FRAGRANCE | Cowboy Grass EDP by D.S. & Durga: A ruggedly handsome cowboy in the desert

Throughout my so-called fragrance journey, vetiver has become a note I've learned to recognize and love. Because of how multifaceted it is, I've been enamored by it. Aside from being primarily earthy, I also love how, depending on the type of vetiver or its extraction perhaps, it can also be grassy, rooty, dusty, lemony, or woody. In the case of D.S. & Durga Cowboy Grass, it's a handsome combination of different traits.

The vetiver here is grassy but dry, dusty around the edges even. Unlike Carolina Herrera 212 Men or Memo Paris Irish Leather, both featuring a green, grassy accord, Cowboy Grass leans more like brown, dried grass. As the scent progresses, it only dries up even further into a more hay-like character, as if it was left to wilt under the unforgiving desert sun, its moisture all sucked up. However, a lemony citrus zing somehow makes up for the lack of precipitation, lending some degree of brightness in an otherwise harsh and dreary landscape.

A bitter, herbal flavor is also weaved into the composition, which helps steer the ship in an aromatic direction. There’s a faint smokiness far into the background, blocked by all the herbs but noticeable when smelled up close. A very mild sweetness is also added to balance things out but is carefully measured so the overall scent profile remains dry. This dryness makes Cowboy Grass apt for warm or even scorching hot weather.

After some time, the herbal facets are played up as the core note vetiver continues its transformation from green to hay. The lemon likewise asserts its presence at certain points, that occasional pop of citrus a welcome surprise amid the fragrance’s prevalently dry aroma. Eventually, it settles. It no longer has that zing from the opening but its bright, lemony flavor, however toned down, has now spread and is infused into the herbs and the dry vetiver. Except for the rather nuanced development of its notes, the fragrance is practically linear. 

Although Chantecaille Vetyver proves it can also be made more feminine, vetiver has long been associated with men’s fragrances. That said, D.S. & Durga Cowboy Grass leans masculine, one that fits perfectly in outdoor, rugged settings but wouldn’t be out of place either in the office or some formal (preferably daytime) event. Projection is above average but its radius starts shrinking after two or three hours until it becomes a skin scent. It, however, springs back to life with heat or a little activity. While it can last you the whole day with enough sprays, I opt to touch up just so I can smell it on me more. All in all, this is something worth trying, especially for vetiver lovers. A potential drawback, though, is the brand’s price point.