Lilac City

I blind bought this in a manic sleepless state based on my general like for the brand and love of lilacs (thankfully also had some coupons because that Bergdorf exclusive price point is high!). I don't necessarily regret my decision - I think this scent is beautiful - but I really wish it lasted longer on my skin. The longevity lacking there for me, I am lucky to get 2 hours on a good day. I feel as though I'll enjoy this a lot more in the spring and summer when my skin is exposed and the fragrance can breathe more. But for now I find that I have to reapply throughout the day to re-invigorate. Other than that gripe, I find this to be a very soothing musky floral that is fresh + maybe a bit soapy. Kind of reminds me of how I smell after I use a bath bomb. There is a beautiful softness and warmth as others have described. Edit: My partner sprayed this on himself and I smelled lilacs on him for hours after, has to be one of those perfumes that is still working even though you can't smell it working on yourself.

The 2023 Bergdorf re-release is divine, deep, delicious without being gourmand. It is a warm lilac which I love, airily musky and earth heavy. Lilac scents so often feel cold—this conjuring a warm, sensual spring day laden with lilac is refreshing. It’s heavy in how it sits as well: remnant notes lasted through a long, warm shower the other night and I find the sillage a satisfying veil (never imposing, but sheltering). As spring is beautiful in both its lightness and bursting violence, so is this fragrance. A Clarice Lispector quote from her short story “O Delírio” felt apt for this: “From the torn and black Earth, one by one emerges, light as the breath of a sleeping child, small beings of pure light, barely resting their transparent feet on the ground... Lilac colors float in space like butterflies. Slender flutes rise to the sky and fragile melodies burst in the air like bubbles. The pink forms continue to emerge from the wounded earth.”

According to the official packaging of the fragrance I received in 2025, the notes are listed as follows: Top Notes: Petals, Lime, Bergamot Heart Notes: Purple Lilac, Jasmine Sambac, Orris Base Notes: Fancy Musk, Concrete, White Moss I’ve sampled a wide range of lilac perfumes as part of my personal research project to find the most photorealistic lilac scent. Lilac City isn't exactly photorealistic, but it scratches a very specific itch. It captures an intimate, dirty lilac in a way that feels deeply sensual. Like a crack in the concrete sidewalk slowly exhaling a humid, floral vapor, this fragrance oozes with something raw and intoxicating. The jasmine sambac weaves seamlessly into this affair. This perfume is not fresh or airy. it's dusty, indolic, and deeply intimate. There’s nothing clean about it, and that’s precisely what makes it so compelling. The moment I spot a full bottle, I’ll be running to get it.

My favorite lilac perfumes is Lilac City from DS&DURGA - the dry down is perfection. Such a unique floral - it’s dewy and complex like an early morning walk in Central Park. I can feel the breeze and quiet... but you sense a tension of things to come. You stop seeing a thicket of soft purple over a stone fence. As you’re staring at the lilacs, you hear the city waking behind you - people crossing the street, horns honking, and a group of bicyclists coming up the path. You turn and join the noise but carrying a piece of lilac in your pocket. It

A simple and beautifully done floral woody musk. The main star here is a central natural lilac which is used in a nice absolute form. As the perfume dries off one can detect slight hints of amber, a concrete accord, sandalwood and synthetic musk. The perfume is akin to drowning in a sea of lilacs. The feminine leaning scent has moderate projection and good longevity. A must try for lovers of natural florals. Enjoy!

I just received the new Bergdorf Goodman exclusive release of this and I am so in love. It’s all lilac, and done very well. Unsure if this differs from the studio juice original but I am so glad I took the chance on it.

This smell is so precious I dare not review it, lest she reviews me 😮

cold, wet, stemmy lilacs. morning walks in echo park.

I think it smells like lilac...i thought i've smelled real lilacs before but i think i've mistaken hyacinth that i smelled for lilacs. Hyacinth smells a lot better and sweeter lol. This has something really earthy and green behind it, like vetiver. Not wearable for me but i may use this as a reference point. Update: wow drydown smells like realistic indolic lilac(i think). I think i really like this!

Lilac City is lovely...it has a natural lilac absolute with a touch of concrete as would be expected by the name...it appears every now and then DS is releasing a very small batch perfume based on rare and available essences in their personal collection...this one produced 50 bottles now long gone...

Some people love how real and delicate it feels, others find it a bit dusty or strange, but it definitely stands out from basic floral perfumes.

I had high hopes for this one. In search of realistic lilac scent I’ve seen people suggesting Lilac city. To me it smells horrible... it has some lilac note on top, but there is something on the background that really puts me off, some animalistic note that smells poopy. Definitely not what I expected from a fresh flowery scent.

This is okay. Don’t crucify me, but I think this is kind of boring. There’s a lot more I’d rather do with $280 than buy a 50 mL bottle of this scent. Starts off powdery and green, but the greenness is very gentle. Then settles down and smells like crushed lilac petals with the stems strewn about in the background. Not a whole lot of evolution. What you smell at first is what you get. For 2 hours. Then it’s gone. A simple, photorealistic lilac scent, so if that’s what you’re looking for this would definitely be one to try.

candied lilac pastilles crushed into powdered lines and snorted like scarface. only in the drydown does a brief facsimile of the lilac stems emerge, and this departs from smelling of purple flower smartie blooms. hyper-luxury as pretty caricature of itself. walks through central park in the springtime. resplendently bourgeois.

Dewy lilac flowers, maybe some violet too? it is a very fresh and beautiful scent. A lilac lover's dream. Super romantic in a vintage way. I would recommend this scent for a bride. She is getting married wearing a delicate lace dress, her wedding is in a beautiful spring afternoon.

Im not a Durga fan, but received a sample. This perfume is good. Realistic lilac, jasmine and orris on the backstage. Not strong scent. very surprised.

Ah - just read there were only 50 bottles produced. Can't wait to hear from those lucky few who were able to purchase!