
Prince
Aimed at wearers who seek daring artisan perfumery rather than clean office staples, Prince offers a brooding, dramatic mood suited to cool autumn days and quiet winter evenings. Dawn Spencer Hurwitz designed this eau de parfum with an imposing character that feels distinctly esoteric. Bitter top notes of chamomile and star anise quickly announce that this is serious, challenging artisan craft. A core of powdery iris, spicy nuances, and red rose lends theatrical structure, while a dense foundation of cured tobacco, balsamic resins, and raw civet delivers sustained warmth. Prince belongs at private evening gatherings, artistic events, or solitary contemplation when you want a rich, assertive amber fragrance with historic weight.
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Performance Metrics
25 VOTESOpen Performance Breakdown 1 TAKE
Community performance ratings place Prince in the upper tiers of longevity and presence. Three out of five voters classify its longevity as eternal, while one votes for long lasting and one for moderate. Sillage votes tilt between moderate and enormous, reflecting a robust scent bubble that holds up through an entire day.
Notes Pyramid
Search these notesChoose where each note belongs.
Prince revolves around a striking tension between herbal bitterness and animalic resinous warmth. It opens with brisk star anise, chamomile, and lavender before drying down into an opulent base of leather, civetta, cured tobacco, cacao, and sweet tolu balsam, accompanied by soft powdery iris in the heart.
Main Accords
10 MAPPEDThe fragrance leads with distinct herbal and anisic accords that feel sharp, cooling, and dry. As the wear progresses, powdery floral tones soften the initial shock, paving the way for rich amber, sweet balsamic tolu, and pungent animalic leather accords that dominate the scent for the remainder of the wear.
Community Data
49 TOTAL VOTESCOMMUNITY SENTIMENT
OWNERSHIP STATS
GENDER APPEAL
REVIEW SENTIMENT
When to Wear
TAP TO VOTETIME OF DAY · TAP TO VOTE
OCCASIONS · TAP TO VOTE
It looks easiest to wear in fall and winter. The vote picture leans most toward daytime.
Pros & Cons
Quick take before you sampleWHY PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT
Exceptional longevity voted eternal by the majority of community wearers
Distinctive, uncompromising contrast between bitter herbs and sweet balsamic resins
Rich, authentic vintage leather character anchored by real civetta and tobacco
Artful rose and powdery iris core that softens the opening botanical bite
Handcrafted indie eau de parfum created by perfumer Dawn Spencer Hurwitz
Outstanding depth and evolution from herbal aromatics to warm amber
Substantial projection that creates an assertive scent bubble without fading quickly
Ideal for connoisseurs seeking challenging, vintage-style animalic perfumery
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
Divisive scent profile with three out of seven community voters registering a dislike
Prominent civetta note that alienates wearers sensitive to animalic funk
Harshly bitter and unsweetened opening that several reviewers find jarring
Narrow seasonal versatility heavily restricted to cold autumn and winter months
Unsuitable for casual daywear, office environments, or warm weather
Polarizing reception makes blind buying very risky
Challenging mentholated and medicinal anise notes in the first hour
Available primarily in a compact 30 ml bottle size that limits sampling options
Fragranxe Review
EDITORIAL“DSH Perfumes Prince Review: An Uncompromising Herbal Leather Fragrance”
The opening of Prince by DSH Perfumes is an immediate, sharp shock to the senses. It strikes the air with an intense, tannic bitterness driven by star anise, dry chamomile, and aromatic lavender. There is an earthy, mentholated quality from the narcissus and absinthe undertone that feels completely unsweetened. One reviewer memorably compared this initial blast to eating a raw spoonful of ground cinnamon rather than enjoying a sweet spiced pastry. It offers zero sugary greeting, hitting instead with medicinal, bracing herbs that immediately separate adventurous wearers from casual fragrance fans.
Once that initial bite recedes, the composition gradually reveals its complex heart. Powdery iris and soft sandalwood create a buffer against the herbal edge, while dark spices add dry warmth. A classical rose note weaves in and out of focus, behaving as an elegant floral counterpoint to the tannic greenery alongside hints of jasmine. The dry-down transforms the scent entirely. Deep notes of civetta, cured leather, bitter cacao, and smoky tobacco combine with sweet opoponax and tolu balsam. The resulting base is heavy, tactile, and resolutely animalic, grounding the earlier botanical bitterness into a rich, resinous foundation.
Over several hours of wear, the accords shift from sharp herbal aromatics to warm, powdery amber. The anisic and lavender facets dominate the first hour, projecting a crisp, almost medicinal halo. As the midday arrives, floral and soft spicy accords take command, giving the scent a refined, vintage cosmetic texture thanks to the prominent iris. By the late afternoon, the animalic and sweet amber accords rule the skin. The civetta provides an unmistakable, raw animal note, while the tolu balsam and opoponax prevent it from feeling barren, casting a warm, slightly balsamic sweetness that lingers indefinitely.
Performance on skin is exceptionally durable, supported directly by wearer votes. Out of five community longevity votes, three wearers rate it as eternal, one rates it long lasting, and one rates it moderate, meaning most people can expect anywhere from seven to twelve hours or more of noticeable wear. Projection is equally assertive, with community votes split between moderate, strong, and enormous. A single spray carries significant presence. Given this density, Prince is strictly an autumn and winter fragrance, best reserved for brisk outdoor walks, cool evening events, and private artistic gatherings where its commanding profile will not overwhelm small rooms.
This creation is tailored specifically for seasoned perfume collectors who admire vintage, uncompromising animalic leather blends. Fans of historical, resin-rich perfumery who appreciate unvarnished herbal notes like chamomile and star anise will find plenty to admire here. Conversely, anyone seeking a crowd-pleasing, clean office scent or a sweet gourmand should definitely skip it. The prominent civet note and unsweetened opening will easily alienate anyone who dislikes vintage funk, as echoed by wearers who found the animalic side too challenging.
Prince is a daring piece of independent craft that refuses to smooth over its rough, archaic edges. Because it divided voters to a 3.43 average rating and generated multiple dislike votes, purchasing a full 30 ml bottle blindly is a serious gamble. Order a sample first, test it in the chill of late autumn, and give its intricate leather base time to unfold.
FAQs
What does Prince by DSH Perfumes smell like?+
Prince smells like an intense blend of bitter herbs, pungent leather, and warm balsamic resins. The fragrance opens with sharp chamomile, medicinal star anise, and lavender before developing into a powdery heart of iris, rose, and spices. It finally settles on a dark, animalic base of civetta, cured tobacco, cacao, opoponax, and tolu balsam.
How long does Prince by DSH Perfumes last on skin?+
Prince provides exceptional longevity, typically lasting between seven and twelve hours or even longer. Community votes strongly support this performance, with three out of five wearers rating it eternal (over twelve hours), one rating it long lasting, and one rating it moderate. Heavy base notes like leather, opoponax, and tolu balsam ensure it remains tenacious.
How strong is the projection of Prince by DSH Perfumes?+
Prince has moderate to strong projection that easily extends beyond arm's length. Community feedback is distributed among high-impact ratings: three voters report moderate sillage, one votes for strong, and two consider it enormous. Because of its potent civetta, herbal star anise, and dense resins, a single spray is usually enough to create an assertive presence.
Is Prince by DSH Perfumes considered masculine or feminine?+
Prince is classified as a fragrance for men, but its dark resinous profile appeals to anyone who enjoys vintage animalic scents. The blend features traditional masculine notes such as leather, cured tobacco, and herbal lavender. However, its powdery iris and romantic rose heart make it an attractive option for daring perfume enthusiasts regardless of gender.
What seasons are best for wearing Prince by DSH Perfumes?+
Prince is best worn during the cold temperatures of autumn and winter. The community season votes are concentrated exclusively on fall and winter, with no votes recorded for spring or summer. Its dense composition of dark cacao, civetta, and warming tolu balsam can feel overwhelming in humid heat, but it shines in crisp, frosty weather.
What occasions is Prince by DSH Perfumes suitable for?+
Prince is best suited for formal evening events, private gatherings, and personal artistic enjoyment. Because of its polarizing animalic civet note and bitter herbal opening, it is not recommended for tight office environments or casual gym wear. It performs best in open spaces or evening settings where bold, complex fragrances are appreciated.
How does the opening of Prince differ from its dry-down?+
Prince opens with an unsweetened, bitter herbal shock and dries down into a warm, powdery animalic leather. In the first hour, sharp star anise, chamomile, and mentholated aromatics dominate the air. Over several hours, these medicinal facets recede, allowing sweet tolu balsam, dark cacao, smoky tobacco, and rich civetta to create a deep, comforting resinous trail.
What perfumes are similar to Prince by DSH Perfumes?+
Prince shares stylistic territory with vintage animalic leathers like Knize Ten and Caron Yatagan. Knize Ten offers a similarly rugged leather presence, though it leans more petrol-toned rather than bitter and herbal. Yatagan shares the dry, piney herbal complexity of the opening, but it lacks the heavy cacao, civetta, and sweet opoponax base of Prince.
Is Prince by DSH Perfumes safe to buy as a blind buy?+
No, Prince is definitely not a safe blind buy and should always be sampled first. Community ratings average 3.43 out of 5, with three out of seven voters explicitly disliking the scent. Reviewers frequently note its challenging animalic notes and tannic, bitter opening, which can be off-putting to anyone accustomed to modern, clean designer fragrances.
How should Prince by DSH Perfumes be applied?+
Prince should be applied sparingly, with one or two sprays on pulse points being plenty. The combination of potent natural resins, pungent civetta, and lingering tobacco gives this eau de parfum substantial sillage and eternal longevity. Applying too much can amplify the sharp medicinal chamomile and heavy animalic facets, making a conservative application ideal.
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Dupes & Alternatives
COMMUNITY DUPESCOREWhile Prince has no exact direct clones in mainstream retail, enthusiasts of vintage animalic fragrances can look to Knize Ten for a classic gasoline-tinged leather experience or Caron Yatagan for an equally dry, herbal, and woody profile without the dense cacao and civet base.
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