David Seth Moltz is one of the most distinctive voices in modern perfumery. Born in 1980 in Swampscott, Massachusetts, his sensory world was shaped early on by the rugged coastal landscape of New England—from salty ocean air to winter forests. His parents, both educators, nurtured his love for storytelling, language, and music, all of which would later influence his creative work.

Before entering the world of fragrance, Moltz pursued a career in music. He played in bands, sang, and studied film and history at Boston University. This musical background continues to shape his approach to perfumery—he often compares composing a fragrance to writing a song.

His entry into perfumery came unexpectedly. Around 2007, he began experimenting with historical recipes, creating bay rum as gifts for friends. Together with his wife, Kavi Ahuja Moltz, who handles the brand’s visual design, he founded D.S. & Durga in Brooklyn in 2008. As a self-taught perfumer, he developed his own approach through experimentation and the study of old herbal and fragrance texts, rather than following traditional European training.

His philosophy stands apart from conventional perfumery: fragrances should tell stories and transport the wearer to specific places, times, or emotions—not just smell pleasant.

Moltz’s creations are known for their conceptual depth and originality. His fragrance Debaser, inspired by a Pixies song, blends green fig, coconut milk, and light woods into what many consider a modern classic in fig fragrances.

With Burning Barbershop, he creates an atmospheric narrative based on a historic fire in a New York barbershop, combining classic fougère elements with smoky nuances. Mississippi Medicine showcases his use of unconventional materials like birch tar and incense to evoke ancient rituals and a deep connection to nature.

His experimental spirit is also evident in fragrance enhancers like I Don’t Know What and Leatherize, designed to be layered with other scents but equally compelling on their own. In Pistachio, he reimagines gourmand fragrances by pairing the nutty note with earthy patchouli instead of traditional sweetness.

Moltz’s work is defined by its strong narrative character. Fragrances such as Amber Kiso, inspired by Japanese temple rituals, and El Cosmico, capturing the vastness of the Texas desert, demonstrate his ability to translate places and emotions into olfactory experiences.

With his unique style and storytelling approach, David Seth Moltz has established D.S. & Durga as a leading force in contemporary niche perfumery, continually pushing the boundaries of what fragrance can be.