D.S. & Durga

D.S. & Durga

Niche luxury fragrances with story-driven scents

Overview

D.S. & DURGA creates artisanal, niche fragrances and related scented products in Brooklyn. Their offerings include perfumes, candles, hand and body care, and auto fragrances, all developed as story-driven scents inspired by diverse cultural elements such as cowboys, open terrains, Russian literature, and folk songs. The products are designed to be worn or used in living spaces, with a focus on high-quality ingredients and small-batch craftsmanship. The company sells directly to consumers via its website and through select luxury retailers, often releasing limited-edition scents to create exclusivity. What sets them apart is the combination of handcrafted, culturally inspired storytelling with a luxury, artisanal approach, rather than mass-market fragrance. Their goal is to provide premium, narrative-driven fragrances and home products that connect personal experiences to distinctive scent memories.

Significant Headcount Growth

About D.S. & Durga

Simplify's Rating
Why D.S. & Durga is rated
B-
Rated B on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

Design

Consumer Goods

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

Growth Equity (Non-Venture Capital)

Total Funding

$29.1M

Headquarters

New York City, New York

Founded

2007

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Ain’t That Sweet launched August 25, 2026 at $225, expanding into gourmand.
  • Project CETI partnership and studio-reserve releases keep press and collector demand flowing.
  • Nordstrom and Revolve carry D.S. & Durga, widening reach beyond direct-to-consumer.

What critics are saying

  • Manzanita Capital bought control in 2024; exit pressure now favors growth over experimentation.
  • Heavy dependence on novelty fragrances forces constant launches; one dud damages full-price sell-through.
  • If Nordstrom trims fragrance space, D.S. & Durga loses major discovery traffic.

What makes D.S. & Durga unique

  • Co-founder David Seth Moltz still writes and composes campaigns, including Ain’t That Sweet, August 2026.
  • Brooklyn-made storytelling fragrances and own stores on Mulberry, Bedford, Madison, and Venice.
  • Manzanita Capital bought D.S. & Durga in January 2024, validating luxury niche value.

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Funding

Total Funding

$29.1M

Above

Industry Average

Funded Over

1 Rounds

Growth Equity Non VC funding comparison data is currently unavailable. We're working to provide this information soon!
Growth Equity Non VC Funding Comparison
Coming Soon

Benefits

Flexible Work Hours

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

↑ 26%

1 year growth

↑ 26%

2 year growth

↑ 26%
Candr Media Group
Aug 19th, 2026
D.S. and Durga launches a new sweet and spicy fragrance.

D.S. and Durga launches a new sweet and spicy fragrance. D.S. & Durga is stepping into sweeter territory with Ain't That Sweet, a gourmand fragrance balanced by warm spice and deeper notes. 19th Aug 2026 D.S. & Durga is trying something sweeter with its latest fragrance, but it has not gone all-in on dessert. The brand has teased Ain't That Sweet on Instagram, describing it as a new gourmand fragrance arriving on August 25. The idea is to make something rich and sweet that could still appeal to people who normally steer clear of sugary scents. It opens with myrrh and Sri Lankan cinnamon before moving into date, praline and lily at the heart. Condensed milk, bourbon vanilla and nutmeg make up the base, giving the fragrance its warmer, creamier side without making sweetness the only thing going on. Perfumer and co-founder David Seth Moltz told Hypebeast that he balanced the date-cake inspiration with musk, patchouli and real vanilla absolute. That keeps the fragrance rich without pushing it too far into sugary territory, especially for people who usually avoid traditional gourmands. Ain't That Sweet also comes with a nostalgic story rooted in young romance and early-2000s New York. Its inspiration includes handwritten notes, late nights in the city and the image of date cake and golden milk waiting on the kitchen counter. Music also plays into the launch, reflecting Moltz's background before he became a perfumer. He created an original "party soul" track for the campaign, while Kavi Moltz refreshed the packaging with the brand's peach-concrete colour and a sturdier keepsake-style box. Ain't That Sweet launches through D.S. & Durga and selected retailers on August 25. The 50ml bottle costs $225, with the 100ml version priced at $300. For anyone curious about gourmand fragrances but put off by anything that smells too much like dessert, Ain't That Sweet is D.S. & Durga's attempt to find a richer middle ground.

NST Perfume
Dec 14th, 2024
DS & Durga King Majesty Bergamot Chypre ~ new fragrance

Indie brand DS & Durga has launched King Majesty Bergamot Chypre, a new Studio Reserve fragrance.

PR Newswire
Dec 11th, 2024
Introducing The Cool Calm Cotton Set By Cotton X D.S. & Durga

The Cool Calm Cotton Set blanket is designed by D.S. DURGA's Kavi Ahuja Moltz. Thoughtfully knit in neutral tones, the geometric pattern, inspired by Art Deco symmetry, is designed to help one be mindful. "Drawing patterns and playing with graphics is so soothing to me," said Kavi Ahuja Moltz, co-founder of D.S. DURGA. "so collaborating with Cotton to design a soft cotton blanket was a total dream."

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Jun 29th, 2024
SEC FORM D

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not necessarily reviewed the information in this filing and has not determined if it is accurate and complete.The reader should not assume that the information is accurate and complete.

NST Perfume
Jun 12th, 2024
DS & Durga Let's Dive ~ new fragrance

Indie brand DS & Durga has launched Let's Dive, a new limited edition fragrance in collaboration with Project CETI, the "nonprofit organization committed to translating the communication of sperm whales using artificial intelligence and state-of-the-art gentle robotics".

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