A Favorite: Diptyque Tempo

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Diptyque Tempo 

Patchouli, Mate, Clary Sage, Pink Pepper, Violet Leaf, Bergamot

Lured by the promise of gifts with purchase, I visited the Diptyque Grand Tour pop-up in New York's Meatpacking District in the Fall of 2021. I had recently participated in a Sniffapalooza master class that introduced me to the two new limited-edition Diptyque "Grand Tour" scents, Kyoto and Venise. I was intrigued by the strong greenness of Venise. It came only as a set of three travel sprays--which made it actually affordable--so I bought it. The delicious Paris candle (which I would love as an EDP, hint hint) also went home with me. Almost as a reward for schlepping myself to an area of town I don't visit particularly often, I received the best "gift with purchase" ever: a branded canvas tote, a poster of an early Diptyque design, a box of long matches, and a travel spray of Tempo. Patchouli-heavy fragrances have never been my favorites, but I thought this was one I could wear. To be totally honest, it was love at first sniff. And as a travel spray, I could take it with me on solo trips and avoid comments from my famously patchouli-averse husband.

I have read that perfumer Olivier Pescheux used three varieties of Indonesian patchouli when he created Tempo. I can only identify two: a chocolate-y patch (like the patch in Les Nereides Patchouli Antique); and a sharper/brighter, almost ozonic, woodsy one (like the one in Dior Gris Dior). The only other style of patchouli that I can think of is what I think of as "dirty hippy" patchouli, and I'm not detecting that in Tempo. But what do I know? The first several hours of Tempo is more chocolate-y, a little herbaceous, and somewhat dusty. The long drydown has more of the brighter patchouli, and this is when I love this fragrance most. I feel strong, confident, and very much in-the-know when I wear Tempo. I would buy a large full bottle if I could wear it more often. But like Chanel Coromandel, Mr Minx definitely notices when I wear this one, and not in a good way. Still, Tempo is one of my favorite fragrances and I hope never to be without some in my life.
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Posted by theminx on Minxstinks Note: this post is my opinion. I am not affiliated with the companies mentioned in this post or any other companies.