down exactly what I wanted (special candle lids, the flagship photophore, their 34 collection candle line…) Having considered all of that, the new direction that I’m not convinced by/expectations increasingly not being met, and already nostalgic for gems (that I discovered too late) like Bois Ciré, Foin Coupé that I can no longer get anymore, I think my love affair with Diptyque candles is well and truly coming to an end now. It’s strangely hard to admit, but I am not feeling inspired anymore. 

I would love to hear from those who have different thoughts to me, perhaps to share a perspective that doesn't sounds like Eeyore going through a candle divorce.