D.S. grew up immersed in the idyllic scents of a quaint New England town – ocean and forest. Since winning his first bottle of cologne at an island summer camp raffle, he has developed a lifelong fascination with fragrance. He moved to NYC in 2002 with an old band.  Durga was born in the shadows of New York, but traveled the world through-out her childhood.  She studied architecture in los Angeles and design in Holland.   She then returned to New York to design buildings—and met D.S. outside of one.

What is your motto?

“Perfume is armchair travel”. Perfume has the ability to transport one’s mind to far off places – real and imaginary.

What is for both your elder olfactive memory?

David My oldest olfactive memories are – the ocean in my town, the cold smell of pines and smoke on the winter air, and lemon dish soap.

How you came with the idea of creating D.S. & Durga?

D.S. & Durga We made a bunch of scented gifts for friends one holiday and everyone like them – bay rhums, toners, creams, and some very basic perfumes.   Kavi had the idea to bottle them in nice packaging.  It took off quickly, and we soon realized we could translate ideas we had been working on in music (David) and architecture (Kavi) into perfume – historical recreation, scenes from literature, travel, design, pieces of other music.  It doesn’t make a difference to me if I am writing music, poetry, or making a perfume.  All of them have the power to invoke an imaginary world that begins in my head. Perfume gives the most invisibility – as the creator can be more hidden in the work (you can’t change your voice when you are singing!).

How did you study fragrance creation (David)? 

David Gleaning what I could from outdated herbal books, exploration, experimentation.  I'm self-taught. I had no mentors.  I read everything I could about how fragrances and oils worked together – especially from outdated books by herbalists, native American plant wisdom, and stillroom ladies who made cosmetics in their homes.  I purchased oils online, and from distributors in the U.S.  As DSD grew, I began working with larger companies like Robertet and Firmenich, I receive samples of materials from them when appropriate.

How would you describe your brand DNA?

David American irrévérence.  Authentic aromatic replication of detailed narratives.  All of our perfumes are detailed worlds that come from research of regions and narratives.  We are influenced by many things beyond the realm of perfume – I am more concerned with making an accurate aromatic portrait of a specific table than I am with a “jasmine accord” – though both are important.

Can you describe your fragrance development process (from A to Z) ?

David I simultaneously get ideas for perfumes and work freely with new aromatic ideas.  One or the other of these methods gain traction and I think either how best to replicate the story, or how best to describe the "story" of what I am smelling. For ’85 Diesel, I started with scent of the interior of our own car.  I wanted saffron tanned leather/vinyl (saffron, castoreum, suede, limbanol), with puffs of diesel smoke (cade, choyaral).  I harmonized this with some wood notes from the paneling.  Then in creating the product, I wanted the description to reference the memories that this kind of car evokes for people my age – Fleetwood Mac, our parents wearing cloths that look like rugs. For Radio Bombay, I was working on a modern deconstructed sandalwood fragrance – the idea that if you took cedar, coconut, peach, musk, and milk, you would have a rudimentary sandalwood.  This radiated in a wonderful way.  I knew I wanted to make a scent based on the interaction between old tubes in amplifiers and their chassis.  The tube heats up and melts the grease, and you have a metallic-oily scent (in a guitar amplifier).  I thought if the chassis was made of sandalwood, the hot copper tube would warm it and let out small puffs of the sacred wood like in my fragrance.

What is the angle (DNA) with your candle line? 

Kavi The candle line isn't different than the fragrance in terms of DNA, but I do hone in on the way one could be transported within an environment more.  I think it's really something that you can light a candle and transport the room to a different place or time - the inside of a car ('85 Diesel), The northern California coast (Big Sur after Rain), the Tomb of the Eagles, etc..

Any insights on your new projects (fragrances, candles, …)?

Kavi We have just launched our first three candles at Nose as stated above. The next two are Northern California Coast and Tomb of the Eagles, which has just won best candle 2017 for the Allure Best of Beauty awards in the USA.  Big Sur After Rain and Concrete After Lightning are the new ones just release this fall in the USA. Both based on a specific place that releases a unique aromatic quality after rain.  Big Sur – wet Eucalyptus groves.  Concrete – petrichor in the city.