Bistro Waters

Have you ever tasted fresh cilantro seed? I live in a very sunny state where cilantro plants like to go to seed really quickly. This means they flower and then produce coriander seeds, which both makes it stop producing the leaves that you grew it for and also makes the existing leaves taste bad. However, when they do this, you can end up with green--as in fresh!--coriander seeds, and if you're like me you want to try to use them. Fresh green coriander seeds are absolutely magnificent in flavor, somewhere between the dried spice and the fresh plant and more potent than either alone. I write this to tell you that Bistro Waters both smells quite a bit like green coriander tastes, and smelling it is like the experience of tasting green coriander seed for the first time: absolutely mindblowing and potent and addicting. It opens with a blast of the coriander green pepper scent. I believe there's citrus and basil here, but it's playing backup. If you were hoping for cucumber fancy water from a hotel, look elsewhere: this one is weird and strongly green pepper and I love it. As it develops on a napkin, the basil and citrus take the forefront after some time and settle into something slightly more conventional, though still lovely. On my skin, the moss comes out quickly in the drydown--I think it shares some DNA with the original Commodity's Moss, which I also enjoy, though this moss is coming out dryer, perhaps even dusty, like the spanish moss in the pot of a decorative plant at a very fancy restaurant. It's lovely. I blind-bought this from Marshall's for quite a bit less than the MSRP, which makes me suspect it may be discontinued soon; I'm going to have to buy a backup or two because this is a really unique stunner that may help ease the pain of losing Nest's Verde.

I knew what perfume to grab this cool and bleak September morning with low clouds and limited visibility. Wearing Bistro Waters feels like stepping into an autumn Bainbridge Island farmers market just as the morning sun lifts the chill from the Cascades air. My first impression is always a burst of lime blossom, coriander, and pear. It's bright, crisp, and dewy, like the scent of autumn fruit piled high in wooden crates still damp from the orchard. I next get the green snap of bell peppers mingling with the sweetness of tangy mandarins. It’s the lively hum of the moody morning market captured in scent. My olfactory senses often translate these notes into granny smith and honeycrisp apples. By the time Bistro Waters settles, it grounds itself in basil, nutmeg, and moss. These notes feel like the earthy Pacific Northwest floor beneath my Danner boots. Crushed herbs, fallen leaves, and the faint spice of a kitchen warming for the morning. It’s rustic, green, and a little nostalgic for me. It's the scent of a harvest day, bottled. Bravo to NicoleBolas below me. I genuinely enjoyed reading your coriander seed review.

I'm an absolute sucker for this scent. I heard it described on a podcast & thought, "wow that sounds interesting." Went to the DSD store in Soho and sampled it on my skin and paper. Upon first smell through the bottle I wasn't sure what to think. It wasn't what I expected. I didn't get green pepper (which I was expecting) or anything salad-y, but instead smelled gourmand and greenery. It's such an unusual scent. I did a skin and paper test. I kept coming back to smell my wrist throughout the day and kept the paper on my desk. I kept coming back to the paper. I knew I loved it. It's unique, somewhat sexy, wears incredibly well in warm weather even though it's strong. I definitely smell the peppery notes of coriander & the spicy notes of nutmeg, however it has a fresh attitude from greenery. I love it and think it's probably one of DSD's best. The projection is great for me with a good sillage. I love the dry down on my clothes. It's hard to put my finger on, but it reminds me of my grandma. Very comforting. This is a sophisticated scent that is truly unisex for me.

I only smelled this on card in store, but it seemed very watery to me. Pretty weak for what it promises. Not the kinds of basil notes I prefer (I like Basil & Neroli by Jo Malone but Bistro Waters smells nothing like that). A little too complicated and yet still somehow noncommittal; I'm a much bigger fan of Coriander if you want a perfume with that note, it's more one-dimensional but it feels more sure of itself. Maybe it would open up on skin but I'm not convinced enough yet. EDIT: I take it all back. Bistro Waters I was not familiar with your game. Cute and smells like you're in a clean kitchen and about to make out with your crush and then eat a caprese salad. It's DS&D Coriander but better and longer lasting. More intrigue. More unisex. It could be fancy or everyday. She is everything. PUT TS ON YOUR SKIN!!!!!!!

mmm spicy, yummy peppery coriandery. masculine leaning but really fresh. blooms in the heat, with the smoke and gasoline. layered with love dont be shy by killian, makes me wish we met next summer

Uber-realistic green pepper. A hint of dirt. In short, green and weird. It’s on my full bottle wish list.

At first sniff on a tester I was in love—rich vegetal elements with a fresh hit of warm soil. Felt like breathing in hot summer air from under the shade of a tree with damp dirt below. Very playful and childlike. Sadly, I have to agree with other reviewers that once on my body, it is a bit of a disappointment. Those fresh qualities all but disappeared on me, immediately yielding to a very peppery, aftershave-like scent that feels too masculine for me. I did start eating a cara cara organge after putting this on, and the oils that were expressed into the air hinted at a nice pairing together, so maybe layering with something else with a lot of sweet citrus is something I'll try. I do agree that it effectively summons up a lot of imagery of certain spaces and kinds of people that feel like memories—I do get the hot summer day, the lunchtime air. I feel like one of my dad's single friends would be wearing this in the '90s, but his girlfriend named Misty would have bought it for him. I can also see some men I know wearing this, but they are far from my type. It's honestly an interesting scent, but not for me.

On first spray, I'm immediately hit with that spicy green pepper smell, which I actually find really refreshing and beautiful. I love herbaceous scents, and this one hits the spot. As it begins to dry down, I pick up the scent of gin, and a note that honestly smells quite a bit like cigarette -- not tobacco, but cigarette smoke. As a former smoker, there is a touch of nostalgia for me in that, and I think it's very fitting for the 90s bistro scent memory DS was trying to conjure. It's what I think Diptyque was going for but didn't quite hit the nail on the head with, when they created Orpheon. Because of that cigarette note, I don't know if this perfume is particularly wearable for me. As it continues to wear, the moss becomes prominent and it shifts to a very masculine scent, which DS and Durga tends to do on me. I find many of their perfumes so perfect at recreating the scents they're going for, but sometimes with my skin chemistry, those scents are not what I want to broadcast to people around me. I think if a man was wearing this, I would be very intrigued.

Green, aromatic and fresh spicy - all the things that tickle my fancy and this hits the mark. The coriander seed adds the zing and spice, the fruit although not discernible elevates it, the moss adding green depth, and the green pepper only plays a small part in my opinion. I am comparing the green pepper note to one of my absolute favourites Amazingreen by CDG where the pepper is prominent. I’ve been challenged by most DS & Durga fragrances I’ve tried and this one is the most wearable to me. Full bottle worthy if it wasn’t for the price.

I recently sampled this and LOVED it myself and my boyfriend. It is incredibly fresh without being overly aquatic or citrus forward. To me, it smells like the personification of a really fresh, crunchy, vegetable: juicy, crisp, and refreshing all at once. I think that this would be a great pick for the office or for someone looking for a fresh fragrance that is not generic. I will probably need a couple of more wears before I commit to a full bottle, but I’m sure that I’ll get my hot little hands on this one soon enough.

I first smelled the opening of this scent in the DS&Durga store in Brooklyn and fell in love, immediately purchasing a sample. For the first hour, the top and middle notes are so fresh and sharp. I've never smelled anything like it. However, after that, it quickly dries down into into a basic men's cologne. For some, the zing of the first hour may be worth a purchase of a full bottle. Not me, though.

Very peppery/watery/light green eau de cologne for warmer days, with a hint of originality. Does that hint of originality deserve your hard earned money? Probably not... Dyptique's Venise is way superior to this one (but already a unicorn, because of its limited ed)

This is fresh, watery and sort of savory like a dish. It gets points for being unique and I can clearly smell the bell pepper and it works. Interesting stuff but performance is meh and not FB worthy at this price but it's different and kinda cool.

Makes me feel like a rich asshole wearing a fine linen suit while smoking a cigar on the patio of my Mediterranean villa. Really nice. Primarily aquatic but well balanced with light florals, greens, pear.

a peppery-sporty scent done right. Very green, very herbal, not too "savory", all around fun. Begs to be worn with a Bloody Mary in hand.

It reminds me of the whiff i get whenever i crack open the veggie drawer in the fridge. Smells earthy, cold, and green. Oddly satisfying!

90s gwyneth paltrow - escarole and frisee salad with a club soda and cigarettes for lunch. not much longevity or sillage.

Lovely but a total skin scent. I never expect citrus scents to last long, but this one didn’t even make it two hours.

One of the latest from this little New York house that is becoming very big. It's green, it's fresh, but it's not as creative as I'm used to. I have a little bit of the green bell pepper image marketed as a top note, yes, but that's not what's most prominent on my end. To my nose, it's mostly something quite citrusy/herbaceous/spicy, with notes of basil, cilantro, on a very crunchy background (if there's anything of the green bell pepper, then it's really that crunchy side, or the little drops that are left inside after you've emptied the seeds). The drydown becomes quite heavy, masculine, almost disturbing for my fragile nose, and it's something quite recurrent with the brand's perfumes (which I really like on the whole though), and that I can't explain to myself. I think it's mostly a perfume that's already lived, a refuge value, that reminds me of something from Miyake, but not so light. It's mostly interesting because of the storytelling that goes with it, as always with DS&Durga (I like these perfumes mostly because they tell me stories, they come with a nice design, and even with Spotify playlists), but really not something I'd like to live with every day. Absolutely try before you buy - a tip I would extend to almost all their fragrances.

I like the scent, its like an aquatic citrus-y scent with a slight snap, great for warm weather . Unfortunately, it doesn't last at all. It's completely gone within the hour and I have to get right up on where I sprayed to smell it. So disappointing for the price point.

A rare DS&D that doesn’t work for me personally. For me it was too savory, a little too much like old food scraps, like old salad or crab louie LOL, yet not nearly as potent as you would think with a green pepper note. The drydown is a bit like stale cigarette smoke and I just don’t enjoy that. It’s ok, there are tons of others by this house I own/love/want.

This is not as savory and vegetal as I wanted it to be. At first whiff, you get a small bit of fresh lime, cilantro, and bell pepper, but it quickly becomes overpowered by the moss and dries down to a generic, soft/spicy cologne.

smells like an indian fennel candy that i hate. so it’s either coriander, liquorice, fennel, or a combo. not nice. also has a cooling effect

lime, herbs, and spices. didn't get a savory meal or bell peppers (i probably wouldn't recognize it).

I tested both Pistachio and Bistro Waters from D.S. & Durga, and unfortunately I had the same experience with both — to the point where they smelled identical to me. Immediately after spraying (on both skin and paper), I was hit with a strong base that completely overpowered everything else. I could not meaningfully detect ANY of the listed olfactive notes because this underlying scent dominated from the very first second. The best way I can describe it is: - old makeup bag - waxy cosmetic powder - old play-doh It was not a soft or airy powder — it was dense, pungent, and clung to the skin in a way that quickly became nauseating for me. What stood out most is that this happened across multiple fragrances from the brand (I also tested Black Magenta and experienced the same base, although I could detect one of the listed notes which was pineapple). That leads me to believe this is part of D.S. & Durga’s “house base” or a shared fixative (core structural component) that my nose is particularly sensitive to. For comparison, I’ve smelled a loud powdery base in Tom Ford’s Electric Cherry, but that one reads very differently to me: - sharper, louder - more synthetic - more “clean” Whereas the D.S. & Durga base feels: - heavier - waxier - more pungent and suffocating The difference is significant. One feels like synthetic powder; the other feels like dense cosmetic residue. Because this base note appeared immediately and completely masked the intended scent profiles, I wasn’t able to experience either fragrance as described. That said, I don’t think the perfumes are “bad” — this seems to be a matter of sensitivity to a specific base material. If you enjoy powdery, musky, or cosmetic-style bases, you may have a completely different experience. But if you’re someone who is sensitive to waxy/powdery musks or prefers clear, distinguishable notes (like tea, fruit, or gourmands), I would strongly recommend sampling first. 1. What I smelled: pungent cosmetic powder, none of the olfactive notes. 2. Reaction: nauseating within minutes. 3. Verdict: sample first, avoid this brand if you cannot tolerate D.S. & Durga’s signature base material that D.S. & Durga likely uses across many of their formulas.

Smells Dusty, like a grandma's house if it had mould.

Bistro Waters, you have my heart, but I have some qualms... Let’s start with the good. This is a beautiful green pepper, citrus floral, coriander, herbaceous, oakmossy, and almost mentholated fragrance. It’s green, fresh, and every so slightly masculine, but I think it would be stunning on anyone. Think it’s unique in some ways (mostly the green pepper note), and quite familiar in others (It has a classic herbal men’s cologne vibe to it). I’d recommend trying a sample for sure. I’d did and couldn’t stop thinking about this fragrance. Now the not so great... I love this fragrance but wish the silage and longevity were much stronger... and I’m someone who doesn’t always mind having moderate/personal scents - there’s a time and place for subtle fragrances. I just like this fragrance so much upon first spray that I wish it was stronger and more long lasting... It’s definitely “watery” and light after and hour or so. A fragrance that you have to reapply throughout the day, which I honestly do not mind, because it feels refreshing to do so, but I end up spraying probably 12-16 sprays through out the day to keep the freshness alive... With that in mind I do recommend buying the 100ml bottle (From a discounter... sorry DS&DURGA love yah, but some of your other fragrances are worth the luxury price point.) Because of its subtle qualities however, I find it to be an excellent layering fragrance. It pairs beautifully with other green scents in my collection but especially with Paula’s Ibiza (Loewe), Basilico & Fellini (Vilhelm), Debaser, and I Don’t Know What (DS&DURGA).

The notes on here make me think I would like it but... I worked a job cutting acrylic with laser cutters for trophies. White smelled the worst when you cut it, we had to open all the bay doors every time it was powerful and stunk up the whole shop. What we cut the most was clear acrylic. When the acrylic was cut on a table saw it didn’t have the same smell. It was particular to the lasers and didn’t smell bad in itself but there’s a very distinct aroma of plastic getting vaporized and melting. Bistro Waters smell exactly like that. I can’t really explain it. I blasted it on a tester and was immediately taken back to that job. I’ve tried to sample this multiple times thinking maybe I’ve just lost my mind but every single time it’s melting acrylic.

On my skin, I get watery (not juicy) pear with a touch of coriander in the opening. It progresses slowly into basil, but stays in that soft-spicy territory. I felt I was promised green pepper, but there is more of an herbal greenness than a vegetal one. Oakmoss and nutmeg are typical in a lot of beloved green fragrances, but in Bistro Waters these elements added a masculinity I did not expect but really enjoy. Fresh, green, and light, with a little musk, a pear martini served alongside a dish of frisée salad with sherry vinaigrette.

I bought this because of the green pepper note 🌶️, but ended up liking it for its men’s cologne vibe on a guy who’s been eating green peppers and sipping on pear cocktails 🍐🍹. It’s got a hipster, artistic, and pretentious edge—kind of like a fragrance that’s trying hard to be unique but ends up feeling a bit garbage in its pretentiousness.

It has very Aventus / Club De Nuit Intense vibe to it! Think Green Aventus!

Smells like a sexy man, who is a smoker and is wearing an aftershave.