Niche Fragrance Review: D. S. & Durga Boston Ivy Cologne + Last Gasp of Summer Draw

green ivy ds durga Barnegat Lighthouse by Maurizio Photography

September is an odd month. Warm enough for that last weekend getaway to the beach, but there is a chill in the evening air as the days grow shorter and sandals and shorts make way for scarves and sweaters. Shadows grow long earlier every day, even when the sun is still shining brightly. We start to push our cheerful colognes aside and reach for a scent that can bridge the gap between the last gasp of summer's humid breath and the frosty fingers of late Autumn. With equal parts summer breeze and turning leaves, D.S. & Durga’s Boston Ivy Cologne, with its green, slightly salty scent is perfect for this time of transition.

boston ivy

David Seth Moltz, the "D.S.", of Brooklyn-based D.S. & Durga says "Boston Ivy was inspired by  my memory of smelling the moss, clover and ivy growing around  my childhood home in sea-side Swampscott, MA". He wanted to create a manly scent that would also reflect his Irish heritage, and his memories of the shamrock graffiti in the commuter tunnels driving into Boston during the 1980’s.

boston ivy ds and durgha cologne review

Boston Ivy is a blend of ivy and clover, spiked with oakmoss and sea salt. The sea salt note frames the dark green of the ivy and clover and as the fragrance develops, it’s as if you sense the transition of the seasons. Boston Ivy, while rough around the edges, smells wonderful on women as well. It’s an excellent and slightly counter-intuitive choice for anyone looking for a late-Summer, Early Fall fragrance that lingers well into the evening. It has all day longevity but with sillage that stays close to the skin. In many ways it is like wearing two scents at once, as if you just stepped off the boardwalk on your way to attend a class held in an ivy-draped lecture hall at the start of a new semester in college.

Steve Johnson, Guest Contributor with contributions from Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief

Art Direction: Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief

Thanks to Pickwick's Mercantile 64 State St., Portsmouth NH (a great place for niche fragrances so ask for Rita) we have a 50 ml of D.S & Durga's Boston Ivy  to giveaway to a reader (USA residents only). To be eligible, let us know your favorite D.S & Durga fragrance,or what you like about Boston or why you would like to win Boston Ivy. Draw closes September 9, 2013

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume

 

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44 comments

  • I’ve never sampled anything from D.S. and Durga, and while I’ve enjoyed visits to Boston, I can’t claim to know the city particularly well. So that leaves to me to explain why I want to win Boston Ivy: I’m intrigued by the idea that a perfume can capture the feel of a seasonal transition. Plus, I want to smell ivy and clover together with oakmoss!

  • I really love the Burning Barbershop. It’s so wonderfully aromatic. Boston Ivy sounds right up my alley. I have tried a sample of this and love the green freshness this exudes. In the USA and thank for opportunity.

  • I would love to win this so I could put some on before doing the MFA followed by a walk in the Public Garden – my two favorite things to do in Boston.

  • My favorite thing about Boston are the brownstones. The old bricks and the homes nestled close to one another charmed me, who’s never lived anywhere with old architecture, much less brick.

    I’m in the U.S. and love reading these reviews!

  • I love the idea of ivy in fragrance and do like clover as a note. The addition of sea salt really intrigues me — the whole sounds slightly off-kilter, which I like in perfumes — so I would love to sample it.

  • Well, here in Austin we don’t really get the September weather you’re talking about… but I’d love to win the draw for Boston Ivy to experience September weather vicariously! Thanks for the draw. I am in the US.

  • I love the sound of the sea salt and clover. My favorite part about boston is walking along the Charles river, especially in the fall. Thank you for the giveaway!

  • I’ve never been to Boston, and neitheir have I smelled any DS& Durga’s fragrances but your description of the scent appeals a lot to me. Ivy, mosses, clover, all of these I like a lot , so enlist me in the draw! Thanks!

  • Victoria Casey says:

    My favorite DS & Durga perfumes so far have been Spent Musket Oil & Mississippi Medicine but Boston Ivy has been on my to try list for awhile as well . Thanks & I’m in the US.

  • Never been to Boston nor sampled this line but I love oakmoss and clover so would be thrilled to try this one. I am on the US

  • My favorite D. S. & Durga fragrance is Bowmakers. I am a sucker for both oakmoss and salt so this new release appeals to me. I live in the US and want to thank you for the draw.

  • I’ve not smelled any D.S. & Durga fragrances nor have I visited Boston (though I plan to eventually). I do love fall and the smell of ivy covered buildings near the ocean, so I’m interested to see if this captures the idea of that image in scent. And also I like trying new things!

  • i have never tried a D.S & Durge fragrance before but thanks to CaFleureBon
    now i have the opportunity to try this intriguing fragrance thats my birthday month with its greens and sea salt something i would wear at night since i live in miami

  • Gosh, I love ivy, love it. I haven’t tried anything from this line but would love to get my hands on an oakmoss *and* ivy scent. *drool*. I’d love to visit Boston one day for all of the history that is there to see. I live in the U.S. Thanks so much!!!!!

  • I love the sound of the Ivy, I want to see how they do the salt!! Boston- that proper city where one can feel everything is in such order and that interllect subtly reins. However there are always hidden facets of a place, and in a city opposites are necessary. In the 80’s I planned to live in Boston with my daughter. she is dark skinned, i am light skinned and we found it difficult to find a suitable neighborhood that would work for us both. It seemed to be either/ or at the time unless of course you had pots of money, ordinary folks make different choices back in those days. Perhaps Boston has changed and that the blood that runs through its veins is simply red. I have a US address!

  • I would really love to try this scent, sounds like a great fresh combination of marine and green notes. US here. Thanks!

  • My favorite D.S. & Durga scent is Petitgrain Sur Fleur from the line they did for Anthropologie. I still have many more to try though and would love to win Boston Ivy.

  • I’ve been curious about their scents. I would like to try Boston Ivy because I’m most curious about the interpretative nature of capturing the scents I came of age in. In the US still!

  • I’ve been curious about their scents. I would like to try Boston Ivy because I’m most curious about the interpretative nature of capturing the scents I came of age in. In the US still!

  • I’ve never been to Boston, and I’ve wanted to go for years. I adore your description, Steve, of Boston Ivy. I love those notes – the ivy and clover and oakmoss – and here in the land of always-transitional (in the US), I suspect I can wear it year ’round.

    Thanks you for the drawing – very exciting.

  • I love green perfumes in general, and this line of perfumes has always intrigued me. I[d like to see their interpretation of green.

  • I have been to Boston once, it’s the wonderful people their that make it special to me. Smart, warm hearted and funny is my impression. The city is beautiful, yes the brownstones are an experience as well. I rode a subway for the first time their. i live in the USA, thanks for the review and drawing

  • maysamassimo says:

    Hi! I would like to win Boston Ivy because I’ve never sampled anything from D.S. and Durga and I also love green fragrances.
    Thanks for the draw!

  • Alas, I’ve never been to Boston and have not yet sampled D. S. & Durga, but I love green scents and salty scents, and September is one of my favorite months. Nicolai Vie de Chateau has been my go to fall transition scent for years but I would like something new, and Boston Ivy sounds perfect. Thanks for the generous draw!

  • Our family spent one rainy day in Boston, trying to see as much as possible, getting off and on the Beantown Trolley. We were still charmed by the city and all it’s history. Would love to go back and enjoy more. I’m not familiar with D.S. & Durga fragrances. This does sound very nice indeed and I appreciate the chance. I’m in the U.S.

  • Your review of Boston Ivy makes it sound extremely interesting with its blend of ivy, Irish clover and sea salt. Not unlike my last visit to Boston many years ago when the city merged many cultures together… with one block being little Italy and the next block over was Chinatown. Living in the USA with my thanks for the draw.

  • susie frankel says:

    Not yet sampled D.S.&Durga…but coming from Boston it must continue Boston’s historic presence in the Life of America…the freedoms and intellectual choices thru the history of our time…and I love Spencer and great silversmiths. USA

  • tomate farcie says:

    Since it will be over 100 where I am, I’m loving the fragrance Siberian Snow! Boston Ivy sounds lovely. I’m in the US.

  • I live in the US and my favorite DS & Durga is Burning Barbershop. I’d love to try Boston Ivy. Thanks.

  • I have not tried D.D. & Durga, but Boston Ivy looks like a wonderful place to start! I adore green scents and I love the earthy notes listed…would love to win a bottle! Thank you so much!

  • Love Boston and D S and Durga perfumes! I think the ivy, clover and sea salt would be great in a fragrance; really like how Boston Ivy sounds! I live in the US. Thank you for this drawing!

  • leathermountain says:

    I’m in the US. I loved living in Jamaica Plain (in Boston). Great community, exactly urban enough, with easy train access, but freestanding roomy houses, and multiple green spaces near by. Perfect neighborhood to live in! I’ve come close, elsewhere, but never quite reached the joy of JP.

  • I first smelled Boston Ivy a few months ago on a friend and fell in love. It is so green, so fresh and reminded me a bit of the sea. I went a few days after to a shop in Brooklyn to smell it again. I would love to win this perfume and give it to my boyfriend and nestle in his arms.

  • I would like to have this scent because from the review and description in the article it sounds unique. 🙂
    ty
    CONUS

  • My favorite thing about Boston is the fabulous restaurants and shops on Newbury Street. I am a fan of Siberian Snow by DS & Durga and would love to try Boston Ivy because the idea of wearing two fragrances at once is appealing.

  • Some of my best years were living in Back Bay as a student and summering on Martha’s Vineyard. I’d love to evoke both of those destination memories with Boston Ivy.

  • Boston, I’ve never been to unfortunately but love the architecture, old and new, and all those statues and historical sites. In the future, I hope to wear out my camera in Boston but for now, I’ll settle for a little Boston Ivy 😉

    I am very intrigued by Ivy, Moss and Fern fragrances because I love the greenness as well as earthy scents. The description of Boston Ivy? sounds irresistible to me.

  • Up to this point I did not know about this fragrance but this article opened me up to something interesting, a scent made perfect for my birthday Month! As a September baby, I relate to the fact that I loathe the hot humid summer months and rather enjoy the slight breeze sunny day. Interesting notes for Boston Ivy make this scent enjoyable without worrying about that humid weather soaking the scent by the skin. Thank you for the draw.

    USA

  • This time of year, as students are returning to those hallowed halls of academe, I wax nostalgic. The leaves will soon be turning, the air chilling…For a brief while, every year at this time, I wish I could go back to that age and start all over again. I’d love to sample Boston Ivy to see if it heightens that desire… Plus, I adore Oakmoss! Thanks for the draw, and I live in the U.S.

  • A store near me just started carrying DS Durga creations and I had the pleasure of testing them all. I loved Boston Ivy along with Siberian Snow so I would be thrilled to win a bottle.

    I have a US address if that works. Thanks!