DS & Durga Pistachio

I am waiting impatiently for my neighbours’ mock orange to start blooming. I get so much vicarious pleasure from the smell. I have a secret plan the next time they are away on holiday to sneak into their garden and prune the poor tree. Their garden is a mess and I’m sure they wouldn’t notice if the tree had a better shape…

My brown fig tree has doubled in size since late winter. It’s only three feet tall at this point but I am cautiously optimistic. In this area you see quite a log of fig trees (weird microclimate) and when mature they fruit enthusiastically.

I haven’t paid much attention to DS & Durga since March wrote about them here and I think both Patty and I wrote about Radio Bombay but I can’t find the posts to link. None of those early ones worked on me even though I loved a lot of the ideas. Neither did Radio Bombay, even though I wanted it to – as far as I recall. And then I basically stopped listening. There are so many things out there.

I do get DS & Durga emails and I kept seeing the name Pistachio pop up.

I don’t eat pistachios much (I’m more almonds, pecans, Brazil nuts). They were my father’s nuts – when they still came dry roasted and salted in red dyed shells (before we knew about the nasties in dyes). He ate them compulsively, his favourite ice cream flavour was (wait for it) pistachio, he loved halva (see here).

The last time a Durga email about Pistachio came in my brain finally did a whoop and I went off and ordered a sample (with some other things of course).

Have to say: rather pleased with myself.

Per the Durga website: “Our cult classic Studio Juice has joined the line full-time”.  So, I guess this hung around and got sniffed and sprayed but no one seriously thought about releasing it till they did – in 2022.

Fragrantica labels it aromatic green but I get an unusual gourmand.

Notes list includes pistachio, cardamom, more pistachio, roasted almond, even more pistachio, patchouli and vanilla crème. I didn’t write this, they did.

It opens on me as nut paste – chopped nuts with their oil – with cardamom sweetness. Not to be used in hummus but wonderful on skin.

This is definitely sweet but not in an over-the-top gourmand chewy way. It’s got enough weird to keep you guessing – what’s in there beyond the notes offered?

As it warms up we’re into the smokier, less sweet territory of the roasted almond. I still get that oily nut butter aspect but amped down a bit and there’s something almost leathery.

The drydown is nuts, rooty patchouli and a bit of vanilla sweetness. It’s a skin scent without being cute or comforting or any of those other words that I find a bit irritating. It has very good longevity.

In the US, where the house is based, you can find 10, 50 and 100ml sizes (the travel size doesn’t appear to be available here).

I find this oddly compelling. It really is a gourmand meant for people who don’t like gourmands. It’s a bit different and strangely addictive– and since I started testing it I find myself reaching for the vial in the morning.

Anyone tried this? Into nuts? Which ones? Like other Durgas?

Pics: Pexels and mine