Diptyque – Fleur de Peau – Second skin 9/10
Fleur de Peau alongside the patchouli dominant Tempo were released by Diptyque in 2018 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its first perfume. Although I enjoy Tempo, it was Fleur de Peau that captured me. I first tried the scent on a trip to Hong Kong and every time I wear it, I have fond scent memories of that trip. One spritz of Fleur de Peau immediately transports me back to Hong Kong with those big city vibes, riding the subway, exploring the myriad of museums and gazing down from Victoria Peak. Fond scent memories indeed.
The inspiration behind Fleur de Peau is the 1960’s ‘summer of love’, and the scent pays tribute to the mythical love of Psyche and Eros. So, how does a brand convey this in a perfume? Through the use of musk of course. Musk and ambrette are very much to the fore in Fleur de Peau, and the effect of these notes gives one the feeling of a second skin. A cosy feeling. Not surprisingly, with Fleur in the title there are floral notes scattered throughout the composition, not least of all iris, which provides an earthy, powdery feel to the scent. The iris here does not give me a lipstick vibe like it does in so many other scents. To my nose, the iris and musks are the most prominent notes in Fleur de Peau. Supporting notes of Turkish rose, aldehydes and pink peppercorns provide an uplifting brightness to the mix. There is a carrot seed note that combined with the iris gives Fleur de Peau a decidedly earthy feel.
Fleur de Peau is certainly a subtle scent, but when coupled with the complementary body balm it pushes out a bit further. It’s clean, soapy, powdery, easy to wear and cosy, but done in such a way that it never becomes boring. The carnal inspiration behind the scent isn’t really brought to bear in the final product, but Fleur de Peau is a safe bet for iris and musk lovers, for mine it is one of the best scents in this category, and one of my favourite Diptyque releases.
Quick Notes:
Launch Year: 2018
Perfumer: Olivier Pescheux
Notes: Bergamot, angelica, pink pepper, aldehydes, Turkish rose, iris, ambrette, musk, ambergris, amberwood, carrot, sandalwood and leather.
Longevity: 5-6 hours but 7-8 hours with the body balm
Projection: Average for 2 plus hours, before becoming a second skin.
Season: Can be worn all year round, an inoffensive scent suitable for many occasions not least of all the office.
Price: 75ml EdP, $231 AUD
Alternatives: Liquides Imaginaires Tapis Volant, Narciso Rodriguez Pure Musc For Her, Prada Infusion d’Iris.