Cognac Reign

Sampling D.S. & Durga – Cognac Reign, one of the house’s releases in 2025, a striking boozy blend with hearty, smoky, and woody aspects. It’s a less sweet cognac-led scent than, say, By Kilian Angels’ Share, instead pivoting a bit more toward the darker aspects, sort of hinting at a connection to smoky/leathery/resinous Amber Kiso. Cognac Reign is a little sweeter, albeit still with some heady sharpness (perhaps the via the orris, and even the cognac, itself), but overall has a similar character with a sort of woody center. I’m quite impressed by it and very much enjoy that they’ve released a fragrance in a similar vein (I’d argue) to Amber Kiso and Bowmakers, two of my favorites of the house’s main collection. It’s mainly its similarity to the former that gives me pause in wanting to buy this, but I similarly give it high marks to the other examples. Its concentration is EDP, its retail pricing is $300/210 for 100/50ml, and it’s sold in the US via the house website and great boutiques like Olfactif and Ministry of Scent. Its performance is excellent, fitting for a dark, boozy niche perfume, and it’s a bold, robust scent that could serve one well throughout a cold season, particularly in formal occasions. 8 out of 10

This is stunning. I ordered a D.S. and Durga sample pack and they included this as a free sample, so went into this expecting nothing. This wound up being my favourite one. This is rich, boozy and regal while still being cosmopolitan. When Durga said this was getting on the subway in NYC and getting off in Versailles they weren’t joking. They got this one perfectly right. This performs really well on my skin (I run warm) and the sillage is great. It’s not overpowering, but it’s noticeable. It’s sweet, but in the most unisex-leaning-masculine way. Boozy, woody, rich, elegant, classy. I love this so much and it was an easy full bottle.

This is so nice. A new favorite from DS & Durga. Ideal for fall, winter, and night. Lovely Amber, cognac with a touch of sweetness. Absolutely unisex, I want to smell like this as much as I want to smell it on someone else. Very long lasting as well. I sprayed two sprays on my wrist 7 hours ago and it is still nice and strong. Has just the lightest spice, the longer it’s been on my skin, the more I want to go buy a full bottle. Truly gorgeous. I’m ready for the weather to cool down.

This is gooood - the best DS & Durga? Every note feels present here - particularly this really unique, smooooth cognac note, + lots of antique wood. A dark, subtle sweetness from caramel/bergamot. Perfect for autumn. Feels like faded aristocratic elegance - moody, reluctant royalty.

Think 2010, at a club, with a drunk promiscuous girl reaching for cigarettes in her purse, while 10 guys are eye-fucking her from a disrance. Boozy, musky, I get a bit of slight cigarette smell from it. 10/10.

For me this the perfect manly skin scent on me , with layering possibilities this is my 4 DS&Durga fragrance and it been a enjoyable ride , will update later

To me the cognac note is more faint. Very nice iris and woody accords paired with sweeter vanilla notes. One of my favorites from DS.

orris congac and oak are amoung my favourite notes this is going to be an INSTANT buy when it hits australia

The fresh bergamont zaps over quickly on the opening and filters into the aged wood and orris powder realm. A boozy smooth layer right into some soft oak, but still holding onto the orris. The limo oak really holding the middle lane, and in fact is my favorite scent structure in this oldactory journey. Ends with hint of the tonka and almost a grass/oak blend - a scent reminiscence of sundown in a desert is the first thought to describe. Very pleasant. Unisex scent that leans feminine upon opening, but evens out to an 50/50 unisex fragrance, in my opinion.

It’s a nice smooth iris woody scent, very light but strong projection. Slightly soapy vibe to the Iris but overall the fragrance is kinda powdery. As it drys down it gets kinda smoky. I like freshness and sweetness that the bergamot adds. High quality. Not comparable to Angels Share just because of the cognac, AS is boozy and sweet which this isn’t. 7.5/10

The perfect balance of woody, spicy & sweet. Need more of this because it's lovely. I expected it to be overpowering, but it works really nicely on me. Tempting. Doesn't last very long though; would need a travel size to carry with me and respray throughout the day

Spicy and boozy with some some funky oud-like notes. I like it and I wish it performed a bit better.

Should have called it Iris Reign. Don't know where people are getting ashtray. The orris/iris note is crazy strong in this one. It's like they took Gentleman Reserve Privee and dialed down the booze and up the iris. Leaving this lipstick focused scent wishing for more of the other notes. Solid longevity but the iris is too much and the cognac is too little.

kind of manly and not really my thing. it isn't offensive though.

Immediately on spraying I am struck by the smell of CIGARETTES. Yes, cigarettes. To me this smells exactly like stale cigarette smoke mixed with old lady perfume and those sickly sweet violet-flavored pastille candies. After the dry-down the cigarette smell does fade somewhat into an oaky, leathery background that is slightly more pleasant, but by that point the associations have already been made in my brain and I absolutely cannot wear it anymore, no thanks. This was a scrubber for me. Yuck.

Pure unfiltered garbage kmt! Strong ashtray vibes. Defo NOT what i was expecting based on the notes. How dare people vote this as being similar to GG Reserve Prive! Some Mofos have lost their damn marbles!

A clean bergamot with light boozy caramel touch that can be worn during spring and summer... unlike Baraonda which I love but prefer in winter. This is a very airy fragrance, like a boozy skin scent that lingers all day long with faint sweetness. It’s very particular and hard to describe, but it’s very good! I like that the bergamot isn’t too masculine or harsh, it’s super smooth and airy, maybe because it’s combined with the orris, making this completely unisex. I don’t smell any cigarettes.

I'll admit, the promise of Cognac did attract me, and unfortunately, let me down. All I got from this was a weaker Nasomatto/Orto Parisi accord (you know the one), toned down, and unlikely to choke out the room. Other than that, I didn't get what I was hoping for. Maybe I need to try this one out AGAIN, but I don't think it will play much more differently for me, I'm afraid. This feels like Brutus or possibly Terroni -- not for me.

I’ve never encountered such a distinctive take on bergamot. The caramelized note greets you warmly, opening the door to the rest of the fragrance. A touch of aged dust mingles with boozy cognac, while orris ties everything together with a vintage ribbon. It’s the ballroom of an aristocrat’s palace. Powdered wigs bopping around and footsteps echoing across varnished parquet floors.

Wood planks, caramel booze, hint of oak. Not too sweet or powdery so far. Slight hint of cumin in here in the dark wood. It kind of smells like an MCM tiki bar in the basement of a jazzy house lovingly kept up. I like it but there’s a tiny hint of screamwood in the back that grates just a little.