FRAGRANCE | Pistachio EDP by D.S. & Durga: Does it smell like a snack or a dessert?

When D.S. & Durga first announced Pistachio as a limited release, my wife and I were naturally intrigued. It seems that this nut figuring in a number of releases has sort of become a fad as of late. Inexplicably, however, we never bothered getting a bottle until it became part of the niche house's permanent line. Also, not for lack of interest or anything, but for some reason, Pistachio is our first purchase from this house. 

Cute presentation, I must say. Instead of the usual lift-top box, they went with a sliding option instead. It's obvious that much thought has been put into designing the box, including ensuring how the bottle stays in place inside (see photo below). The bottle, while pretty simple, has its own character, more so since it doesn't resemble some other fragrance. I love the black top part of the bottle, by the way, even though I'm a little paranoid that it might come off every time I pull the cap from its tight grip.

Regarding the scent, the fragrance opens with an aromatic, spicy sweetness. It's almost boozy, in a way that Angel's Share by Kilian and Zara's Rich / Warm / Addictive are boozy. Not long after that initial yummy whiff, the sweetness reveals a marshmallow-y and creamy kind of something. Again, yummy. I was starting to wonder about the pistachio and then after several minutes, it makes its entrance. It's no pistachio ice cream, in case you were expecting it. Rather, it marches in with a marked nuttiness that is joined shortly by a deep-seated chocolatey smell. Yummy yet again.

The spice and booze slowly spread out, creating a nice, warm base. As the scent develops further, it turns more woody and less nutty. Somehow, the nuttiness transitions into a mild earthiness, which felt like a bit of a letdown, considering how pistachio is supposedly the headliner of this release. The scent also becomes less boozy although this facet still pops up every now and then. Likewise, the spiciness lifts off and the delectable creaminess melts until the scent settles into a warm, cozy, and moderately sweet whir.

I find the pistachio aspect in this fragrance wanting even if I do like the scent for what it is. It's nice, pleasant, and versatile. I was just hoping for that nutty character to last much longer than it does because this green nut deserves the spotlight. The fragrance is literally named Pistachio after all. 

Another letdown (well, sort of) is its performance. While the scent can last for several hours, most of its time is spent close to the skin, so much so that I always feel the need to respray after the third or fourth hour mark. Despite its supposedly higher concentration as an EDP, Pistachio has nothing on EDTs like Bastide's Rose Olivier and Guerlain's Aqua Allegoria Coconut Fizz, which both project way stronger and last much longer. That D.S. & Durga offerings don't come cheap also contributes to this minor disappointment, I guess. Still, D.S. & Durga's Pistachio is something, enough for me to overlook its shortcomings and keep it.