Diptyque Bleecker — Local services in New York

This review doesn’t speak to the quality of products here, it speaks exclusively to the abysmal service. And I’m a writer who’s bored between assignments at the holidays, so this will be fun.

I struggle to remember a time when I’ve been treated more sourly and judgmentally. I won’t say rudely, because the personnel were very careful to use professional verbiage, in a way that was intended to create a divide between us and prove they were in charge without being provably out of line. But the distaste I was met with for simply trying to exchange an item I had unpackaged and used once was completely inappropriate. There is absolutely nothing wrong with seeking an exchange of a product that’s been tested and didn’t work out. The store doesn’t have to allow it, but nor should it meet the attempt with disapproval that dramatically conflicts with the cheery attitude presented when the customer was making the purchase. That’s just gross and greedy for such a classy perfumery.

I’m always fair in berating an establishment and I’ll admit I did not read the literature at the end of the receipt saying that opened items could not be returned. But here’s why I still felt it wasn’t unreasonable to try to exchange my item…

The store made two unequivocal mistakes. One, if you have a policy this rigid (Le Labo accepts opened-item returns and exchanges within a number of days, for example), it 100% needs to be stated verbally at the time of sale. But they don’t want to do this because it might prevent that sale. This is misleading.

Two, the salesperson who sold me this hair fragrance yesterday, a tall, soft-spoken woman with dark hair (I try to avoid referencing personal characteristics, but there’s no other way to ensure the right people will be held responsible), told me more than once that it was an OUD fragrance. The salesperson who issued my refund today said, saltily, that this was NOT an oud, when I said “I’m usually fine with ouds.” When I said “She told me it was yesterday,” in reference to the woman who had sold it to me, I got no apology. Only a continuation of the pursed lips and judgment she had met me with at the beginning of our encounter. If your personnel make a mistake in describing a product, there should be accountability. I certainly apologized for not reading the receipt.

I EXCHANGED, not RETURNED, this item within 24 hours of purchase. I did mention that it had made me feel nauseas, which is NOT insulting and should be viewed the same way as an allergy, because I very well could be allergic to this fragrance and that could be why it caused a headache and nausea. If Diptyque can’t handle an honest review of the effect of a product, all I can say is that lack of fortitude and receptiveness to honesty on their part is not my problem. The petite and very pretty African American woman who bore a hole through my head, glaring at me as she decided my fate, had her eyebrows raised and her lips pursed like a sphincter, as if I was trying to run a scam OR obviously didn’t have enough money to be a valuable customer (I did look like an Olsen twin minus the money and the Kelly bag, but this ain’t Pretty Woman and I’m not tolerating that archaic appearance-based belittlement)…and I STILL smiled and apologized. She could have mustered the same strength.

I’m left wondering why they gave me the exchange at all. They had to realize they had provided the polar opposite experience that would entice a person to spend hundreds of dollars in a luxury store. You don’t go into a shop with this price point to be made to feel small and scolded, you go for the reverse effect…to feel welcomed and special. So why give me a “one-time exception?” From the moment she walked through the back doors, the second woman had to know I was going to leave a scathing review whether she took the product back or not. You don’t speak to a customer who’s willing to spend $250 on a bottle of eau de parfum like she’s your naughty toddler and think you’re going to get away with it. But maybe that’s just my intelligence level...

**한국인 분들께, 그냥 면세에서 사세요.

The moment you step onto Bleecker Street, the Diptyque boutique commands your attention with a facade as elegant as it is inviting. Upon entering, you are immediately enveloped by the brand’s signature scents—a heady, intoxicating sea of fragrance that promises sensory delight.

Yet the experience quickly reveals the store’s selective choreography. The privilege of engaging with the staff, of exploring the collection under their guidance, seems reserved for those deemed ready to purchase. Despite my expressed interest in several perfumes, no one approached me. Their attention remained firmly fixed on customers who, in their eyes, appeared more likely to buy.

I had come seeking both candles and fragrances, but the subtle chill of indifference left me with nothing in hand. For a brand I deeply admire, the encounter was bittersweet: the beauty of the space and its products undeniable, yet the warmth and inclusivity one hopes for in such a sensory sanctuary...

Absolutely fantastic experience at Bleecker Street store. I hosted clients there for a holiday event, and it couldn’t have gone better. The store was incredibly accommodating, and the staff’s deep knowledge of their products really stood out. They didn’t just introduce us to the fragrance —they told the story behind each scent, making the experience even more captivating. Each fragrance had its own narrative, and it was amazing to hear how the blends were crafted and the inspiration behind them. The whole store experience was seamless, and everyone had a wonderful time. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a unique, immersive scent experience! The store even offers free engravings on perfumes and candles. Five stars...