D.S. & Durga is fragrance brand out of Brooklyn, with lots of fragrances (or as they refer to them, "fumes" -- *oof*) that smell half-finished at prices easily at least double what anyone should realistically pay. I'd wager real money that they come up with their names and elaborate concepts first. ("Burning Barbershop," "Mississippi Medicine," and "Steamed Rainbow" are some of the most eye roll-worthy.) Nothing made me want to reach for my wallet, not when a small 50 mL bottle starts at $210 (more for collaborations and limited editions), and full-size 100 mL begin at $300. The candles -- "'85 Diesel," "Tomb of the Eagles," and "Rama Won't You Please Come Home" are some of the befuddling names here -- smell first and foremost of wax; determining how they will smell in one's home is a crapshoot. D.S. & Durga is owned by the stealth beauty conglomerate Manzanita Capital, which also owns Malin+Goetz and Diptyque, two brands that know how to make good candles, so I'm flummoxed as to why D.S. & Durga's $75 candles smell so flat and pallid on the shelf.
The staff was friendly and helpful without being obtrusive, just what this sort of store's staff should be. Manzanita brands consistently have great sales associates, and D.S. & Durga is no exception.
Like the fairly similar Byredo several blocks west, the primary product at D.S. & Durga seems to be more hip-cool-youth-vibe-quirky-funky-whatever than anything in the actual bottle or jar. And hey, a lot of boutiques in Silver Lake and Echo Park do a brisk business in selling hip-cool-youth-vibe-quirky-funky-whatever. I'm just not really in the market for hip-cool-youth-vibe-quirky-funky-whatever these days -- and certainly not starting at $210 for the small size. read more