When I Want to Feel Like a Modern Christine Daaé, I Reach for This Feathery, French Perfume

Throughout my career as a beauty editor, there have been a number of fragrance brands I'm repeatedly drawn back to, and Diptyque remains at the top of the list. The brand was a favorite of mine long before I started my role, and its perfumes remain my go-to for when I'm in the mood for a touch of whimsy to shake up my everyday routine. While my adoration for all things Diptyque is extended to its diffusers, body lotions, and candles, I always make sure there's enough space on my vanity to display at least one of the brand's perfumes at any given time.

When I was allowed to try its Lazulio Eau de parfum, the brand's newest addition to its Les Essences de Diptyque collection, before the perfume landed in stores, it was an immediate yes from me. Over four weeks, I wore the scent nonstop, earning endless compliments from strangers who wanted to know all the details.

Below, I'm sharing everything worth knowing about the fragrance straight from the talented minds behind it, plus my first impressions and official review.

Meet Diptyque's Lazulio Eau de Parfum

Taking a look at the perfume without having been given anything to go off of, the first thing a newcomer might notice is the peacock-inspired design displayed on the bottle. That said, the nose behind the new fragrance, Master Perfumer Quentin Bisch, tells us that the inspiration drawn from this magnificent bird extends far beyond the design thoughtfully etched on the bottle. "The inspiration was the peacock feather, a natural masterpiece of beauty, delicacy, and contrast," Bisch explains.

Bisch's goal was to strike a balance between the experience of being in a peacock's midst and all the colors that one's feather is known for. "My idea was to capture in a fragrance the emotional shock one feels when seeing this marvel of nature: the shimmering blues and greens, the vivid yellows and golden browns, but also the tactile sensation of its caress." This resulted in an addition to Les Essences de Diptyque serving as an interpretation of the peacock feather's magic and splendor that, "translates its hypnotic allure into scent, both visually and emotionally."

To re-create the delicate qualities and vivid colors of a peacock feather, the scent relied on a unique blend of notes. Bisch's greatest challenge in creating it was to transform something visual and tactile into an olfactory experience. "I needed to invent an accord that was radiant and sparkling, reflecting the feather’s brilliance, and then place it in contact with more textured and warm materials, like silky down," Bisch explains. He achieved this by selecting rhubarb for its crisp, tangy, and fluorescent green burst as well as soft, balsamic benzoin to "powder the composition and diffuse a golden light." He adds that this duality allowed him to echo the feather's softness and lightness while retaining depth and structure.

In true beauty editor nature, I also wanted to learn about the stunning that houses the fragrance, and Bisch delivered the answers I've been after since I took it out of the luxe packaging. The artist behind the feather-like strokes on the bottle is Irish architect Nigel Peake, whose striking drawings gave the perfume a memorable visual impact. "Nigel Peake translated Lazulio’s inspiration into a graphic play of lines and tones that echo the feather’s movement," continues Bisch. "His artwork captures the iridescence and rhythm of the peacock feather, just as the fragrance captures its texture and brilliance."

Above, the front of the bottle is seen with layers upon layers of brush strokes extending outwards to form the appearance of a peacock feather, with its back featuring raised glass in the same design. The detailed box the perfume arrives in also delivers a similar look, but with an eye-catching splash of color. "The blue tones, the fluid yet precise motifs, they are the visual counterpart to Lazulio’s airy but structured olfactory architecture. The emblematic oval of Diptyque, engraved on the glass, becomes a window into its natural brilliance," Bisch tells us. There's no doubt that the packaging could easily add a chic touch to any space when put on display with its fragrant contents.

Lazulio is the sixth fragrance in the brand's Les Essences de Diptyque lineup, and it's safe to say it adds an ethereal touch to the inimitable collection. Bisch describes it as a continuation of the Maison's journey that reflects the goal for every fragrance to reinterpret a national treasure with a perceptible scent through the imagination of a different perfumer. "Lazulio brings its own singularity—the brilliance and tactile softness of the peacock feather—but it remains fully aligned with the artistic and poetic DNA of Diptyque," Bisch tells Who What Wear. "It is another chapter, a new story, in this collection of treasures of nature."

So, what does that mean for the collection going forward? Diptyque's CEO, Laurence Semichon, reveals the lineup's story will continue. "With Lazulio, inspired by the peacock feather, we enrich this story that already includes coral, mother-of-pearl, bark, water lily, and desert rose," says Semichon. "Looking ahead, this collection will continue to embody Diptyque’s spirit of poetry, audacity, and artistic freedom, while remaining faithful to our commitments to responsible sourcing and sustainability. It is both a tribute to nature and a promise of future creations."

My Official Review of Lazulio

Admittedly, I wasn't sure what to expect from this fragrance when I first heard the news that Diptyque would be launching a new addition to its Les Essences de Diptyque collection for fall 2025. I'd fallen head over heels for the five fragrances I had been introduced to in its lineup (its Lilyphéa Eau de Parfum was especially enticing since I adore clean, aquatic notes), but this peacock feather–inspired scent presented somewhat of a mystery in the days leading up to its launch. The idea behind the perfume was enticing, yes, but I didn't have the slightest idea of how it would be brought to life before the fragrance landed in my hands.

The first thing I admired about Lazulio before smelling it for the first time was that its box—decorated with vibrant blue hues—looks beautiful next to the golden color of the perfume. Placed side-by-side, I saw an undeniable representation of a peacock feather. Running my hands gently along the transparent glass bottle, I studied the brush strokes created by Peake to resemble the soft, fluffy parts of a feather before noticing the collection's signature knob-like, black cap.

Then, I removed the cap and sprayed the perfume for the first time. I was instantly transported to an enchanting world where a scent composed of juicy rhubarb is in complete symbiosis with something less sweet that grabs your attention just as the opening note warms up to reveal a smooth, skin-like touch. Within seconds, the fragrance unfurls itself to reveal earthy vetiver and resinous benzoin, adding what could only be described as a "crunchy" twist on what was once creamy and fluid. The dry-down is soft and woody, delivering a finishing note that invokes those seconds just before an opera, when the orchestra raises its instruments and the lights dim.

Fresh, intriguing, and nostalgic, this perfume smells exactly like slipping into a silk dress, pulling out a feather fan, and stepping on stage to perform for an adoring audience. It's my idea of what an epic, romantic perfume should smell like, and it sets the bar for all others that follow in its wake. While it's as beautiful and unique as the other fragrances belonging to the Les Essences Diptyque collection, this is my new favorite.

Discover Les Essences de Diptyque