Olène 1988

Olène by Diptyque
Bottle Design:
Servaire&Co
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7.1 / 10 201 Ratings
A perfume by Diptyque for women and men, released in 1988. The scent is floral-fresh. It is being marketed by Manzanita Capital.
Pronunciation
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Main accords

Floral
Fresh
Green
Sweet
Powdery

Fragrance Notes

JasmineJasmine HoneysuckleHoneysuckle NarcissusNarcissus WisteriaWisteria

Perfumer

Ratings
Scent
7.1201 Ratings
Longevity
7.3141 Ratings
Sillage
7.0144 Ratings
Bottle
8.0145 Ratings
Value for money
6.950 Ratings
Submitted by Pazuzu, last update on 07/01/2025.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to
Hanbury by Maria Candida Gentile
Hanbury
Absolue Jasmin Précieux / Precious Jasmine Absolute by Panier des Sens
Absolue Jasmin Précieux
Hummingbird by Zoologist
Hummingbird
Full (Eau de Parfum) by Al Rehab
Full Eau de Parfum
White Flowers by Creed
White Flowers
Jasmin Full by Montale
Jasmin Full

Reviews

13 in-depth fragrance descriptions
8
Scent
Ysbrand

84 Reviews
Ysbrand
Ysbrand
Helpful Review 7  
Triumph of Flora
I had smelled Olène some years earlier and i remembered it as a particularly intoxicating white floral so i was very looking forward to smell it again; when i did in my last visit to the Diptyque store in Paris, i had the same exact feeling of wonder and i celebrated the reunion with this vernal goddess by getting myself one bottle that i don´t really need because i already have perfume for an average lifespan.
The opening of Olène is to me, one of the most beautiful and perfect i´ve ever smelled. Serve the illustration on the label (now in the back of the flaÇon) as a promise of the content: Flora holding a cornucopia of flowers, therefore spring-like, seductive and lush as very few other fragances, Olène does to narcissus what Guerlain´s Mahora does to tuberose.
Olène is indeed a very narcissus centered fragance, could i dare to say a soliflore? I speak with Oléne-tinged fingertips on the keyboard and the nose on a helpful "bridal-crown" narcissus that grows on a lil pot just at my side (yeah,im literally twisting my head to sniff and type at the same time just for the sake of being truthful) so contrarily to other opinions, im convinced when i say the note of narcissus is dominant.
The glorious opening, though, is much sunnier and sweeter than narcissus itself, thanks to what it seems to be a honeyed spanish broom-like accord (wisteria indeed? pseudoacacia? fabaceae after all) and i think thats the key of the right-away climax of Olène. Wisteria sweetens but also enhances the tonic herbaceous side of narcissus, that almost reminds to a slightly astringent green tea. As the fragance develops,looses the sunbeams holy nimbus, but not its beauty. It turns more sober, falsely melancholic just because its eyes look better that way, a subtle flirty smile; narcissus takes the center, closely assisted by jasmine and gardenia without dilluting the unique ambiguous, voluptuous character of narcissus. A nostalgic honeysuckle pulls in the other direction of jasmine: greener, more yellow, tad honey and pear-like. Olène stays quite linear, closer and closer to the skin until is just a whisper.
My only problem with Olène is precisely its longevity. I dont mind it becomes my skin scent (i wish!) but it should stay longer. Fades too fast to take it seriously. A looser hand with the narcissus absolute and this would be a classic. Diptyque really needs to launch an eau de parfum concentration version as they did with other iconic fragances.
1 Comment
10
Bottle
7.5
Sillage
7.5
Longevity
10
Scent
MasterLi

375 Reviews
MasterLi
MasterLi
6  
Like a garden full of flowers...
You know, it's not easy to review perfumes sometimes... I get lost in the description and everything, and I don't always find the right words, but this one is just such a natural, peaceful smell for me. It's like standing in a summer garden full of beautiful flowers. I can't really describe it any better than that (but of course I'll try)!

Diptyque - Olène is inspired by gardens in the city of Venice, where jasmine grows along walled gardens. Personally, this strikes me more as a garden surrounded by nature, not buildings. The notes work together in such harmony that it feels like you're really there! Jasmine is the main note, but green, and supported by more "green" notes, but also some very intense florals (which I'm not good at describing), like Narcissus, Wisteria, Honeysuckle etc. But like I said, this just reminds me of sitting or standing in a garden absolutely full of all the heady, intoxicating flowers you can think of. It's very floral, but also green and sheer, and I have no problem wearing it in summer or in winter.

I think if you are someone who likes very natural smelling floral notes, or enjoy the smell of being in a garden, and working with plants, then you may fall in love with this one. How they managed to put all this in one bottle I have no idea... but it smells wonderful! Really lovely.
0 Comments
7
Bottle
6
Sillage
7
Longevity
8
Scent
Missk

1357 Reviews
Missk
Missk
Helpful Review 3  
Crisp, Green Jasmine
Olene by Diptyque is a very natural interpretation of jasmine. It smells just like a jasmine bush in full bloom with the green stem and leaves included. I do love the way Diptyque does their white florals as they incorporate the whole garden and not just the flowers themselves.

Olene is the perfect Spring-time fragrance as it is both fresh and energising. It has an almost vintage charm about it, like something I would expect to smell on a wealthy lady born in the early 1900's at an English tea party. Matching this fragrance to a literary character, I would choose Diana Barry from Anne of Green Gables.

I stumbled upon Olene as a common recommendation for a wedding day scent. For a Spring wedding in a garden type setting, yes this would indeed be perfect. I don't wear many jasmine based soliflores, but for my own wedding I'd be happy to make the exception.

Olene's composition is a little linear, being predominantly jasmine from start to finish. Wisteria, honeysuckle and daffodil sweeten the scent only slightly, never to overpower the ultra-dominant jasmine accord.

I will need to wear Diptyque's Olene a few more times to fully assess how it wears on my skin so I can decide whether or not it makes the wedding day cut. So far I am impressed by both its scent and bold projection. It's definitely one of the better niche white florals on the market today.
0 Comments
LiliumLibido

51 Reviews
LiliumLibido
LiliumLibido
4  
The stealth naughty ghost from a good family
That's the best way I can describe Olène, lol.
Upon application, it's a beautiful, fresh, soft jasmine/narcissus/wisteria combo, it even promises to be fairly linear. Well behaved, not a hair out of place. But just wait. Go about your day, pay it no attention.
The scent will fade and you will think "Meh. Another wimp with a big price tag. Figures."
As you put it out of your mind and get through your day, suddenly, you get a whiff. Jasmine. Sweaty, skin like jasmine. Jasmine that hasn't washed when she really should have. Pretty, but dirty.
And then POOF!... It's gone.
You sit in that meeting at work and you get big smiles from people whom you were sure didn't even know you existed. And then a whiff. Narcissus. Luminescent and glorious, fresh... Then nothing.
You sit in traffic, thinking of the evening ahead and there, another whiff. Honeysuckle with jasmine. Sweaty, dirty, yet clean and soft, so feminine it's almost disturbing. Sunny and dewy at once. Then, it's gone.
You sit with a good book and can't focus on the story because there again, whiff. Musk and narcissus, tinged with barely a soupçon of jasmine. And you blush. You even smell your own armpits to make sure things haven't gone awry in that department, lol.
But no.
Getting ready for bed, you undress and smell the cuff of your blouse and your mind goes reeling: You're feeling sexy, all of a sudden!
The scent whispers throughout hours of wearing. It's pretty, feminine, classy, well bred, yet it has the ability to behave in the most suggestive manner.
Definitely a keeper.
0 Comments
9
Scent
ScentFan

334 Reviews
ScentFan
ScentFan
Helpful Review 2  
Rediscovered
Trotting through my favorites, some of which I haven't worn for a while, I put this on yesterday. To me the strongest note is Jasmine, made deeply alluring by Narcissus, Wisteria and Honeysuckle in delightful accompaniment. On first sniff this is compelling and it remains so as it softens over time. I wish it lasted longer, but 3-4 hours of heaven is pretty good. I bought this early on during a Jasmine Sniff Fest and my nose has grown smarter over the past couple of years. I can now compare it to narcotic Jasmine others: Rodin Olio Lusso and Kiss My Name by Ramon Monegal, for example. Olène more than holds its own.
0 Comments
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Statements

4 short views on the fragrance
StarMajestyStarMajesty 9 months ago
8
Scent
Beautiful scent, but has a strong personality that I just can't carry.
0 Comments
1Banane1Banane 1 year ago
This perfume is alright once you get past that strong moth ball indolic jasmin opening.
Full dry down has a soft white floral with brief weartime.
0 Comments
KuraiKurai 2 years ago
7
Sillage
6
Longevity
5
Scent
The type of jasmine scent that you get in lots of soaps and body care products. The creamy honeysuckle does not help in this case
0 Comments
BamBamNYCBamBamNYC 2 years ago
9
Bottle
7
Sillage
5
Longevity
8
Scent
Clean cheery honeysuckle jasmine
0 Comments

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