Eau Capitale 2020 Eau de Parfum

Eau Capitale (Eau de Parfum) by Diptyque
Bottle Design:
Illustration: Pierre Marie
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7.9 / 10 344 Ratings
A popular perfume by Diptyque for women and men, released in 2020. The scent is floral-spicy. It is being marketed by Manzanita Capital.
Pronunciation
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Main accords

Floral
Spicy
Fresh
Woody
Earthy

Fragrance Notes

RoseRose PatchouliPatchouli BergamotBergamot MossMoss Pink pepperPink pepper

Perfumer

Ratings
Scent
7.9344 Ratings
Longevity
7.9279 Ratings
Sillage
7.5284 Ratings
Bottle
8.3259 Ratings
Value for money
7.1156 Ratings
Submitted by OPomone, last update on 07/29/2025.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to
Eau Capitale (Parfum Cheveux) by Diptyque
Eau Capitale Parfum Cheveux
Eau Capitale (Parfum Solide) by Diptyque
Eau Capitale Parfum Solide
Portrait of a Lady (Eau de Parfum) by Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle
Portrait of a Lady Eau de Parfum
Paris - Paris by Chanel
Paris - Paris
Chypre Sublime by Floral Street
Chypre Sublime
Gris Dior / Gris Montaigne (Eau de Parfum) by Dior
Gris Dior Eau de Parfum

Reviews

11 in-depth fragrance descriptions
8
Bottle
8
Sillage
8
Longevity
10
Scent
KimJong

64 Reviews
KimJong
KimJong
Very helpful Review 9  
The scent of thousands of roses
I bought Eau Capitale last year and I've already emptied a bottle, although I shared it with my wife. It's not only wearable but also outstanding in every way, originality and performance. I'm considering it to be the best work of Diptyque and going to put it back in my collection in soon.

Now let's compare this with L'Ombre Dans L'Eau, which is very well known rose perfume, among Diptyque's existing works. L'Ombre Dans L'Eau is a complete representation of the scent of a wet red rose, so to speak. That contains all the green fresh scents of leaves and a stem, in addition to the colorful and seductive scents of a rose and a bud. By comparison, this one, Eau Capitale is the scent of thousands of roses what are blooming in a moist greenhouse. As soon as you open the greenhouse, you can feel the scent of many flowers with strong vitality. They are young buds just about to bloom, firmly rooted in the oily soil, and in pretty ceramic pots. That is my impression of Eau Capitale.

Eau capitale is a type of perfume that not only satisfies myself but also pleases others. We can divide the compliments that we hear when wearing some perfume into several levels. Words just like "You smell good" or "What perfume are you wearing?" can be mere ceremonial greetings. But if someone sniffs constantly and repeat "Somewhere smells incredibly good!", so it means your smell is really good. I heard a lot of compliments at that level when I wore the Eau Capitale, and I could see cultured and sophisticated people walking around me and repeating compliments like that. Of course it's because of the scent of Eau Capitale itself that anyone can easily enjoy, but it's also because there are still very few people who wear it.

I've been wearing this steadily for the past year, so I'll also be able to comment on the weather and season. Eau Capitale works well at any time, except on cold days when temperatures drop below zero Celsius. However, even in winter, there's no problem if you wear it indoors. What I would like to say in particular is that this is more affected by humidity than temperature. Eau Capitale, like L'Ombre Dans L'Eau, gives off a much more vivid scent in wet weather: the scent of REAL roses. I think it's the best weather to wear Eau Capitale on a drizzling day, a dark cloud day, and a thick fog day.

Eau Capitale can be worn regardless of gender and age, but it has a very fancy and showy scent, so it may not be appropriate for casual attire or frugal gatherings. But surely that's not to say at all it's too formal perfume. And, blind buy? If you like the scent of rose or have already tried L'Ombre Dans L'Eau and like it, you won't fail. But only if you like the glamorous flower scent and the scent of nature with the strong projection. What if you already have another rose perfumes? Eau Capitale is very original perfume with no alternative, at least so far now in 2021, so you'll never feel bored.

Despite my poor English writing, I hope this review will help someone.
0 Comments
10
Bottle
7
Sillage
8
Longevity
9
Scent
Elysium

888 Reviews
Elysium
Elysium
4  
A Bridge Between Past And Present
A Subversive Parisian Chypre. I find myself once again seduced by a genre I ordinarily avoid. I, who wage a quiet battle against chypres, have been hopelessly entranced by Diptyque’s first chypre—an olfactory ode to the Ville Lumière. But this is no ordinary chypre; it is rebellion, revolution bottled. It departs from the ancestral formula to embrace a diaphanous modernity: less oppressive, free of the suffocating opulence that defines its forebears. Here, moss is not a tyrant imposing its will upon the other accords, but a diplomat, generously ceding ground to floral notes and verdant ingredients. A vintage soul breathing contemporary air.

On first spray, Diptyque’s unmistakable DNA materialises like a fragrant ghost—an invisible yet indelible signature instantly recognised by anyone familiar with L'Ombre dans L'Eau Eau de Toilette. The initial rose–patchouli accord proves prophetic. What invades the senses first are the balsamic, camphorous, mentholated—and faintly sweaty—nuances of cumin seed, accompanied by a flourish of pink pepper dancing upon the olfactory stage, and the bitter tang of citrus zest. The pepper marks the first deviation from a classic chypre. Ubiquitous bergamot appears green, unripe, and tart. A sour sweetness emerges, but the cool spice of pink pepper and cumin rules this opening scene. Beneath the surface, a whispering rose gently caresses the nose, its slightly metallic facets evoking geranium. Those wary of cumin can rest assured: its presence is fleeting, a brief actor making a swift exit. The first impression, then, is of a sweaty, earthy rose essence with spicy, fruity accents—never crude, yet unmistakably present.

After a few moments of patient waiting, the scented rose of deep garnet hue takes centre stage. It is a masterful fusion of Turkish and Bulgarian qualities: silky, perfectly integrated with the peppery opening and looming moss. This sanguine rose emerges green, waxy, mossy, and dewy, with an almost virile undertone—earthy but neither gelatinous nor decaying. It possesses considerable depth without ever feeling oppressive. I picture not a bud atop a thorny stem poised to bloom—its scent forcing you to lean in to perceive it—but rather petals of a spent bloom falling upon a carpet of muddy, withered leaves, dirtied by damp earth and soaked in morning dew, the surrounding air suffused with a mossy aroma detectable even at a distance. At its heart, foliage collides with florals. A trained nose discerns a faint warm spice courtesy of clove and cinnamon bark. I also detect a honeyed aroma, surprisingly imparted by yellow ylang-ylang butter and a whisper of white jasmine absolute. I adore floral compositions crafted thus—drifting towards a genderless, modern, and energetic direction.

Woods, leaves, and amber form the final phase. True to form, the moss remains restrained—evernyl replaces oakmoss—yet it carries the salty, smoky, woody character of the Ambrofix molecule. As it dries down, amber facets deepen. Patchouli, present from the outset, becomes distinctly herbaceous and more prominent, lending the depth that contrasts with the florals, occasionally revealing the woody, rooty tones of vetiver. What ultimately clings close to the skin, leaving a seductive trail, is a patch of crisp, piquant ambered woodiness familiar from many modern niche and indie creations.

As for longevity and sillage, Eau Capitale does not disappoint. It is rather potent and surprisingly long-lasting. Given the facets I perceived on a dull February day, I deem it ideal for the shoulder seasons, though it may yield pleasant surprises on humid summer evenings. What begins with feminine traits evolves towards more masculine aspects, forging an olfactory bridge between genders. It is, without doubt, a marvellous creation.
One aspect perhaps worthy of further exploration is how this fragrance interacts with different environments: how it behaves indoors versus in open air, how it transforms with body heat across various climates, and how it engages with personal memories and the cultural associations Paris evokes. There is also the intriguing manner in which Olivier Pescheux has reinterpreted the chypre concept—rendering it contemporary while maintaining ties to the French perfumery tradition.

This review is based on a bottle I have owned since January 2025, an olfactory companion through numerous experiences and moments of reflection.

— Elysium
0 Comments
6
Pricing
5
Bottle
7
Sillage
7
Longevity
6
Scent
Zowie

54 Reviews
Zowie
Zowie
2  
Eau Capitale vs Portrait of a Lady
I'm glad I sprayed this again before reviewing as I think I needed some time to sit with this one. I currently have POAL on one wrist and Eau Capitale on the other.

Eau Capitale is a very powdery, soapy pink rose with patchouli, pepper, bergamot and a hint of cinammon/woodiness and ylang ylang. It's quite girly and feminine in my opinion, and a bit sweet, aldehydey. POAL on the other hand is deep and rich, with a warm woodiness, subtle dark berry accord, and dominant frankincense note that I don't find in this perfume — it's less powdery sweet and more incensey and complex.

If they are at all comparable, and I would venture to say they're distant relatives, Eau Capitale is the chic and bubbly Parisian girl in white (fresh and bright), and POAL is the gothic and mysterious seductress in crimson (dark and brooding).

I think Eau Capitale could be suitable for daily wear, unlike POAL. I am not entirely convinced that I love it, I guess I wasn't expecting it to be so powdery and sweet. It borders on parma violets/candy for me. The citrus is too prominent for my taste. But as it dries down it gets smoother and I enjoy it slightly more. I can't help but feel that it's not quite as naturalistic as I would like.
0 Comments
7
Pricing
8
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7
Sillage
9
Longevity
8.5
Scent
Nysimum

2 Reviews
Nysimum
Nysimum
1  
Uncomplicated, elegant chypre
What a lovely fragrance!

I’m a bit wary with sweet-spicy leaning woody notes like patchouli and sandalwood, as they easily turn overly sweet or masculine on my skin. However, based on other Diptyque fragrances I like (Do Son EdT, Eau Rose EdT/EdP, L’Eau Papier…), the salesperson suggested I took a whiff of Eau Capitale.

On the tester strip, it’s what it says on the tin. There aren’t many notes, and they are all there (pink peppercorn only faintly), in a good way. Upon spraying it on my skin, I was immediately disappointed: there it was, the pungent, spicy sweet kick that I feared. But by its side, an elegant and bright ode to rose in bloom, accompanied by a fresh but rounded bergamot.

To my relief, the sharp opening evaporated very quickly (within minutes), leaving me with a straightforward, sophisticated chypre. Apart from the sharpness, the dry-down remained surprisingly true to the opening. The bergamot tagged along with surprising persistence; the rose stayed fresh for hours and eventually wilted into a velvety afterscent rather than dusty powderiness; I even made peace with the patchouli, which settled into a sensual earthiness with just a touch of sweetness.

Longevity is good on my skin; I forgot to note how long it lasted, exactly, but at least a good 6 hours, probably another 1–2h.

Eau Capitale is now firmly on my wishlist! It probably won't find its way in my shopping bag until fall, as I want to indulge citrusy fresh and aquatic scents over summer. But come fall...
0 Comments
8
Pricing
7
Bottle
7
Sillage
9
Longevity
9
Scent
Kohaku

15 Reviews
Kohaku
Kohaku
3  
An Elegant, Intriguing Rose
Composed of just a few notes, this is simple but stunning. The shining star is of course rose, and is the scent of a room full of them in full bloom. The opening of this fragrance fills my flat when I spray it. It subsides into something gently peppery and citrusy that as you get whiffs of it throughout the day, recaptures your interest every time. I dislike pepper intensely most of the time, and gregarious citrus often bores me. This is combined so masterfully though that I may need to reconsider this opinion, lest I miss out some other masterpieces. I put this one away except for fall and winter, such is its strength. It makes me a bit sick in the heat. But saved for the right season, this is as another reviewer so aptly said: cool, elegant, and flirty.
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Statements

12 short views on the fragrance
KuraiKurai 3 years ago
7
Sillage
7
Longevity
8
Scent
Rose-patchouli with peppery bergamot opening and a drydown of patchouli dust. Cool, elegant and flirty at the same time. Very nice.
0 Comments
Jbl775Jbl775 2 years ago
10
Bottle
8
Sillage
8
Longevity
9.5
Scent
A velvety rose, mixed with earthy patchouli. Amazing, i dont know what to say anymore. Just go and try it.
0 Comments
InbnkInbnk 3 years ago
8
Bottle
8
Sillage
9
Longevity
9
Scent
Very underrated rose fragrance. Nice rose and patchouli. Nearly closed to Portrait of a lady on opening but become soft powdery drydown.
0 Comments
TheDunkPapaTheDunkPapa 9 months ago
8
Bottle
7
Sillage
7
Longevity
8.5
Scent
This initially fooled me into smiling: A chypre! But as the rose and ozonic, peppery patchouli developed instead, my smile - only widened.
0 Comments
CieloMasaCieloMasa 2 years ago
7
Bottle
6
Sillage
6
Longevity
6
Scent
Unbearably sweet, too creamy and cloy. Eau Capitale gives me instant headaches, end of story.
0 Comments
RjudgeRjudge 2 months ago
Mature- a deep smell that always smells a bit powdery to me. Clingy a little. Smells vintage. Not for me really
0 Comments
Tealight10Tealight10 10 months ago
Elegant, beautifully balance fragrance. Mature full bodied rose combined with a sophisticated patchouli. The effect is timeless, almost crystalline.
0 Comments
YennYenn 2 years ago
For me, this one is more about dumped violets than a misterious bedwitching dark rose!
0 Comments
MissBiscuitsMissBiscuits 2 years ago
9
Bottle
4
Sillage
5
Longevity
9
Scent
As with most diptyque scents, this is definitely unisex, even with rose as the predominant note. For me the longevity is poor, but that's ok
0 Comments
PedroCabralPedroCabral 3 years ago
9
Bottle
8
Sillage
8
Longevity
8
Scent
Amazing! Initially it is dry, but ends up mixing very well with the rose and patchouli. Good performance that stands out from others of the
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