If you’ve grown tired of the same old department store fragrances and are ready to branch out on your cologne exploration, the best Diptyque perfume provides a full-blown experience in every bottle.
The innovative scents make up a well-rounded fragrance line that bypasses traditional notions of gender in the perfume world. Made up of unisex scents composed of unique notes and captivating backstories, this luxury French fragrance house is well worth considering on the hunt for your next signature scent.
However, because of the ambiguous nature of the colognes and the uncommon structure of each fragrance, it can be difficult for him to determine the nicest Diptyque perfume. To simplify matters, I’ve rounded up the seven best Diptyque colognes for men after spending hour upon hour in the Paris boutique trying out every option in the extensive collection.
Ready to discover one of the great Paris perfumeries? These are the best Diptyque scents to consider for any man’s rotation.
Key Takeaways
Finding the top Diptyque perfume was no easy task, but boy, I enjoyed doing it. After reading more reviews than I can count, the results are good. In terms of the best Diptyque perfume for him, it’s hard to surpass Philosykos, which offers a little bit of everything. It’s a sweet-smelling cologne yet sultry, green but woody, and an exciting choice for daily wear.
Plus, it’s not often you find notes of fig in a men’s cologne. For an even more romantic option, L’Ombre Dans L’Eau embodies the essence of summer with rich florals and crisp fruits.
Why it’s great: As far as personal preference goes, this has to be a top option for the best Diptyque perfume for him, namely for guys who aren’t sold on unisex fragrances. The scent is a complete revelation, fusing distinctly woody, fruity, and fresh green notes for a well-rounded bouquet that’s ideal for year-round wear.
It evokes the feelings of wandering through a fig tree grove on the cusp of the Mediterranean Sea, and any man will feel perfectly at home with the scent of this exotic cologne.
Who is this for? Have you ever found yourself caught between cologne options, unsure of what to choose? This Diptyque perfume provides a little bit of everything, from masculine woods to sweet fruit and bright greenery. Why settle for one scent when you can have them all?
Flaws but not deal-breakers: This cologne evolves quite a lot, so although you might expect a vegetal scent upon the first spray, you’ll find that it transitions to quite a creamy, sweet fragrance as it settles into the skin. If you want to lean even further into the stimulating nature of this scent, the Eau de Parfum dives deeper into the white cedar heart for a long-lasting cologne.
Top Notes: Fig leaves | Middle Notes: Fig tree sap | Base Notes: Fig tree wood, black pepper | Type: Eau de Toilette
Why it’s great: This Diptyque perfume smells like summer in a bottle. It is not the seaside holiday type of summer, but the days spent lounging around in tall grass, picnicking in the shade of drooping trees, and soaking in cool dips from the banks of a flower-lined river.
L’Ombre Dans L’Eau (translating to shadow in the water) leans into florals with notes of rose and blackcurrant leaves. It’s been around for more than forty years and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Who is this for? It strikes a captivating balance between herbal and floral, and men who gravitate towards nature-inspired colognes will make good use of this Diptyque perfume. It’s more sophisticated than other powdery, rose-heavy scents thanks to the tart blackcurrant berries, making it suitable for most guys.
The 50-milliliter bottle is $130 (on par with the rest of Diptyque’s Eau de Toilettes), giving it one of the brand’s lowest price points if you’re seeking a more affordable cologne.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: This perfume’s floral aspect may feel a bit too feminine for some men despite the sweetness of the roses being complemented by heavy herbal notes.
Top Notes: Rose, blackcurrant buds | Middle Notes: Petitgrain | Base Notes: Blackcurrant leaves | Type: Eau de Toilette
Why it’s great: Inspired by the smokey sandalwood incense burning in Asian temples, Tam Dao is a rich cologne and one of the best Diptyque perfumes for men. The intensity of the sandalwood is tempered with aromatic myrtle and cypress, which brings a softness to this heavier, masculine scent.
Who is this for? If you’ve grown tired of the overly fresh, citrus-heavy colognes that have flooded the market in recent years, this Diptyque perfume leans heavily into manly roots with a deep, creamy scent that works well for evening wear and cold weather. Despite being a unisex cologne like the majority of the brand’s offerings, I find this one to be particularly attractive when worn by guys.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: This luxurious scent is definitely on the earthier side as a strong wood cologne. I’ve even heard it compared to the smell of a sauna. If you’re seeking an everyday summer scent, then you may prefer something a bit brighter. Additionally, since it’s an Eau de Parfum, this fragrance is more expensive than the same Eau de Toilette.
Top Notes: Sandalwood | Middle Notes: Cedar, cypress | Base Notes: Coriander | Type: Eau de Parfum
Why it’s great: Aside from smelling really (like, really) good, the story behind this Diptyque perfume is positively enchanting. It’s based on the ambiance of a Paris bar in the 1960s. The founders of Diptyque vowed to immortalize the vibe of their favorite address with a namesake cologne. It encapsulates the scents of an underground jazz club, so expect heady tobacco, rich, intense woods, and sticky vanilla sweetness that’s still lingering in the morning after a long night out on the town.
Who is this for? As one of the best Diptyque perfumes for men seeking a powerful scent (or a tobacco cologne), this fragrance is top of its class. It’s cozy and creamy, stellar for dark speakeasies, and heats up the coldest time of the year. This is my friend Kobe’s signature scent, and he says he’s constantly complimented on it. People stop him on the street to ask what he’s wearing, everywhere from New York to Paris.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: This warm cologne may smell a bit powdery to some wearers, especially as the tonka bean calms down to reveal more of the wood notes.
Top Notes: Juniper berry | Middle Notes: Cedar, Tonka bean | Base Notes: Jasmine | Type: Eau de Parfum
Why it’s great: Sweet, citrusy, and frankly, irresistible, this Diptyque perfume for men is a nice change from the heavier choices from the brand. It embodies an entirely fresh profile, with notes of yuzu and tangerine, complemented by herby thyme and juicy raspberries. It’s a standout warm weather fragrance — you’ll reach for this all spring and summer. It’s worthy of any man’s signature scent.
Who is this for? Choose this fragrance if you’re after a light and bright cologne. It’s easy wearing and unique as the citrus dries down to a subtle woody smell. It’s not often that you find yuzu in a men’s cologne, and when coupled with fruit and herbs, it’s nothing short of exquisite.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Given the brighter nature of this cologne, some men may find it slightly feminine, chiefly thanks to the sugary sweetness on top.
Top Notes: Yuzu, green tangerine | Middle Notes: Thyme | Base Notes: Raspberry | Type: Eau de Toilette
Why it’s great: I find this cologne to be superbly interesting and among the top Diptyque perfumes for men seeking a multifaceted fragrance. Combining responsibly sourced vetiver from Haiti with discreet florals and tangy grapefruit, the brand’s take on a vetiver cologne does not disappoint. If you aren’t aware of the notes beforehand, it’s tricky to identify each scent in this symphony, given the versatile nature of intense vetiver.
Who is this for? This cologne offers a nice change of pace from other vetiver colognes because instead of being paired with equally fierce notes, the light florals and citrus round it out for a balanced, easy wearing fragrance. As an Eau de Parfum, it projects nicely for a long lasting cologne.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Compared to other vetiver colognes like Givenchy Vetyver, Diptyque’s rendition is much more green and less earthy.
Top Notes: Haitian vetiver, Java vetiver | Middle Notes: Grapefruit | Base Notes: Rose | Type: Eau de parfum
Why it’s great: Yes, this is a patchouli fragrance. No, it cannot be boxed into a single olfactory category. Dripping with enchanting, distinctly earthy notes, Tempo is an award-winning scent and one of the top Diptyque perfumes for him. The rich Indonesian patchouli relaxes in the presence of violet leaves and clary sage, reminiscent of Le Labo Patchouli 24.
Who is this for? There’s no question that this unisex cologne is ideal for male wear. Something about patchouli makes for an alluring fragrance, especially if you’re headed on a dinner date.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: I personally find this cologne a bit heavy for daytime wear. It may also bog you down during summer months but works very well for transitional seasons and evening wear.
Top Notes: Patchouli | Middle Notes: Mate, Clary sage | Base Notes: Violet | Type: Eau de Parfum
Buying Considerations for the Best Diptyque Perfumes
Scent
The main consideration when choosing a Diptyque perfume for him is the scent. Since most of the brand’s fragrance line is unisex, this is an even more important consideration than usual to ensure that you end up with a masculine scent that truly speaks to you.
Although there is no shortage of great smelling colognes to choose from, if you’re gunning for a classic, manly fragrance, opt for a Diptyque perfume from the wood line. These colognes are masculine-leaning with seductive notes of sandalwood, cedar, and cypress, often rounded out with fresh greenery or tart fruits.
This type of Diptyque perfume is less feminine than the brand’s more popular floral offerings without sacrificing well-balanced notes.
Season
Seasonality also comes into play when choosing a Diptyque perfume, especially when weighing the brand’s more masculine-leaning options. Typically, you’ll find that many of the wood-forward scents tend to be geared towards cooler weather, given the warming notes of sandalwood, vanilla, and tonka beans. These fragrances work super well for cold months and evening wear, especially if you’re a fan of seductive, sexy colognes.
However, there’s plenty to pick from in terms of summer perfumes, too, like Diptyque’s citrus, floral, and fruit-focused scents. These brighter colognes are ideal for everyday wear, and though they make a huge impact in warm weather, they also tend to work exceptionally well year-round.
Longevity
Since Diptyque’s fragrance line has a sophisticated depth to it, longevity is a consideration because of how much the scents change over time.
As with all colognes, Diptyque’s Eau de Parfums contain a greater concentration of fragrance oils than an Eau de Toilette. This enables them to last longer and be more intense than the alternative. You can expect an Eau de Parfum from Diptyque to last about six hours on the skin, lingering on clothes for even longer. After the initial spritz, as the fragrance dries down, you’ll find the scent evolving and changing to reveal additional complexity that you don’t get on top.
This is also true for the brand’s Eau de Toilettes. The only difference is that they have slightly less lasting power than an Eau de Parfum.
You’ll find a mix of both types of colognes on this list. Choose the former for a lighter scent and the latter for a more intense fragrance. The beauty of Diptyque colognes is that most perfumes are available in EDTs and EDPs, giving you the choice of longevity. Just remember that an Eau de Parfum will have a slightly different scent than the same Eau de Toilette (and typically be more expensive, too). Think of it as the “big brother.”
How We Chose
To choose the best Diptyque perfume for him, this is the criteria that was used:
Versatility: Rather than being reserved for a special occasion, the Diptyque perfumes chosen for this list are revered for their versatility. They’re suitable for a wide range of situations, and the beauty of these colognes is their ability to match any circumstance with ease rather than collecting dust on your countertop.
Masculine Features: Since Diptyque perfumes are designed for unisex wear, I strived to choose the most traditionally masculine scents. Rather than florals and fruit, the options on this list are typically wood-heavy with intense manly notes, balanced out with herbs, greenery, and citrus. That said, it was important to include a mix to appeal to all guys, rather than locking readers into a single Diptyque perfume category.
User Reviews: I’ve spent upwards of 20 hours trying and testing Diptyque perfumes, but I also relied heavily on user reviews to get a more comprehensive picture of each scent. Combining my personal experience with that of others (namely men who wear Diptyque scents regularly), I was able to provide a more wholesome representation of each perfume.
Uniqueness: I find that the beauty of Diptyque colognes is in their unique notes, so rather than playing it safe with the same fresh scents you can get from any brand, I chose some standout options to lean into the brand’s one-of-a-kind approach to perfumery.
Why Trust Us?
Diptyque is the crown jewel of the Paris fragrance world, so what better person to explore the scents than FashionBeans’ very own French correspondent? Jane lives in Paris full-time and has spent countless hours in the Diptyque boutique on Saint Germain, learning the ins and outs of the fragrance house.
On top of her first-hand experience and meticulous testing, Jane has written dozens of cologne-related articles in the hopes of helping men around the world find their ideal signature scent. Read some of her related posts, like best-selling colognes and best fresh colognes, for more fragrance inspiration.
To curate this list, Jane meticulously tests each fragrance, considering factors like longevity, sillage, and unique scent profiles. She consults industry experts, engages with fragrance communities, and keeps up with the latest trends. This rigorous approach ensures that her recommendations are not only well-informed but also cater to a variety of tastes and preferences. Trust Jane’s expertise to guide you in finding the perfect Diptyque scent.
Final Verdict
Try as you might; you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better Diptyque perfume for him than Philosykos. This is one of the best colognes for men since it captures every element of a fruit tree by the sea, with sweet qualities, woodiness, and fresh greenery for an exceptionally balanced scent.
If you want to lean into warm weather, then opt for L’Ombre Dans L’Eau which is one of the brand’s most popular scents, capturing hearts with the crisp, floral notes of summer.
FAQ
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Any of Diptyque’s Eau de Parfums are an excellent choice for a long-lasting cologne, given the higher concentration of fragrance oils. Diptyque perfumes project well, even after drying down, and linger on clothing for an entire day, well after the smell fades from the skin.
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Although there are plenty of female celebrities who flock to Diptyque perfumes, in terms of men rocking the scents, the most prominent are Korean popstar D.O., who uses Tam Dao, and fashion consultant Nick Wooster, who opts for L’Ombre Dans L’Eau and Philosykos. In addition to individual wear, Diptyque has exclusive partnerships with Qatar Airways and the Ritz Carlton, further cementing the brand’s position in the luxury fragrance market.
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Diptyque is popular because it embodies the best of perfumery, with expert noses, innovative scents, and French flair that simply cannot be replicated. The unisex perfumes are distinct and recognizable, making Diptyque a crown jewel of the fragrance world.
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