Debaser D.S. & Durga 2015 Eau de Parfum
2
Unique, Worth Trying
I never really jived with fig scents til I gave this one a shot. I also found green scents abrasive and couldn't understand why anyone would be drawn to them. The first time I smelled Debaser I just didn't get it. It was all green and sharp and reminded me of chemicals - like someone below also pointed out - a touch of nail polish remover or thinner, maybe? Despite that, I ended up taking it home on a paper strip to try to give it a fair chance. As it settled over the course of the day, I could understand it a bit more. It felt like an acquired taste, something I had to will myself to appreciate.
A month or so later I bought the DS & Durga Greatest Hits set - more so to try Radio Bombay and I Don't Know What, but I soon found myself in love with wearing Debaser and chewed through that sample far too quickly before caving and getting a 50ml. I started being able to identify the fig more, and appreciate the greenness. I think it helped that my skin does tend to sweeten and soften a lot of fragrances. The fig note simultaneously feels juicy/sweet, but also fresh and green - like both the fruit and the stems/leaves. After a wear or two I started getting the iris and coconut milk - It's not a tropical feeling coconut to me, and it doesn't feel overpowering like the coconuts you can get in cheap/juvenile fragrances, self-tanners, and sunscreens. It adds a creamy smoothness that counters the sharp green in the opening. The base is woody and musky, but none of those notes have jumped out at me. To me, this fragrance is about the green/juicy/creamy combo.
I think this works in any season, but I've been really enjoying it for something different to my usual light and pretty florals in spring. I quite like this one for work, or out, day or night, wearing a leather jacket. I don't feel like it travels an offensive distance from me and it feels quite tidy. I don't see myself getting a ton of compliments on it - I think it probably doesn't hook people in at the first sniff like a lot of my sweeter or floral fragrances do. I enjoy that this scent feels less people-pleasing (though clearly it's appreciated enough to be popular!), and more for myself - it makes me feel cool, put-together, and confident. I still love the journey it takes me on from first spray to dry-down. It doesn't last crazy long on my skin but does stick around on my clothes til the next day (though it doesn't project at this point).
It's nice to layer too - DS & Durga's I Don't Know What creates a more complex base that I really enjoy. Debaser maybe leans slightly masculine-unisex on me, so when I want to still feel badass but also a bit more feminine, I'll spritz a tiny bit of Frederic Malle's En Passant (a beautiful soft spring floral) over top - the greens in these two play well together for me.
Honestly, I can see why people wouldn't like this - it's not a compliment-getter or always easy to love (especially in that green opening). But I think it can create an air of confidence to be wearing something this interesting. If you already like green figgy scents, I do recommend it. I think it's added a lot to my collection and given me a new appreciation for fragrance notes I couldn't wrap my head around. If you're unsure but intrigued, give it a few tries on the skin - it may end up being what your collection was missing.
A month or so later I bought the DS & Durga Greatest Hits set - more so to try Radio Bombay and I Don't Know What, but I soon found myself in love with wearing Debaser and chewed through that sample far too quickly before caving and getting a 50ml. I started being able to identify the fig more, and appreciate the greenness. I think it helped that my skin does tend to sweeten and soften a lot of fragrances. The fig note simultaneously feels juicy/sweet, but also fresh and green - like both the fruit and the stems/leaves. After a wear or two I started getting the iris and coconut milk - It's not a tropical feeling coconut to me, and it doesn't feel overpowering like the coconuts you can get in cheap/juvenile fragrances, self-tanners, and sunscreens. It adds a creamy smoothness that counters the sharp green in the opening. The base is woody and musky, but none of those notes have jumped out at me. To me, this fragrance is about the green/juicy/creamy combo.
I think this works in any season, but I've been really enjoying it for something different to my usual light and pretty florals in spring. I quite like this one for work, or out, day or night, wearing a leather jacket. I don't feel like it travels an offensive distance from me and it feels quite tidy. I don't see myself getting a ton of compliments on it - I think it probably doesn't hook people in at the first sniff like a lot of my sweeter or floral fragrances do. I enjoy that this scent feels less people-pleasing (though clearly it's appreciated enough to be popular!), and more for myself - it makes me feel cool, put-together, and confident. I still love the journey it takes me on from first spray to dry-down. It doesn't last crazy long on my skin but does stick around on my clothes til the next day (though it doesn't project at this point).
It's nice to layer too - DS & Durga's I Don't Know What creates a more complex base that I really enjoy. Debaser maybe leans slightly masculine-unisex on me, so when I want to still feel badass but also a bit more feminine, I'll spritz a tiny bit of Frederic Malle's En Passant (a beautiful soft spring floral) over top - the greens in these two play well together for me.
Honestly, I can see why people wouldn't like this - it's not a compliment-getter or always easy to love (especially in that green opening). But I think it can create an air of confidence to be wearing something this interesting. If you already like green figgy scents, I do recommend it. I think it's added a lot to my collection and given me a new appreciation for fragrance notes I couldn't wrap my head around. If you're unsure but intrigued, give it a few tries on the skin - it may end up being what your collection was missing.