Big Sur Eucalyptus

forget "the most festive cologne of all time" (which to me just smells like a splash of citrus atop some pretty generic woody accords), because if you're looking for a ds & durga christmas scent, this is it! I scored a bottle of this in the dead of summer, and while the world around me was a muggy cauldron filled with cicadas and wasps, my initial impression was wow, this smells like bug spray and mentho-lyptus. i was debating about reselling it but kept it in my collection and idk if it matured, or if i matured, but DAMN this stuff is an a+ perfect fragrance on my skin during these cold and dry long nights. it marries with my skin chemistry way better than it did in the summer. cool and spicy and cozy, i want to wear it all winter long. eta: i had a person tell me they couldn't be around me while i was wearing this fragrance, as it was affecting their allergies. this is a strong, borderline harsh eucalyptus that isn't for everyone (i'm still a fan, tho).

I grew up vacationing at a quiet beach community on Monterey Bay called Pajaro Dunes. There, vacation houses front the beach and behind them are agricultural fields. Separating the two is river leading to the sea and a grove of eucalyptus trees planted long ago as a windbreak to screen the fields from the salt and sand. A few Monterey cypress trees sit above the grassy dunes. Big Sur is not far away, but to me this doesn’t smell like Big Sur (which I associate with damp redwood forests overlooking the sea.) However, this smells exactly like Pajaro Dunes which is just a few miles north of Big Sur. Reading through the reviews, it seems this appeals mostly to those of us who grew up in the Monterey Bay and San Francisco Bay areas. Like me, others with those scent memories seem to find it astonishingly accurate and nostalgic. But without that association, I can understand that this might not be as appealing or special.

Writing prematurely, perhaps, since I've just smelled this for the first time today. But I'm compelled to write, as it's been a very long time indeed since I've had such a strong, heartfelt reaction to a fragrance. INSTANTLY Big Sur Eucalyptus hit some very powerful psychic resonance in me. It's nostalgic (thanks to that Pacific eucalyptus combination), but bracing and fresh enough to create a sense of optimism and motion. Complex but light. Lively yet well-mannered. I could very, very easily imagine taking this on as a signature fragrance, or opting for BSE should I ever be faced with a 'you can keep only one' situation. Bittersweet. As I enter the fourth hour after spritzing, the projection has mellowed considerably but the pleasure remains, my spirit is touched, and my heart is BROKEN by that pricing. I'll start saving, and maybe selling.

I love it. This is the smell that I expected from Aesop, sadly, that was not the case. The opening is a mild “real” eucalyptus, the big round leaves, not the small hard leaves on the stem. A little citrus, a little green. A mild fragrance but smells so clean and niche. The long wear is a mild spicy scent that sometimes throws a little camphor/eucalyptus reminder out. Herbaceous. Green. Spicy. If those are your thing, you’ll appreciate this one. I ordered a sample and immediately ordered a full bottle upon smelling It. This is my favorite from the house.

A beautiful unabashed aromatic fragrance. Begins with a bracing eucalyptus, seems that everyone has their own associations to it. The eucalyptus begins to settle and gives off an aura of warmth similar to iso e super— there but not. On skin it becomes very woody, aromatic, and spiced. On clothes it retains the aquatic notes and the gentle florality. Projects nicely without smelling synthetic. I’m reminded of the smell of many of Aesop’s lotions and creams with this fragrance. Naturalistic, beautiful, minimalistic in the best way.

opening is bold steamy spicy green medicinal spa hospital ft boat ramp marine algae. salty. drying down, the salty overwhelms and it flavors it masculine. i love the auto fragrance, i put it in my clothing/sock/lingere drawers and cupboards. but i dont love this, i think its the salt that bothers me. i really want to own this scent but i keep hesitating to actually purchase it... mainly because the price tag is -ahem- extortionate.

This is amazing quality to me!.... Very evocative and reminiscent to anyone lucky enough to spend some time along the PCH and Big Sur. Not sure why it’s so divisive. Yes the eucylaptus is raw and extremely strong at first but it settles down into a nice herbaceous woody fragrance. It’s extremely easy to wear and comes off as fresh clean and refined imo. Mature leaning masculine. Projection and longevity is mild to moderate

Able to procure a sample, which has led to some disappointment as of course it is discontinued and has not shown up on eBay the several months I’ve been watching. A very realistic eucalyptus that lasts several hours. Strong projection. Spicy woody dry down. I don’t get any ocean vibe, more the foggy seaside forest. I really enjoyed my 3 days wearing it. Let me know if you have a bottle to sell. 10/24: Back in stock!

I grew up in the SF Bay Area, and have been searching for years for a perfume that smells like hiking through the Marin County chaparral. This hits that for me exactly! Eucalyptus, dry grass, a little dust, a hint of salt water. I disagree with the reviews that say it's not super wearable, I've been wearing it almost daily and feel like once it settles on my skin it is just a really pleasant spicy green.

I associate Big Sur with damp redwoods, but it does remind me of summer spent in Carmel/Monterey and even as far north as Fort Bragg, cypress trees, eucalyptus, and warm sand dunes. If you grew up in Northern California this scent will hit you right in the nostalgia.

I just love it and it’s SO transportive. Other worldly level - one sniff take you instantly from the city in makeup and shorts, to the Pacific Northwest forest on a cool foggy day in a fair isle sweater living that van life

This is a super underrated fragrance. Smells like a mix between Vetiver Extraordinaire and Royal Mayfair from Creed. High quality , wearable frag

Eucalyptus barbershop is how I would describe this. Not quite what I was expecting, but close. The camphor element is definitely there, almost like a eucalyptus vaporub. There's a dark/mysterious vibe to it... imagine you're on a morning hike, under a thick canopy of Eucalyptus trees, with that cool, thick marine layer and coastal fog surrounding you. Overall, I think it's a very pleasant scent. Great mood booster and well suited for casual daytime use or dinners out in spring and summer. Having been to Big Sur CA, I do smell elements of it in here for sure. Those elements are wrapped up in a slightly soapy, 'clean' smelling perfume base. I don't think it's quite as photorealistic as say, Aqua Motu by CSP, but it's realistic enough, while providing a nice barbershop/soapy background to keep you smelling fresh. I like it a lot. However, due to the high price and limited availability, I wouldn't say it's a great daily driver. Great for the occasional weekend where you feel like being transported to the Central California coast for a few hours.

Agree with floralcowboy below - this is foggy, cliffside Monterey Bay with the cypress and the eucalyptus. Definitely a masculine leaning fragrance, although I'm also not sure how wearable it is. The green, camphorous notes come through throughout, but as the fragrance sits the vetiver starts to pull through pretty strongly. I think the vetiver grounds this fragrance and makes it more wearable, particularly as it dries down. This is refreshing and unique (I've never smelled anything like it), and I think it would be a neat signature scent. I can't see myself (as a woman) wearing it, but it would probably work really well on my husband. I love the idea and execution behind this fragrance. A great homage to the northern California coast as an almost photorealistic (and nostalgic) eucalyptus.

I grew up around a lot of Eucalyptus trees so this scent is very nostalgic to me, my main reason for purchasing a sample. Incredible how a person from New York so accurately captures the West Coast spirit in a bottle so often in this house. On card this fragrance smells pretty unisex, but on skin (on me at least) it smells more masculine which was disappointing. I think my boyfriend will like it though so not a loss by any means. NOTE: while marketed together, the fragrance DOES smell different than the Big Sur After Rain candle and lotion. The candle has a more earthy scent, leaning much heavier into the rain factor, while the fragrance focuses much more on the plant and fresh spices (dry down smells pretty generic men's woody spice fragrance like mentioned below).

I only own a handful of perfumes. I literally only learned this year that they didn't always smell like alcohol when you first spray them, and that the scents could evolve past their initial smell. So take my opinion with a grain of salt, but I really enjoy this. I see why people think it smells turpentine-y, and I also can see why it might not be someone's cup of tea. I'm a couple hours in, though, and I really enjoy it - I think the scent that's left on my skin now is very reminiscent of being out on the California coast, and I think that the eucalyptus shines through in a really pleasant way (edit: but note it is STRONG). Monterey is one of my favorite places in the world, and I get a lot of that vibe from this.

Got a decant of this which I am enjoying, but I would definitely get a decant first. This isn't a safe blind buy at all. The opening gives you a big hit of the eucalyptus and humid green notes- a great complex summer fragrance for those of us who aren't big tropical fruity fans. It smells like walking through the eucalyptus forest after a steady rain. BEAUTIFUL. My issue is after four hours it dries down to a kind of generic smelling gentle men's shaving cream fragrance. I love it enough to respray it, but I don't think I'm springing for the full bottle at that price point.

acrid, sweet and salty; while the drydown is a concoction of creamy-salty-medicinal unisex pleasantness, the real star of the show here is the scent's opening and first ≈15 minutes - its marinated cucumbers, pungent eucalyptus and sea water, all bordering on smelling like vomit, but its enticing, it pulls you in, its sexy. the scent calms down after a while and definitely turns a bit meek and more generic, but its an easy wear, clean, woody, but it retains its medicinal edge throughout. post scriptum: on dry-down, sometimes smells a tiny bit like secretions magnifiques :)

I wanted to love this, it has most of my favorite notes, but on my skin the mix of notes comes across as freshly grated carrot. Once the scent starts to dry down (15-20min) you can differentiate the eucalyptus rosemary, and magnolia. However, by that point the scent has died down significantly and is just a personal scent. By the 2-3 hr mark it smells truly delightful, as if you recently went for a walk in Monterey. The scent is great for triggering memories, but with poor sillage and projection is not something I'd reach for often.

I like it, but not as much as I was hoping to. The eucalyptus is very strong which I like, but it leans a little more spa/ shampoo eucalyptus oil and not so much a fresh plant. I do get the sea salt notes right away which I like, and it is herbal and woody, but overall it doesn’t feel as natural or fresh as I wanted it to be, it reminds me too much of like bath products or almost medicinal? I got a decant and I’m glad I tried it out before committing to a bottle. It’s nice and I’ll use it up but probably won’t buy a full bottle

I love the Big Sur After Rain Candle and was one of the people pressing for it to be made into a perfume, so I blind bought this. I've worn it for two days and I'm feeling mixed about it. It opens incredibly astringently on my skin but then develops into a more pleasant green/woody scent. It is a bit jarring how intense the smell is at first and then how soft it goes. I seem to get no more than 4 hours of wear on my skin with minimal sillage after the first 15 minutes. I probably wouldn't recommend a blind buy. Overall: 7.4/10

This worked pretty well on me. The opening note is a blast of eucalyptus, but it does down into a more generic green fragrance that sort of loses the eucalyptus feel after a while. Quite pleasant and imminently wearable to me. The note that some describe as cat urine is, I suspect, the Rosemary. That is the one shrill element in this composition. I would definitely retest this a few times before I would feel comfortable buying a bottle of any size.

The eucalyptus starts medicinal but only very briefly; hardly worth mentioning. The aquatics are very clean scented to me. There's a natural spice in magnolia that really blends beautifully with the rosemary & cardamom. Suitable year-round. Smells almost identical to Coastal Veil by Pineward. Weak projection and longevity, not sure if it'd be worth the price for full bottle.

Blind bought. Citrusy and herbal. Quite nice. Can see this being worn year-round. Think I’ll keep it.

I bought this during the sample sale as a blind buy, based on the fact that I like the candle, and find it very remniscent of a trip my best friend and I took to Big Sur. For context, I'm from the Bay Area, so I do have those California eucalyptus scent memories that others describe here. I love the opening of this perfume and agree with the other reviewer that it's very Christmassy. I live in Seattle now, and there's something that is actually kind of PNW about this perfume: damp forest. I think it just gives West Coast all around. I also get almost like a fennel or black licorice note on my skin. Reminds me of absinthe, which I love. The first hour of this perfume is so lovely, but unfortunately like so many other DS and Durgas (particularly Bistro Waters) by the second hour, it's leaning too masculine/musky for my tastes. There's also a fetid/animalic almost fecal note in the base that is kind of off-putting once the top and middle goes. It layers nicely with Steamed Rainbow! It really brings out the rose and violet notes of that perfume. Not a safe blind buy. In the realm of El Cosmico in that regard. I think the herbaceous opening is pretty, but could definitely be off-putting to some.

Another cash grab from the brand, obviously for a "limited time". This has been my favorite house for so long but they are constantly reworking and repurposing certain accords, notes and etc into new products and trying to create FOMO for people and it is becoming a turn off. Their insane pricing on studio reserves and increases in the main line are just so strange to me. I mean Chanel has cheaper scents than D. S. & Durga now. In any case, this smells generic, aquatic and green. I've never smelled the candle version but I'm def not into this.

As a fan of the candle and the car tag version of this scent, I hoped this would be decent. The opening was pleasant with eucalyptus+cypress+cardamom combo but as soon as it started drying down, I could detect copious amount of ambroxan, and not that I am against the aromachemical particularly, it's just so obvious here and absolutely overpowers and demolishes everything else. Not a scrubber, but I don't see myself giving this another full wear.

I was first exposed to this scent in the car scent that I bought from DS & Durga. Tbh, this scent is meh to me and does not justify the $210 price tag. I smell the eucalyptus and camphor a lot, which gives a medicinal herbal balm vibe. It's a little more sweet and spicy on my skin like cinnamon. It falls under a fresh and clean scent, and I can see that some people from Northern CA feel a deep sense of connection with the scent, but not for me.

A green herbal aromatic perfume with a spectrum of synthetics and resins—not unlike the smell of paint brushes soaking in a bucket of turpentine. After an hour this astringent scent mellows into something more agreeable, but I can’t figure out if I like Big Sur Eucalyptus....or if I think it’s wearable. Nonetheless, there’s something strangely intriguing.

Something about DS&D scents smells very synthetic to me. Obviously aromchemicals are unavoidable (an can smell great!) but there's something almost plastic-y about this scent. It's not bad, and the eucalyptus is well tamed, but it just doesn't evoke the damp foggy forrest coast of NorCal

eucalyptus front with some cypress woody tones. spicy and sea like elements that are subtle low sillage. decent performance when in range. moderate low longevity

prefer the candle. as someone from california, the scene romanticized deeply in me and i was craving more petrichor and salty woody vibes

Initial spray is good but the dry down smells like a bag of potatoes. 🥔

Edit: Luckyscent sample arrived prior to the full bottle. In brief understandable terms it’s a camphor heavy top veiled over an iteration of French Lover. It’s green, woody, and musky. In the same circular reference as Victrix, Laurel and others with the Frederic Malle being the pinnacle. Once it arrives I will return unopened. Prior review: Just ordered blind from brand website based on the notes, a bit risky. But the site offered 20% off and included a free 7 oz Big Sur candle. Hope that helps.

It smells like eucalyptus. I don't personally like that, it's a pungent headache-inducing aroma reminiscent of spas and bathroom products. The subtle notes in this lend an airy, herbal, deceptively citrus quality. But it's mostly eucalyptus. I don't really care about prices of fragrance, but I'm certain you can smell exactly like this for half the price. Leans masculine, not transportive, does not evoke any images for me.

It's a big NO-NO for me. There's so much eucalyptus in the opening, paired with so much spiciness, it's way too much to handle. I honestly started coughing badly when I smelled it. I think even wearing eucalyptus essential oil by itself is less deranging than the perfume. Yes, maybe it settles down to something better, but I really can't get through that harsh opening.

I am from the California coast and while this is a photorealistic scent of the trees by the beach, (almost medicinal eucalyptus, cool fog, cypress) it doesn't quite capture the landscape... some sweet wildflowers or a lighter accord would both balance it out, and complete the look. At the moment, it is too astringent for me to wear alone.

Honestly don't think this should be a fragrance but a candle to smell in the back of an asian store near the kitchen. It's got that cat piss accord too. 2/10

People who dislike a perfume before smelling it are PATHETIC! Ew!!🤮

I found this way too aquatic, bordering fishy.

Smells exactly like dried leaves + eucalyptus with a really harsh citrus note. Super harsh and not refined, almost nauseating. Hard pass.

On initial blast to the center of the neck & behind my ears I get a very natural burst of lemon & As it’s clearing some It’s beginning to give me the listed marine note & By marine I mean out in a boat fishing, Not fishy by any means, But the shallow water algae floating on top, Maybe the smell of the water at the boat ramp type of deal. This for me is the beginning of it...Call me weird, But I love it when I’m sore & have an excuse to wear & enjoy the scent of Tiger Balm!!! That could be more camphor than eucalyptus, Not sure to be honest, The non sweet citrus smell starts to seemingly dominate the mid of this, And where I just knew I’d love this, It turns out that I personally don’t!! Perhaps I had camphor in mind, Which I love confused with eucalyptus and although this could be a good ruggged out doors country scent for some, Me being a country boy myself would go for Frederic Malle French Lover or Tauer Lonesome Rider over this in a heartbeat, whereas this honestly reminds me more a citronella candle used outdoors to keep the mosquitoes away!! I definitely can see it pushing the city girls away I’m disappointed in my spray sample. UPDATE: I usually give a good point if later on the dry down when there’s something positive to add: My partner I work with come out of the cold into the warm building & frowned & yelled out IT SMELLS LIME MEDICINE IN HERE!! & I later applied more & went out into the weather & sure enough reminded me of lemon eucalyptus Theraflu Tea or the Original NyQuill lol , Things which reminded me this time last year of being sick in bed with covid..I know this is niche & the point is to be different & If you want that I’m sick vibe You can definitely get it here, Because this thing projects in the cold weather

BattleofActium is pretty spot on. This has that French Lover sour-musky dry down. They both have a piney, terpenic, bitterness running through their body which FL gets from galbanum and incense, and this gets from what I'm guessing is eucalyptus and maybe rosemary. The opening here feels a litle too lemony-aromatic in an antisceptic way, but it's fresh and invogorating with the heavy camphor. David said that he hesitated using the candle formulas in perfume because he doesn't like how they sit on skin, and I would say a small portion of this gives me that same worry. Like most D.S. & Durga stuff I find it a little rough around the edges, and I think the padding that French Lover gets from warm woods and musks highlights the difference between elevated French perfume with it's smooth lines and sensuality, and David's more unconventional, rugged flair for recreating a sense of space and environment. All that being said this is pretty nice and gets better as time goes on as the sharpness fades and I pick up very faint notions of wet wood and earth. Whether it's worth the price I'm not sure, but it's worth a sniff if you're looking for a eucalyptus forward fragrance.

Years ago I smelled the Big Sur Eucalyptus candle and it instantly transported me back to a particular stretch of highway on a California road trip I had taken some years earlier. I loved it so much and was sad that it was just a candle and not a wearable scent. Now I know they released the perfume a little while back, but it took me until now to finally get a sample and try it for myself. I fully expected to once again be snapped back to that moment in time that I remember so fondly, but that didn’t happen. This scent is clean, fresh, and a little medicinal, but overall it really just smells like a pretty unremarkable men’s cologne to me:( And with time it only grew more masculine on my skin. I’m disappointed, but on the bright side, that’s a couple hundred bucks that’ll be staying in my bank account a little longer lol.

Beautiful take on a California eucalyptus but not for me. This has a very physical opening like camphor or medicine, it opens up my sinuses- to me that opening feels a little screechy. It dries down into a lovely fresh, woody, masculine leaning scent with a little spice. It doesn't suit my skin but it is something I would love to smell on a partner. I understand why it's so divisive, it is very California eucalyptus which is quite nostalgic for me and anyone who has lived there but it isn't quite the same as a eucalyptus essential oil or what I imagine most people expect from that note. I think skin chemistry is key with this one.

Being an Australian I have smelled native Eucalyptus since childhood growing up amongst the Australian Bush ( aka forests ) and it is an incredible aroma, however in a fragrance I associate this with both Asthma/Cold & Flu relief oil usually in a humidifier. This along with Rosemary which I grow in my garden gives off similar vibes only in a culinary way. Given that is my own personal experience and memory imprint of Eucalyptus and Eucalyptus based fragrances it may well be suitable for you. Eucalyptus being a native Australian tree is a tricky one for me.

In a world of clumsily blended fast fragrance ,this is an absolute masterpiece. Its a perfect example of expert,understated perfumery. So natural and whimsical. The airy and sea notes are fantastic and a far cry from old school aqautic accords. Ive never been to california (unless you count the one near great yarmouth in UK) but this really is armchair travel.

Blind bought this because I love the Big Sur after Rain scent. The opening on me smells like menthol, but after a few minutes that goes away and this does smell like the Big Sur after Rain scent (fresh, green, a bit herbal). The projection isn't huge, and the wear time is about 5-6 hours on me.

My husband's signature scent, big time swoon. The other day we drove through Big Sur and I swear the air smelled exactly like this. Just the best mixture of woody and fresh, creative and photorealistic.

Salty cardamom with tons of camphorous notes. A strange one, cooling in the background but a big, spicy warmth up front.