Time in a Bottle
The updated Diptyque sablier sports an elegant new design that contributes to a more effective diffusion process,
The sablier— the French term for “hourglass”—was conceptualised by Diptyque in 2012 as an alternative to the scented candle. The fragrance was stored in a refillable glass receptacle that formed half of the hourglass, with the other part housing the diffuser. Turning it over—just like one would an hourglass, only with perfume instead of sand—would release the scent.
The redesigned incarnation of the sablier is true to the spirit of Diptyque. The principle applied to the original is more or less retained, but with marked improvements made to the cold diffusion process as well as a more aesthetically appealing look due to the perforated metal band along the stem. “It took five years for our creative team to come up with this new design, which merges form and function,” says Juliette Gras, the brand’s area manager for Asia. “It encapsulates what we refer to as the ‘Diptyque hour’, which is the amount of time it takes to complete a diffusion cycle. A new one starts once you turn the hourglass over.”
The sablier is most potent for small spaces of less than 20 square metres, but may also be used in larger areas as the scent is designed to diffuse within three to four metres around the hourglass. To optimise diffusion, it is recommended that one place the sablier near an area of natural convection such as a window, fan, or air conditioning unit. The fragrance has a life span of roughly three months, after which it can be refilled. One may choose from six different scents: Fleur d’Oranger, Gingembre, Figuier, Roses, Baies, and the iconic 34 Boulevard Saint Germain, which Gras herself is a huge fan of.
“Like the rest of our products, the redesigned sablier is a reflection of the artistic side of Diptyque,” Gras concludes. “It is the physical manifestation of how the Diptyque customer might make use of their time in their personal space.”