D.S. & Durga
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
The assault arrives immediately—bright, almost aggressive lemon and bergamot create an almost painful freshness, sharpened considerably by the bitter Chinotto peel that refuses to let this become a simple citrus candy. The Italian blood orange adds a deeper, slightly jammy warmth that complicates matters, making you pause and actually *sniff* rather than merely register pleasant freshness.
Frankincense gradually emerges as the citrus ebbs, adding a smoky, almost church-like quality that's genuinely unsettling in the best way. The violet leaf becomes more prominent, introducing a green, slightly peppery dryness that transforms the composition from "bright" into something more contemplative and earthy. By the second hour, you're experiencing something more akin to herbal tea than citrus juice.
The copaiba balsam and oakmoss settle in with the frankincense absolute, creating a warm, resinous base that feels almost leathery. What remains is less a fragrance and more an impression—a faint woody dryness with lingering hints of lemon zest, as though you'd walked past an orange grove several hours prior. The citrus has transformed entirely, now reading as a memory rather than a present reality.
Italian Citrus is a fragrance that understands the difference between citrus as a mere cheerleader and citrus as the main event. David Seth Moltz has constructed something genuinely architectural here—a Mediterranean study built almost entirely from the skin of fruit, yet never collapsing into the mundane sweetness that plagues most citrus fragrances.
The opening salvo is relentless: Amalfi lemon meets Chinotto peel (bitter, herbal, slightly medicinal) whilst Italian bergamot and blood orange wage a subtle war over which will dominate. This isn't the synthetic brightness of department store freshness; it's the actual tactile sensation of peeling Sicilian fruit, complete with pith and the slight astringency that clings to your fingertips. The violet leaf in the heart adds an unexpected herbal snap—green rather than floral—that prevents the fragrance from ever becoming gourmand or soft.
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4.0/5 (199)