Diptyque was founded in 1961 by three friends who had been trained at the Ecole des Beaux Arts and in house decoration, Desmond Knox-Leet, Christiane Gautrot and Yves Coueslant. They first produced their own printed fabrics and then began importing to Paris the most renowned English perfumes.

In 1963 Diptyque started producing a series of scented candles which soon gained world-wide fame. In 1968 Diptyque produced its first eau de toilette, l'eau, based on a XVIth century pot pourri and clove pomander recipe. This was to be followed by other creations, which came as eau de toilette or soap as well as a rare and sophisticated toilet vinaigre.