DS&Durga

DS and Durga is an American niche house founded in New York in 2007 by David Seth Moltz, a musician, and Kavi Moltz, an architect. The two gather herbal and floral essences from around the world and compose them by hand, an approach that gives the line its literary, scene-setting quality. David's early love of romance, literature, and music runs through the work, where fragrances tend to read like vivid short stories rather than abstract accords. In 2024 the brand was acquired by Manzanita Capital.

The style is green, aromatic, and idea-driven, built on herbs and woods with a lift of fresh spice and an occasional streak of white florals. Bergamot brightens the openings, while notes like Egyptian tuberose, chrysanthemum, and frosted melon show the house's taste for unexpected, specific imagery. Start with Grapefruit Generation or Bistro Waters, then try Amber Teutonic or the Pistachio for the fuller, warmer side of the catalog. Few houses make a fragrance feel quite this much like a place you can walk into.