Diptyque Vs Jo Malone: Which Fragrance House Is Better?

We only feature products that we hope you will love. We may earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase through our links, at no cost to you.  

Torn between these two luxury candle and perfume houses to buy for your special someone? Check out out guide to Diptyque vs Jo Malone.

When it comes to scents, Diptyque and Jo Malone London are two of the most popular perfume and candle brands in the world.

They both have an extensive range of products, but what’s the difference between them? And which one should you choose if you want to smell the best you possibly can? In this article, we’ll compare these two brands to find out which one is better.

Even though Diptyque and Jo Malone are very similar on the surface, there is a difference. Both started out as brick-and-mortar stores, but in different parts of the world. Now, their products can be found both online and in department stores all over the world.

And what about those fragrances themselves? Which one do you choose when you’re looking for your signature scent? If you’re looking for something light with notes of citrusy bergamot or sweet vanilla bean mixed with rose petals—or something more daring like patchouli oil combined with vetivert amber resin—you’ll have no trouble finding it among either brand’s offerings.

Both companies have a very long history (almost 40 years for Diptyque) which shows through their extensive product ranges. They have both been around long enough to gain a loyal fan base of customers who are particularly interested in their unique scents.

Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift to give to someone or just a new candle to spruce up the coffee table in your living room, we’ve got you covered.

The History of Diptyque

The history of Diptyque dates back to 1961, when Christiane Gautrot, Desmond Knox-Leet, and Yves Coueslant decided to team up and open a boutique on the bohemian end of the Boulevard Saint-Germain in Paris. Their goal was simple: to sell their own fabrics that they had designed together.


Fast forward to today and you’ll find that Diptyque is one of the most prestigious niche fragrance houses worldwide. Their candles are world-renowned for their luxury and quality – they’re handmade from start to finish by artisans in France, using only the best ingredients.

Diptyque has since expanded its product line to include candles, home fragrances, bath products and even beauty products (its Rose Hand Lotion is a cult favorite).

An Overview of Jo Malone

From its humble beginnings in the kitchen of founder Jo Malone, to its current status as a worldwide brand, Jo Malone London has come a long way.


In 1983, then 21-year-old Jo Malone began her British beauty brand by crafting fragrances and scented candles from her kitchen. In 1994, she opened her first store in London; five years later, she sold the company to Estée Lauder Companies—but not before creating 47 unique scents, including Wood Sage & Sea Salt, which won the Marie Claire International Fragrance Awards prize for the most daring fragrance for women in 2015.

Now headquartered in New York City with offices in London and Tokyo, Jo Malone London is best known for its perfumes, beautiful candles, bath products and room scents.

The Main Differences Between Diptyque VS Jo Malone

These two brands offer interesting perfumes and luxurious candles in similar minimalist packaging, which makes them great gifts to give to a loved one or a special someone. While there are definite similarities between the two companies, there are also significant differences which we’ll explore below.

1. Burn Time

Another difference worth noting is how long a candle from each brand burns. One of the biggest differences between Diptyque and Jo Malone London is that Diptyque candles are made with a different type of wax which can affect the burn time. Paying a high price tag for a scented candle sounds intimidating, which is why you should go for a candle that lasts for a long time.

For example, a 6.5oz Diptyque scented candle has a burn time of about 60 hours, while a 7oz Jo Malone scented candle only has an approximate 45-hour burn time.

2. Candle Formulas

Both fragrance houses offer a variety of candles that can be used in different ways to create a specific mood. Diptyque’s candles are made with a high-quality vegetable/paraffin wax mix, while Jo Malone uses unique blends of soy wax and other waxes for their candles that vary depending on the fragrance used.

If you are someone who suffers from allergies, you may be better off choosing a soy-based Jo Malone candle, as paraffin-based candles can cause allergies to flare up and give some people headaches due to the chemicals that they release during the burn.

Editor’s note: Even though I own 3 Diptyque candles, I use them mostly as home decor because burning them makes my nose runny and my head hurt. This could be due to the paraffin used, or it could be that there is something else in the fragrance or candle formula that elicits this reaction. I also have a Jo Malone diffuser and have had no problems with it.

3. Price Of Fragrances

The hefty price tag of luxury fragrances can be intimidating, but that shouldn’t be a reason to shy away from them.

Both brands are known for their high-quality, ultra-luxurious products and have a loyal following of fans who are willing to pay a pretty penny for the experience. But while they may share a similar price point when it comes to candles and other home goods, Diptyque’s fragrances are slightly more expensive than Jo Malone’s.

For example, the Fleur de Peau from Diptyque retails at $190 for a 2.5oz bottle, while a 3.4oz bottle of Jo Malone bestseller Wood Sage and Sea Salt comes in at $155.

However, their candles are similarly priced. The Pomegranate Noir Scented Home Candle from Jo Malone comes in at $75 for a 7 oz jar, while the Baies / Berries Candle from Diptyque retails at $70 per 6.5oz jar.

If you’re buying their candles for the first time, you might be shocked at the price – but these luxury candles last longer than typical candles with their 45-60 hour burn time, so the price is worth it.

4. Popularity

In terms of popularity, Jo Malone London is definitely the more popular one when it comes to fragrances and colognes. This is because Jo Malone boasts a wide array of celebrity endorsers and users like Jimin from BTS, Kate Middleton, Megan Markle, etc.

However, when it comes to candles, we think the two brands are tied. While you see Diptyque candles everywhere on Pinterest and Instagram, Jo Malone definitely stands its own, too, even though the candles may not have such a wide cult following outside of the UK as their fragrances do.

Our Favorite Diptyque VS Jo Malone Products

If you’re looking for the best Diptyque VS Jo Malone products, we’ve got you covered. Our favorite Diptyque and Jo Malone products include their candles, fragrances and home fragrances.

1. Perfumes

Our Favorite Diptyque VS Jo Malone Products: Diptyque Philosykos
Get this perfume on Nordstrom
Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia perfume
Get this perfume on Nordstrom

Diptyque Philosykos is a woody aromatic fragrance for women and men, making it a unisex fragrance that is ideal for spring and summer.

The top notes of this fruity fragrance are fig Leaf and fig; middle notes are green notes and coconut; base notes are fig tree, woody notes and cedar.

When you first spray Philosykos on your skin, the intense glossy, deep green of fig leaves dancing in a gentle Mediterranean breeze hits you at first spray. As you breathe in its freshness, the scent evolves into something deeper—the fig tree becomes more prominent; its roots go deeper into the earth; its branches stretch out to embrace the sky above them.

The scent becomes more subtle as it melds with your own body chemistry: like an old friend who has been gone for too long but whose presence you’ve missed every day without knowing it until they returned to your life again.

However, if you’re looking for something different, consider the fruity and floral English Pear & Freesia by Jo Malone. Inspired by the scent of a freshly-picked pear in your garden on an autumn day, this fragrance is an ideal choice for summer and fall.

The nose behind this fragrance is Christine Nagel, who has created a scent that captures the essence of the fruit with its top notes of pear and melon while also blending in floral notes of freesia and rose. The base notes then finish things off with musk, patchouli, rhubarb, and amber.

The result is a fizzy pear spritz in your garden in the middle of summer—a perfect way to start your day or enjoy yourself through an afternoon walk around town.

2. Candles

Our Favorite Diptyque VS Jo Malone Products: Diptyque Baies
Get this candle on Nordstrom
Our Favorite Diptyque VS Jo Malone Products: Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede
Get this candle on Nordstrom

Diptyque candles are made from a high-quality wax mix that contains vegetable/paraffin, while Jo Malone London candles are made with specialty soy wax blends. Both offer long-lasting, deliciously-smelling scent experiences that add a little bit of luxury to your day.

While Diptyque offers dozens of amazing candle scents, our favorite is (perhaps boringly) their most popular candle, the Baies candle, with its fruity, sweet berry aroma. This is a great candle to have around your living room for a cozy night in, or even to have next to your bath next time you want to spend a relaxed night watching Netflix in a bubble bath.

Similar to Diptyque, Jo Malone offers multiple deliciously scented candles, but we’re particularly fond of the Peony & Blush Suede candle, which works perfectly as a bathroom candle (their diffusers are great for this use, too!).

The smell of the candle is adequately floral, as you would expect, but it also has underlying powdery notes. Plus, the suede adds a touch of complexity to the otherwise floral bouquet.

3. Bath / Body Products

Our Favorite Diptyque VS Jo Malone Products: Diptyque Lotion
Get this lotion on Nordstrom
Our Favorite Diptyque VS Jo Malone Products: Jo Malone Lime Basin & Mandarin Lotion
Get this reed diffuser on Nordstrom

Both Diptyque and Jo Malone have branched to offer multiple bath products, soaps, room sprays and diffusers in addition to their core products.

We love the look of Diptique’s luxurious Velvet hand lotion, which would look so elegant in any bathroom, especially if you have a special guest bathroom that you want to look presentable.

While Jo Malone also offers multiple hand lotions, we’re bigger fans of the brand’s diffusers. These diffusers come in the most popular scents that the brand offers, including the Lime, Basil & Mandarin scent, which is a great alternative for anyone who doesn’t like burning candles but wants their home to smell inviting.

The diffuser comes with 10 rattan reeds; the more you use, the more intense the fragrance.

Diptyque vs Jo Malone: Our Verdict

While the two brands are quite similar, it depends on your personal preference which one you should go for. As alluded to before, even though Diptyque candles last longer, their candles can give some people headaches if they’re particularly sensitive.

On the contrary, even though Jo Malone candles don’t last as long, their candles don’t seem to trigger such strong reactions as often. This could be partly due to the fact that the brand uses soy-wax in its high-end candles, or perhaps the fragrances have different, more allergy-friendly formulations.

With this said, if you aren’t particularly sensitive to strong formulations, both Diptyque and Jo Malone are excellent choices if you’re looking for high-quality scents with traditional perfumery at their core, with Diptyque potentially being the better option thanks to the longer burn time of their candles.

However, if you’re looking to purchase a new perfume and you want something a little less expensive, then Jo Malone may fit your needs better than Diptyque. Either way, both brands are great options, and it ultimately comes down to finding the best-scented product from either brand.

We hope you enjoyed this comparison between Diptyque vs Jo Malone, and that it made it easier for you to choose a gorgeous candle or new scent!

Get More Lifestyle Ideas

20 Best Luxury Candles That Look And Smell Gorgeous

Pottery Barn Vs Crate & Barrel: Which One Fits Your Style?

25 Most Expensive Blankets That Are Luxurious & Cozy

Browse All Lifestyle Posts

Similar Posts