Cognac Reign by D.S. & Durga – Between Cognac, Versailles and the Subway

D.S. & Durga has been one of my personal favorites for years. This makes the new eau de parfum Cognac Reign all the more exciting: a homage to the Baroque era, seen through the eyes of a modern New Yorker. The setting is in the typical style of D.S. & Durga – humorous, sometimes whimsical and extravagant. For Cognac Reign, the subway not only travels through space, but also through time: from New York directly to the court of the Sun King in Versailles. Courtly opulence meets the urban pulse of the metropolis.

Over the past few years, I have already introduced you to numerous fragrances and scented candles from D.S. & Durga here on the blog. I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of some of them. So, as always, here’s a short list of my latest reviews and I couldn’t tell you which fragrance I was particularly excited about. Because I found them all so extraordinary and harmoniously composed. Of course, Deep Dark Vanilla stands out for me at the moment – also from a seasonal point of view. But Pistachio, Cowgirl Grass and Leatherize are also simply beautiful. Among the scented candles, I would like to highlight Portable Xmas Tree, which I hope will soon be available in our online store – it is currently still available for pre-order.

• Through the cold season with candles from D.S. & Durga
• Pistachio and Leatherize by D.S. & Durga – Straight from New York City
• Deep Dark Vanilla and Bistro Waters by D.S. & Durga – Black and Green
• Cowgirl Grass by D.S. & Durga – A breath of fresh air from the Wild West
• Big Sur Eucalyptus by D.S. & Durga – Californian coastal dream

Cognac Reign – Powder wigs in the Subway

Perfumer and co-founder David Seth Moltz has been familiar with classical music since childhood. Initially influenced by his parents, he developed a deep affinity for baroque music over time. He particularly associates this music with the court of Versailles: “I like to think back to the wild soirees that must have taken place at the court of Louis the Sun King: Bacchanalian bliss with baroque melodies that sound quite staid and cultivated today. We need to start celebrating such festivals again.” For Cognac Reign, his homage to the Baroque era, Moltz used the ingredients bergamot, woods, cognac, iris and tonka bean.

What does Cognac Reign by D.S. & Durga smell like?

Citrus-fresh notes open Cognac Reign, accompanied by the powdery, lipstick-like accents of iris. Dry woods join in, subtly smoky, airy and transparent. The eau de parfum is surprisingly light and has a fine, molecularly transparent character. I had initially expected a lush, opulent, boozy cognac creation, but D.S. & Durga interprets the theme very differently. For me, the cognac association arises from the woody accords, which make me think of oak barrels in which the noble spirit matures. Fine barrique notes lend the composition depth and dark facets that harmonize wonderfully with the earthy, powdery iris, despite its airiness. Finally, a greenish-vanilla hint of tonka bean rounds off the composition.

How much baroque is in Cognac Reign?

Cognac Reign by D.S. & Durga is an incredibly modern, transparent, molecular unisex fragrance that combines dry, woody and powdery notes. For me, the eau de parfum is very urban – less Versailles, more New York. A beautiful, powdery mix of woods and iris that should appeal to anyone who prefers soft, warm and cozy creations without sweetness or floral or fruity notes. A great all-rounder for fall and winter – or whenever you like it velvety and powdery.