Steamed Rainbow

REALITY : LET ME BE SO FOR REAL WITH YOU RIGHT NOW, This is the UNCANNY SCENT of a ✨Chlorinated pool✨ Here's what you're gonna smell—Violet’s ghost (like the ending (after smell???) if you shoved the flower into your nose). Then the soft powdery skin of mandarin, a whisper of orange, and a good hit of pepper. But let's go back to this Chlorinated Perfume. Because it's giving the kind of pool that stings your eyes just enough to let you know it’s pristine. Over-cared-for. EXPENSIVE. Think: a resort where the lawn is Technicolor green and the water is that artificial, shimmering blue that almost looks like a picture of the Bahamas. Think: your childhood neighbor’s pool on a breezy 90s early afternoon, chlorine lifting into the air, caught and carried by the wind. A distant boombox hums through a nearby house. The smell hits before the splash. It’s shockingly approachable. REVIEW 🦪: Steam. Somehow—steam. Filtered through violet, mandarin, and that thread of peppery green. How this becomes chlorinated feels borderline criminal... and yet, genius. It opens like childhood—bright, chaotic, sun-drunk. Violet, but not powdery—bent, electric. Mandarin mid-sunlight. A flicker of orange, like juice warming on pavement. The air is green, cool, alive. Barefoot—cannonball. Then it shifts. You’re in it now. Chlorine sharpens, rises. Steam thickens, clings. The water smells worked, alive. Swim practice. Goggles snapping. Lanes, repetition. Magic turns to structure. You want out. But you’re fully inside it. Another turn. You’re at the edge. Watching. Coaching. Cold December air, steam wrapping everything in chlorine and heat. The greens and spice tighten—controlled, intentional. The chaos organizes. Meets. Finals. That quiet electric hum before the whistle. The chlorine is still there— just not the main character.You are. And then... it softens. You’re older. Somewhere curated—a resort, maybe Germany, maybe nowhere real. The chlorine diffuses into memory. You move slower. No urgency. No expectations. No whistle. No cannonball. No set. Just water—and everything it used to mean. If you’ve lived by a pool, this hits something precise. I don’t know if I’d wear it out. I don’t even know if it works on my skin.But on paper? On clothes? It’s a time capsule that hums—nostalgic, uncanny, a little dangerous. Something your brain recognizes before you do. And I’ll be honest, I’m a little afraid of it. And completely drawn in.

This fragrance is somehow strikingly terrestrial and simultaneously ethereal. Upon first spray you are met with fresh citrus and led through hills beset with morning fog and endlessly lush, vibrant green grass dappled with dew. Instantly I'm transported to Iceland's Gullfoss, a very fond memory of mine, which unfortunately provoked me to buy a FB of this stupidly expensive for poorly performing formulation. Don't get me wrong, it smells great, and dries down into this beautiful earthly fresh water scent with a grass accord lacking the pungence and sharpness this note tends to evoke. However, the experience is limited insofar as you can manipulate it into adhering to your skin without dampening its projection. I have experimented, and I think this insight is probably the most valuable offering I can give here. The first time I tested this was with two sprays on dry, unshowered and unmoisturized skin. I was pleasantly surprised that by the end of a cool wet day I was still catching wafts of it, albeit faint, from my forearm. Given what I'd read from reviews, I felt a bit vindicated in my decision to purchase a FB. IME the worst time to apply this is immediately after a shower, as it all seems to either evaporate or get drunk up by the skin within mere minutes. Imagine my disappointment having wasted 5 sprays with not even a skincent to show for it after such a promising first impression. Lotion and occlusives whether layered on top or as an anchor are no help, only serving to further soften the already intimate sillage. I waited a few hours to reapply and it finally seemed to stick yet still didn't project like it did the first time I wore it, but then it was also a much drier day. I've found that it performs best on clothes and in humid climates when allowed to set into thoroughly dry and maybe a bit unbathed skin. Perhaps the natural oils give it something to stick to, or a barrier to absorption? Idk. Will update if I find a better solution. TLDR; A phenomenally vivid dreamy yet photorealistic petrichor that performs very poorly without a little finesse. FB worthy? It's up to you how much you're willing to shell out for what is better suited as a body spray. I'm still on the fence, but luckily I have plenty of product to get through before I have to make that call. :)

An absolutely gorgeous feat of perfumery. The first perfume that has ever literally brought me to tears when I first smelled it - for a *good* reason, rather than a bad one. What's so fascinating about this perfume is the way, as a whole, it so vividly mimics the smell of a garden hose on a mist setting, spraying over rocks on a warm summer day. But if you hone in on the notes, it is very accessible! It's at once a beautiful, evocative composition, but equally transparent and wears its heart on its sleeve. You really can pick up on the grass, the mandarin (which is unbelievably nuanced in its incorporation), the distinctly purple-y violet in the base. But it would be completely wrong to call this just a grassy, citrusy, or even watery perfume. It is both a very obvious sum of its parts and something far, far more as a whole. It's absolutely incredible. I've seen people compare this type of perfumery to the Margiela Replica line where they take concepts/memories of places and turn them into perfumes. But honestly they're quite different, and what DS&Durga has done here is on a whole other level. Where Replica hones in on one or two obvious, tangible aspects of a memory (a vanilla cookie, a smoky piece of wood, wet leaves on the ground, a tomato on the vine, etc.) and turns it up to 100, Steamed Rainbow takes the entire vignette. A moving portrait in time. It's a photorealistic tableau of quite literally everything in the 10 foot vicinity of a specific memory so many people who grew up in the 90's/early 2000's have. "BUT IS IT WEARABLE!?" the people shout, as I wax poetic about this expensive little bottle. The answer is YES, in my opinion. It shocked me how wearable it is, and not only that, it lasts a while and projects impressively on skin. And - even though this is a bad metric and variable for everyone - I got compliments on it when I wore it. Worth sampling first, though. Definitely not blindbuy safe. I've been thinking about what I could say about this perfume for so long, and even with all that hoopla I wrote up there, it doesn't feel like it does it justice. THIS is what perfumery is all about!

There seems to be some understandable confusion about this based on the name. The fragrance is actually inspired by an album, not a rainbow, or gay pride. The album is called "A Rainbow In Curved Air" by Terry Riley and it's a minimalist ambient electronic composition that consists of just two 20 minutes tracks. It came out in 1969 and was a basically spawned (or helped spawn) ambient and electronic music as we know it today. It still holds up very well - you can listen to it free on Youtube. The only direct reference to the album is on the web site, perhaps he should have called it "A Fragrance In Curved Air". This fits the brief in that it is also an ambient minimal composition. It's mostly citrus and woods but with a distinct fruity and watery element that makes it smell ethereal and delicate. The fruit kinda reminds me of skittles candy. Late dry down is like a watercolour fog. This is super modern - it has an alien sweetness and a futuristic feel, but it’s still very light and comfortable. Performance is subtle but persistent, 8 hours, close to skin. I do double up on sprays but that makes it last for me. Update; This layers really well with Molecule 1 + Black tea and it was doing this that made me realize this fragrance has a very steaming cup of tea quality about it, even by itself.

For me, it’s a hyper-realistic memory with overwhelming factual fidelity: it’s peak summer, and you’re lying on a damp towel by the poolside. It smells like wet, cold tile and freshly watered grass. The hose is leaking. It’s extremely hot outside, but you’re in the shade, and the dampness of the towel feels cool against the skin of your back. It’s 2006, or perhaps 2011. This is easily one of the most incredible perfumes I’ve ever tried, especially because it’s simultaneously so capital-W Weird and strangely wearable. It doesn’t smell like perfume at all, and yet it’s not alienating — no one would go, “WTF is that smell?” It’s high olfactory art and a perfectly reasonable perfume to wear for a walk. It’s a fougère, deconstructed, and a fougère, reassembled. It’s edgy without being a poser. Actually, it’s what ELDO wanted to be and never quite could. This is also the only thing I can wear during a heat wave. I crave it when and only when it’s hot outside. The 50 ml bottle I got is leaky, though, which is a shame considering the price point. I would, however, use it with a dropper if I had to, without complaining. It’s that special. Also, I agree with @pineapplefluff’s every word on this one.

Very evocative. I am immediately reminded of bubble wand mixture, playing in the garden sprinkler as a child, and wet pavement after a summer storm. Also quite specifically of the fountains (or the area around them) in a mall I used to visit. Such a rush of nostalgic connections all at once; scent can be so powerful. In terms of scent, the orange and elemi are definitely prominent in the opening. There is then a faint hint of grass, and a damp sort of scent conjuring images of wet indoor places like swimming pools (without the chlorine). As the citrus fades it gives way to a lightly woody floral. Does it smell like a rainbow? Who knows! But it is probably the most intriguing fragrance I’ve encountered in a while. This is a quiet scent in terms of projection, staying close and intimate. Longevity is average, around 4 hours or so on me. Definitely not my usual kind of scent, but one I am considering a full bottle of simply to relive the experience. Very liminal, and perfect for humid days.

Summertime! Hose! Water! This is summertime hose water! Clean earth, chlorophyll, a ghost of sunscreen, and this green-toned chemical scent somewhere between rubber and plastic. But the magic is how all this is conjured up though a cleverly-blended cocktail of citrus, violet, and grass. A truly sorcerous aquatic. If someone ever questions the creative artistry in perfumery, point them to this bad boy. This is aerosolized nostalgia right here; hundreds of memories stoppered in one little vial. A pity it vanishes after an hour or two on my skin, but easily forgiven for a hit of childhood Elysium. Mental Snapshot: Midway through grade school you move from the city to the burbs. It’s your first time having a backyard. A lawn. A garden hose. You spend hours capering about the fresh sod, playing with its settings. Shower, cone, mist, jet. That $7 adjustable nozzle brings you more joy than any birthday gift. tl;dr: the chemtrails are turning the frogs gay 🐸🌈

I applaud the idea behind the scent and the execution, even if the marketing is a little bit stretched (what the heck is indigo grass or blue almond flower?), because it really does smell carefree and evokes happier times. The opening is really fresh, despite not being citrus-forward or aquatic fragrance. It's dewy, with gentle aroma of mandarin skin. Additionally, the fragrance has some peculiar, plastic smelling component and the steam accord is reminding me of ELDO Fils de Dieu rice accord. The drydown has some weight to it, with musks, cashmeran and vetiver piercing through, but remaining humid. Performance parameters are the area where the fragrance lacks, so overspraying is justified. Personally I am going to use it as a mood enhancer. Not blind-buy safe, because it has unusual scent profile and the projection can disappoint. Even though comparisons to household cleaning products are understandable and justified, I still love this scent!

the most unique fragrance i’ve ever tried, and maybe my all-time favorite! on paper i was fascinated by the uncanny “childhood water park trip” vibe of the opening water vapor accord, but i assumed it wouldn’t be wearable on me. i was very wrong! the one downside of steamed rainbow is that the distinct and polarizing “steam” note does not really stick around on the skin for more than a minute. it smells completely different on skin vs paper, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing because i also love how it smells when i wear it! i’d describe it as citrus-y, a bit woodsy, and very unisex. the longevity is also pretty good considering its scent profile. when i asked my friends what they thought, they described it as “sultry and spicy,” which was unexpected but goes to show how subjective and versatile this fragrance really is. it works wonderfully on me, but i’m very curious how it wears on others.

I take any and every opportunity to yap about this fragrance because despite owning it for over a year now, it’s still blowing my mind. How did the folks at DS&D pull this off?! They’ve captured the ineffable, intangible quality of water vapor, the mist that sprays upward from the sprinkler as you dash through, forming an atomized, scattered rainbow in the summer sunshine. It’s not quite chlorinated and it’s not quite petrichor. Humid but not suffocating; cool mist with none of the stereotypical “blue fragrance” standbys. They harvested your happiest childhood summer memory, bottled it, and slapped a neat holographic label on the front. I’ve sampled hundreds of fragrances at this point and this is the only one to date that put an instant, involuntary smile on my face the minute I smelled it. It’s the perfect accessory to a really good mood.

Kissing my first boyfriend in the rain as a teenager comes to mind, that smell of raindrops hitting hair products and cologned skin. Getting ready for parties in a friend's bathroom with the mingling scent of five different girls' perfumes and hairsprays. Someone said opening a 90s catalogue that has been stored in a humid environment, lord yes - a new Teen magazine and dELiA's on the same day?! There's something very millennial about it I suppose. It draws on so many comforting memories but digs deep. I sprayed the sample exactly once and immediately dropped full price on the largest bottle they make. It even stayed on my skin after a lengthy shower and is quite the lasting scent for me. After falling in love with Jazmin Yucatán and now this, I'm always ready for whatever the little freaks over at DS&Durga are mixing up next.

Reminiscent of your last teen summer... This feels like you Just graduated grade 8... summer is here. You in an all time high. Sprinklers on... summer heat... freshly cut grass... lemonade stand around the corner. As you and you friends cannon ball into the pool. As the pool water evaporates off you skin... while you chase you friend to tackle them again... splash... moms cutting ripe fruits inside... to place it by the patio. This is that suburbia summer days. It’s so vivid but at the same time in slow motion haze. Smells like the longs days that transitions to cool long night bike rides... the parking lot sessions. All that fun you thought it would last forever...but smelling this... kinda feels like it does last forever in some other form. Glowing Skin, sun drench aura. Happiness. Happy Pride Month 🏳️🌈

This fragrance is so unique and has really grown on me. I’m glad I got a sample before committing to a full bottle as I wasn’t sure how much o did actually like it when I first tried it. It opens with this super fresh, somehow photorealistic, steamy smell that to me smells just like when it rains really hard on a hot day, and there is steam rising off of the hot ground. I also love a grass note and definitely start to get that a little bit right away too, but there’s some nice floral and citrus underneath too. I’ve gotten a lot of compliments every time I’ve worn it, and if you like fresh, grassy, light fragrances I think it’s a really good one to try. Not too sweet or strong, and although it doesn’t last incredibly long it just smells so good to me that I think it’s worth it

Impressive. Initial impression reminds me of a dry cleaner, that steamy clean smell. My wife described it as "chlorine-y", but I think that may have been a mental association with the general smell/vibe of an indoor pool. Both of those are pleasant. Once that initial impression fades, it's well-blended. No one note really stands out, but it smells kind of like freshly laundered clothes: a tiny bit soapy, a little floral, powdery. Really, really nice. The performance is underwhelming, sadly. In general, I'm a fan of DS&Durga. They're doing different things. Not all of them land (I'm looking at you, Pistachio), but the ones that do are very interesting and evocative. This is probably one of their less challenging fragrances, but still very interesting and evocative.

I feel like internet influencers have made this scent something it is not. I don't get "water hose" I don't get "plastic slide"... But i do get steamy, humid, citrus floral. The smell is extremely complex and not for everyone but it is currently my signature scent. It has a very wonderful light floral presence. While the steamy humid top notes fade quickly it does leave a extremely pleasant violet/green aura. a close skin scent but in a very classy way. Perfect in every weather. Perfect for after a steamy shower. Everyone seems to want a beastmode frag that cuts through a room. This one is subtle. Something for you. Something for people close to you. It has the same presence CK One has. Its light. unisex. intimate and close. but a bit more modern.

I love this, it's so fabulous and I've never smelled anything like it. David Seth Moltz has managed to capture the truest hyperrealistic scent of vaporous water. With the first spritz I was immediately transported to childhood and the enclosed, aquatic smell of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland. The grass emerges as promised, unmistakable in its realism, but never too bright. This is soaked grass on the edges of a deep lagoon. The damp steamy quality is present from start to finish, and my God, I enjoy smelling this so much. I myself don't necessarily want to smell *like it,* but I love smelling it.

Smelling this fragrance makes me want to cry. I work in a cosmetics store, and I've never worn it as i am very much a gourmand/sweet perfume kid of girl, but now and then i will walk over to the durga section and smell it just to be teleported back to my 8-year-old self standing on the driveway of my holiday house during Christmas while it rains. This perfume is possibly one of the most beautiful examples of scents evoking memories, as i am literally transported there. i cant even focus on the other notes, its just the beautiful smell of fresh rain on the pavement, and the feeling of sweet nostalgia

The opening is this really humid mix of mandarin, florals, and green almonds that aren’t quite ripe. It brings up a lot of nostalgia for me because I used to help my grandpa pick green almonds straight from the tree when I was little. After a bit, the violet starts to come through and it turns slightly powdery. I don’t get the plasticky or garden hose note that some people mention. To me, it’s a really complex, pretty, and nostalgic scent. The only downside is the longevity. 8/10 Incredible piece of art but as it completely disappears about 15 minutes after spraying, it’s hard to justify the price.

Had a fragrance shopping trip to Liberty of London and as soon as I smelt this it was an instant buy!!! I know it’s weak and the longevity isn’t great but the scent was worth every £ . I have never smelt a fragrance quite like it and struggle to describe it apart from the name is perfect , light airy and almost fizzy with that smell of a wet spring morning when the sun comes out of Behind the clouds . If I was being dramatic it’s how I imagine it would smell when your spirit leaves your body 😆. Won’t be for everyone but get a decant or sample. It’s worth the try

I just got a sample of this and it’s a very very special scent. At first the opening reminds me of the beginning of summer. It’s a foggy morning, the grass is dewy, and the air feels super fresh in your lungs. As it dries down it almost smells like your peeling a fresh orange and your getting a tiny spritz of juice in the air, it gets very zesty and sweet. after the first hit of orange the floral notes come in and it calms it down a bit and leaves you with a nice balance of everything. Compared to other orange scents that i’ve smelled this one stands out a TON.