Diptyque faces backlash for ‘marked up mosquito coil’ after selling luxury incense

10 Jun 2026 • 11:03 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Diptyque faces backlash for ‘marked up mosquito coil’ after selling luxury incense

  • French luxury brand Diptyque is facing widespread ridicule for its new £39 ($52) "scented spiral," which social media users claim is nearly identical to inexpensive mosquito coils commonly used in Asia.
  • The "scented spiral," part of Diptyque's Summer Water Garden collection, is marketed as a luxury outdoor fragrance designed to create an "outdoor oasis" with "relaxing notes."
  • Online users, particularly from India and the Philippines, are comparing the product to traditional mosquito coils that cost as little as 24p, joking about the "gentrification" of a common household item.
  • This controversy echoes previous instances where luxury brands like Prada and Dior faced backlash for selling items resembling traditional cultural products without proper acknowledgment.
  • The modern mosquito coil, originally developed in Japan in the late 19th century, became a widespread and affordable solution for insect control across Asia, contrasting sharply with Diptyque's luxury offering.

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