Some people simply don’t walk, they glide.
Floating around on their own fragrant cloud.
She is one of them.
Impossible to date, she was young once, but isn’t old now.
She used to dance for a living, they say.
Today she can still turn out both feet to a perfect point, but has no call to do so except yoga classes.
She was an artists’ model, her muse, his lover. Now she paints.
She still looks good in the nude.
Some people just won’t argue, they have an inner poise.
Smiling through conflict with wide open eyes.
She is one of them.
Impervious to labels, she wears floral kaftans, but isn’t remotely new age.
She may have been Buddhist, might still believe.
In the afternoon she lights tapers that give off a Papal-white smoke and the smell of flowers.
She was presented with bouquets back then, roses and irises. Mostly tuberoses.
She cultivates oranges now.
Some people aren’t solely clean, they glow from within.
Radiating fraternity, their spirits are free.
She is one of them.
Do Son by Diptyque is a scent that seems to operate on a separate and altogether higher plain.
Somehow it is set apart from the fray of normal fragrances, unwilling to compete on other perfumes’ terms.
It is sweet, floral, resinous and linear but in a way that defies the other aromas that normally accept these adjectives.
It starts almost as it ends, with a digitally clear tuberose levitating above orange flower, all the time being held aloft by an improbably clean benzoin.
In the depths of the floral heart there are tea roses and a buttery iris that adds a creamy complexion.
Much further in and towards the end there is a little musk.
None of which does justice to the piece as a whole.
This is a work of elusive, yet embracing and ethereal excellence.
Being above the cut and thrust of normal things Do Son will not concern itself overly with petty questions of gender.
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy.
The Perfumed Dandy. 
What a lovely review! Do Son must be very lovely. I must try it sometime. I like the idea of that benzoin note.
Dearest Lily
Thank you as always for the kind words.
You know The Dandy was puzzling for some time over what could be giving Do Son such a light and aerated feel, totally different to the passionate richesse of most tuberose perfumes… and I’ve come to the conclusion that it must be the bezoin.
As I say in the review, it seems to lift the whole structure up and it a quality a little like very pure incense, here I doubt mean the scent but the effect of wisps of smoke wafting through.
What of course I should also have said is that that Do Son has a wonderfully generous sillage without being cloying and literally lasts all day… something almost unheard of on The Dandy’s skin.
Splendid scent it is.
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
Now I will not rest until I try it!
Oh, Mr. Dandy — you are playing my song. This is was my once upon a time favorite scent, a glorious clean floral. And then, Mr. Lanier, introduced me to Mohur and I’ve been heading down the spice and chypre routes ever since.
My Dear Ms Lester
Well, you know The Dandy is a chypre sort himself at heart, but there is something so refined, by which I mean pared back and purified, about Do Son that it really else something else.
It demands a place in The Dandy’s wardrobe!
It is to other solfilores as song is to everyday speech… perhaps that’s why the review did indeed come out in the form of a lyric.
I’m not surprised that you were attracted to this, you are in perfume as all other things a woman of great taste!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
Even though this scent isn’t in my normal style I find myself enchanted by your portrayal. If I ever come across Diptyque perfumes anywhere, I will have to have a sniff!
Dear Nadja
Do try it, it really isn’t the kind of perfume that the notes would suggest… it’s no Fracas or Amarige.
I’m not sure everyone would like it, but it’s nothing less than interesting. So, yes, definitely worth a sniff.
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
Well, my objection is really more along the lines of this being a bit too light and airy rather than too heavy on the tuberose… Because I actually LOVE tuberose and find both Fracas and Amerige to be quite my style! I hate most floral scents… To me most are too light, too pretty, too feminine. But I do enjoy tuberose, carnation and iris! I like their gender-bender qualities! My as of yet elusive signature scent could very well be something like a leather tuberose, a tobacco iris or a bay rum carnation. 😉
Dearest Nadja
Thank you so much for this note because it raises a very relevant point about use of language in relation to Do Son.
‘Light’ can often be used to describe a fragrance that is a little weaker, softer or less concentrated. Indeed I have used it myself in this way.
However, that’s not the case with Do Son… far from it!!
This is an intense perfume with a powerful projection and extended longevity.
The lightness I was trying to described has been better captured by another reader as ‘sheerness’, there is an almost translucent quality to the spray that might put others off, but has drawn me in…
Now I can’t help thinking that the more I write, the more I might be confusing the point… probably best to give this one a try next time to chance upon it!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
Good afternoon Sir TPD! You’re spot on with the idea that this perfume reflects a modern day spirituality – I know quite a few spiritual therapists with Buddhist leanings, you have to admire their dedication to consciousness – hard work, phew! You really conjure that up in this review. I think many of the Dipyques have this quality (I adore Philosykos in summer) but can’t love this perfume because of the tuberose, it’s a note I can never seem to get my nose around, though I know it’s very far removed from a Fracas diva in this version!
Dear Rose
The Dandy had the exact same thing with tuberose until quite recently and then, well, something just seemed to click.
I perhaps wouldn’t wear Fracas or Amarige that often, but this, as you rightly say, is a different beast… there is a quality like down falling through warm air about it.
Perhaps one day you, like me, will here the call of the tuberose and will no where to go looking!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
I have paid for her, I have her upstairs. I have never loved her. I just have not been able to. But having read this beauty, I may have to sit with eyes glued to thy screen, and my nose glued to my wrists….
Dearest Ginza
I smelt her first on a friend in Le Bonne Marche in Paris when it was two degrees below zero outside and it just sang to me there and then.
More remarkably, throughout that cold day only it and the Cuir de Russie I had on managed to see off the scent killing cold.
Other much more potent brews fell frostbitten to the wayside but her clear tones rose above the catastrophically chilly climes.
I would give her another go, in my experience liking tuberose and this scent in particular is a little bit akin to appreciating ballet. First off its absurd and one just wants to laugh, then something clicks inside and suddenly its not funny in a ridiculous way just ridiculously lovely.
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
D’lin’ it’s not the tuberose.
That I ALWAYS adore.
It’s that fake sandalwood basenote that kills me. I have worn it once, in huge dose, and once only.
But the memories you describe are exquisite, and that is how perfumes and the love of them are born.
Dearest G
You know, as I was writing my note to you above I kept thinking that I’d read a review of yours, or perhaps an aside, extolling the virtues of T’Rose… and I was right.
So haven poppycock to paper, we’re left with an obtrusive synthetic sandalwood.
I just don’t get this at all, I mean sandalwood whether fake or friend. Just florals, a little spice and bucketloads of benzoin… one of the few sweet notes that I actually get along with.
I must say, where I am with you in totality is on application, this is one to use sparingly as sillage and longevity are incredible.
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
Assiduosity I am also in love with this one! Just tested it a few days ago myself and am rapturously and completely in love! I must acquire a full bottle or I will have no happiness!!!!! The review is absolutely spot on!!!
Dearest Rosa
You know, I had a feeling in my bones that you might like this one… isn’t it exquisite!?!
It has an intensity that seems impossible given how simultaneously light it is, a grandeur at odds with its own informality.
There’s something at once invigorating and comforting about it.
It’s just delightful.
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
This makes my heart blush with the delicate curious affection of the first morning with someone.
This is so so nice Dandy dearest.
Such gentle yet intimate writing.
S.
Dearest Sylvia
The Dandy is all blushes with your most touching compliment.
Thank you most awfully.
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
Mr. Dandy, did you wear the edt or edp? I’ve just read there are two versions, and apparently the tuberose is more concentrated in the edp. I’m thinking of ordering a sample, probably edt, and wondering if that was the one you reviewed. Thank you.
Dearest Lily
‘Twas the EdT.
Really I find this potent enough, recourse to the EdP with this fragrance is for, The Dandy at least, unnecessary.
Yous ever
The Perfumed Dandy
I’m so glad you like this too. The criticism I’ve heard is of its sheerness – but this is exactly what I love about it. The beauty of the scent of tuberose but made gauzy or aerated as you say. Beautiful.
Dear
Lorraine
Welcome again to The Dandy’s!
You have captured the essence of the scent in that one word ‘sheerness’ and yes, it is that quality that attracts The Dandy too!
Thank you for your illuminating note.
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
Lovely. I enjoy Do Son as well; I have the solid, such a luxurious, reassuringly real object in the hands…
Dear Unseen
Ooooh. Yes I can imagine that is a very pleasant object to have in one’s possession…
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy