Perfume has come a long way since its origin 4,000 years ago. It’s unlikely that the Mesopotamians—the oldest known creators of perfume—would’ve pictured a world where you can access exotic scents like Pistachio, Coriander, or Deep Dark Vanilla, much less the abstract, almost esoteric profiles of fragrances like D.S. & Durga’s Steamed Rainbow, Radio Bombay, or Cowboy Grass. But the company’s married co-founders, David Seth Moltz (D.S.) and Kavi Ahuja Moltz, (Durga) wake up in a world where outrageous yet universal smells are a daily reality. Since its inception in 2009, the brand has developed a cult following for its original scents that are created based on a feeling or place, and for its playful, distinct visuals and packaging that are often spotted in New York restaurants and boutique hot spots. D.S. & Durga’s motto, Perfume is Armchair Travel, accurately encapsulates this inclusive idea that a scent can transport the wearer across the world, without leaving their seat. For 15 years the husband and wife team have been the sole owners of the brand, but earlier this year they accepted a major investment from Manzanita Capital — which works with fragrance titans (MALIN+GOETZ) and Diptyque — because they “wanted to build something that lasts 100 years,” clarified David. 

In the world of scent-making, it’s rare for a fragrance business to be owned and operated by two creatives. But Kavi and David are bold, and have held true to a kind of core DIY aesthetic. Their scents are made locally in Brooklyn and continue to reflect the company’s core allegiance to a spirit of authentic curiosity. Both jumped at the chance to create a brand without any business background. “There was really no decision made,” Kavi revealed. “We met, started dating and soon after that, we were swept away in the time of Brooklyn and it sounded really gratifying to make a physical thing, put it on a shelf and sell it.” The ’09 recession pushed them to venture into the world of fragrance and design — Kavi felt unsatisfied in her architecture work because of the lack of funding and stalled projects, and leaned into her business savvy. While David’s musical ambitions and background merged nicely into the artistry of perfume-making. David is a self-taught perfumer, which is unusual, and Kavi is a trained architect turned self-taught visual designer and CEO.  

Kavi creates visuals that are chic, minimal, and bespoke for each D.S. & Durga product, based on David’s “scent narratives” and their shared inspirations. The D.S. & Durga perfume bottles, for example, are in the shape of a top hat, which is notable since Kavi has a top hat tattoo on her right bicep, with the word FANCY underneath. Why fancy? Because “the word luxury is just so gross, so we use fancy,” explained Kavi. But, fancy is a personal word for them too. On their wedding invitation in 2010, David and Kavi advised guests to “dress fancy” and included hand-drawn images of a top hat, a lobster, dancers, and more — all pictures of what was in store for the three-day extravaganza. This tattoo on Kavi is an unexpected romantic gesture given her seemingly goth(ish) exterior, but Kavi is the Durga to David’s D.S. The name Durga belongs to a major Hindu goddess who was born fully grown and with legendary beauty. She is known as the protective mother of the universe. Aside from encapsulating Kavi’s fierce elegance as a designer and mother, Durga is also David’s nickname for her. Although their love story is part of what makes the brand so unique, David insists that “publicly sharing shit is not our thing.” But romance is. “Romanticism is about creating the world that you want around you,” David emphasized, and their perfumes lean into that. With these aesthetic and intimate touches, it’s no wonder that D.S. & Durga has grown from the hub of downtown Brooklyn, into an international brand. And, thankfully, this perfumer x designer duo has a lot more up their tatted sleeves. 

Studio Juices, D.S. & Durga’s thematic scent lines, also sets it apart from other perfumers. This is where David places his small batch of fragrance drops. The brand’s Halloween, summer, and spring flower drops became instant fan favorites. “I’m just very prolific,” David amits – his office littered with scents like Rotten Whales’ teeth. New scents drop every season. 

How can you be a D.S. & Durga it girl this winter? Look to their holiday collection and keep your eyes peeled for a bold holiday Eau de Parfum, The Most Festive Cologne of All Time, and a perfect seasonal candle called Rama Won’t You Please Come home, which is supposed to evoke the sensation of welcoming Rama, the Hindu god of moral virtue, into your home, via North Indian forest tree flowers, tuberose, gardenia, and bastard teak. 

If you’re not sure which of its dozens of scents to try first, then take the D.S. & Durga #sniffquiz on the website, which will bestow a highly customized scent overview and set of personalized perfume suggestions. From options such as hot wild werewolf, beach goth, chic vampire or brutal barista, these scents are meant to make wearers feel fancy. Kavi said it best when she coaxed, “We just want to bring more beautiful fragrances into the world and visually assault you with our branding.”

Photography Tina del Pino
Interview Isabella Roy
Editor Savannah Sobrevilla