Paris : Diptyque

There's an amazing Parisian store called "Diptyque" that sells luscious candles, perfumes and lovely smelly things.  I've been angling for a bottle of "Jardin Clos" EDT since I first smelled it a few years ago, and thought that a trip to Paris seemed like the best excuse to buy some at last.  You can buy all their stuff online, but I really wanted to go to the store and experience all the loveliness first-hand.

They have five locations in Paris, and I had planned to visit the Boulevard Saint Germain store.  Now, that idea was all well and good, but by the time we'd walked and walked and walked, I really didn't want to walk that extra distance to Blvd St Germain, so we headed into the Galeries Lafayette department store and to the Diptyque mini-store inside.

The girls were really helpful and there was a great range of things on display.  I looked and looked, but couldn't see the Jardin Clos EDT anywhere, so I asked if they had it in stock.  Noooooooo, they don't make it anymore!  Cue my face falling into an expression of glumness.

The boys suggested I try some different things and were very patient whilst I made them hold cardboard tester strips and I sprayed EDTs around.  After a few trial squirts I fell in love with Ofresia, a beautiful blend of Freesia and green scents - so very fresh and gorgeous.

The staff popped in a few samples of other scents and a lovely pack of Diptyque postcards as I paid, and we headed back out into the sunshine, with me a very happy girl.