nykeiko shops: Diptyque Sample Sale 2015 [March 2015 NYC Sample Sale]

Another year, another crazy Diptyque sample sale. See my review on Racked NY where I got to attend the friends and family portion of the sale. Even though it was a day early, there was a lot of 'friends and family' and all the good standard candles were sold out within the first hour. I got lucky with the Baies candles only because people had to give them up due to the 15-item limit per person.

This year, my haul is a lot smaller than previous years. For one, I am still using candles from last year's sale. Believe it or not, the only thing for me in the bunch is the Rosa Mundi candle and the Eau Rose body lotion which is a new product from last year. The rest is not for me. A colleague asked about my Do Son body lotion so I got one for him (to give to his wife aww) at half the retail price.
Even though it is a sample sale, $35 for candles is still not cheap. However, people still go crazy for this sale. The wait this morning was 2 to 4 hour long depending on when you got there. Saving ~40% on candles that never go on sale makes this sale one of the most successful sample sales in New York city.

My Diptyque sample sale 2014 haul [NYC February 2014 sample sale]

Diptyque sample sale 2014

Sooo maybe I did go a little bit crazy again but not as crazy as last year. In fact, I got so much stuff last year, we're still burning through it. To be fair, I bought a shit load of candles thinking I'd be giving them out as gifts for friends who travelled far to come to our wedding last summer. That didn't happen so I kept everything all for myself (to the husband's dismay) and maybe gave some away as gifts (maybe only one).

The prices of the standard candles went up by $5 this year but that didn't stop the crowd from shopping the sale. By the time I got there, there were no more standard candles in popular scents. There was also no more soaps which made nice gifts. This year, despite buying less, I paid a lot more. I grabbed some colored candles which are much bigger than the standard candles at 300 g each. I also got a Baies candle and oval set which would make a super nice gift .. for myself. I also got a 'Do Son' eau de toilette and body lotion as as well as a bottle of 'Eau Rose' natural spray. I love everything I got and it will last me well until next year's sale I am sure!

Thanks for stopping by!

x

My Diptyque sample sale haul 2013 [NYC sample sale]

The time around, the Diptyque sample sale was heavily covered in detail by Sample Sally and RackedNy so all I need to do is show you guys what I got right? Last year, I had a sad haul but this year was a different story...

[Update: My 2014 haul]

Diptyque me! Eau de Tarocco

After a long day at the lab, feeling exhausted and I finally get to sit down and focus on my data,  I like to dab on some aromatic cologne to help me focus and also get rid of the smell of a day's work.

Here is what I carry around in my bag daily and put on when I need to feel revived. It is Eau de Tarocco roll on cologne I picked up from Diptyque's sample sale.

I'm not good at describing scents so I took this from the web:

"It carries the exhilarating scent of the Mediterranean in winter. It calls to mind the sweet flavor of fresh-squeezed orange, just plucked from the tree".

I had no idea there was any citrus scent in it and I have no clue how the Mediterranean smells like in the Winter but I like it!

Ok, now, really, break time over, back to work. It's Friday!

My Diptyque sample sale shopping haul...not too interesting!

[Update: My 2013 haul here!]

My phone which also serves as my alarm clock died overnight because I didn't close the apps and my phone was half charged before going to bed therefore, my alarm did not go off and I woke up an hour past the beginning of the Diptyque sale. That's how the day started. I was contemplating going because I was late for work and also knew that all the good stuff were probably already picked through. So I quickly scan RackedNY blog and lineblogging mentioned a long wait and line. I still wanted to go and take my chance of showing up with low stock. My mind was set that the crowd will be gone soon because of the rain and there will be plenty of stock left so I should definitely go. All I wanted was ONE candle! I arrive almost two hours past start of the sale and saw a line outside. Dread.

Diptyque sample sale

When i entered the little sale space and at a glance, I knew the good stuff were taken ....empty space were candles were stacked high were empty and only two scent of candles no one wanted were left along with holiday candles which were the Spruce and vanilla plum fig whatever. Those were overstocked (on multiple tables) so plenty to pick from. But I'm happy that Baies and the other good stuff weren't there or else I would regret not coming earlier (stupid battery draining smart phones)..what was I thinking anyway, those were best sellers and would probably never end up at samples sale right? Right?!

They lied. They did do some restocking but only of the holiday candles from what I saw. What ran out were the mini coffrets which I got my hand on of the last two on the table (yay or else it would have been a disapointing morning), the body lotions were all gone and a couple of the colognes. There were plenty of perfume, body gels, roll on perfumes etc. all at more than 50% off.

Many people had box full of stuff...mini candles were $14 so this guy bought probably 20 of them on top of pretty much everything else that was at the sale.

This lady had a large box full..so did other people (ebay sellers?)

This was my box. Disappointing I know. I added Spruce candle right before checking out because I thought I MUST get at least one standard size candle while here!

There were actual men there. Running errands for their wives/gf or genuinely Diptyque loving fans?

My haul:

The mini gift coffret was $42 at the sale originally $88.

I wanted Feu de Bois but I really like the Pomander. These are holiday winter scents.

I am not sure why I got this.  I can carry this around and use it in case I smell bad. $24 (retail $48)

Last minute purchase because I wasn't going to walk out without a large candle

I love it!

Apparently the sale closed due to the large amount of crowd that were drawn to the sale so they shut down the rest of the afternoon and will re-open tomorrow. Can you believe how many people love Diptyque? Are they all like me? Never bought Diptyque before but still crazy enough to stand in line in the rain and cold for the sale?

{update, on the last day, i got me 2 for $30 candles}

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Diptyque sale in NYC- I'm there!

"It's a sign! I must get it!"
That's what I tell myself each time when there's a sale on something I've wanted for some time but contemplate about.

I always wanted to try candles from Diptyque but never got myself to paying $60 for ONE candle and hinting Dave to get me ONE candle as a gift for Xmas or Valentine's Day did not work. Diptyque candles are suppose to burn longer (up to 60 hours for the larger sizes) and scent diffuses uniformly as it burns. No excuse for the apartment to smell bad anymore not that it did! Update:**I just learned to my surprise from Diptyque's website that their candles are vegetable/paraffin wax mix-based. Paraffin is something I have been avoiding as I prefer the natural waxes and didn't mind paying a premium for it. I really didn't think their candle would use paraffin wax (probably explains the longer burn time and not some magical French candle recipe) or maybe it's a higher ratio of vegetable wax over paraffin? Candles from the dollar store are paraffin based candles too...just saying. Paraffin is a no-no apparently but not deadly toxic however, I burn candles by my face bedside sometimes so it's a health concern for me to be breathing that stuff in...hmm

I love candles, I buy them all the time and could buy more if Dave wasn't reminding me that I should finish what we have now before buying more. I really don't mind having "extra" candles lying around as I like to alternate between them from time to time. And if there's a blackout one day, I would be able to pay myself in the back. Anyway, we are down to 2 candles now so 'tis time to buy! I usually spend around a hefty $25-$35 per candle which usually burns for longer hours, soy or wax based, contain natural essential oils, have lead-free wick and all that good stuff that usually comes with a higher price. But never have I splurged on a $60 from Diptyque or Jo Malone and similar high-end brands of candles. So when there's a Diptyque sale where candles are rumored to be discounted as much as 50% off, I will go and stock up for sure! I hope the scents I like are there which are..je ne sais quoi since I've never tried them before. I only know that I like the 'Baies' one and I thought 'Feu de Bois' would be nice but maybe just for the Holidays as it makes me reminisce the days I had a fire place..and the smell..ahh..

I was surprised to hear about the sale? I wonder...are these old inventory they are trying to get rid of? Candles do go bad after some time right? Will the candles not be at their premium scent?

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