This week, Emirates Woman spoke to Kavi Ahuja Molts, the co-founder of D.S. & Durga, a perfume brand that embodies a clever design and scent.
Welcome to the Woman weekly series ‘How I got my job as…’ where we speak to some incredible entrepreneurs and business women both based in the UAE and globally to find out about their career paths that led them to where they are now; what their daily routines look like; the advice they’d give to those starting out; and the hurdles they’ve had to overcome.
Founded in 2008 in Brooklyn by husband-and-wife team David Seth Moltz and Kavi Ahuja Moltz. David Seth Moltz is a self-taught perfumer. Kavi Moltz is an architect. The husband and wife team behind the Brooklyn-based brand, are known for their thoughtful and unique scents, which emanate from sleek bottles of eau de parfum, rose-hued candles, body care products and even chic car air freshener cards.
Having started in DIY Brooklyn, the brand resonated with the founders’ values. It turned into all they loved including music, nature, Myth and design into fancy fragranced in their small Bushwick apartment. All the scents are made in house and always will be.
To delve into their journey so far, Ahuja Moltz shares her story of how it all began.
What was your favourite subject at school?
Art! I truly enjoyed the process of creating something from scratch.
What was your first job?
My first role in the industry was as a Junior Architect.
What brought you to Dubai?
We are based in New York. However, I’ve visited my family there.
What inspired you to enter the perfume space and launch D.S. & Durga?
David started making perfumes and I thought it would be cool to package them. It was a little art project that grew into a full on business quite quickly.
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Talk us through the concept?
David Moltz, my Husband is a self taught perfumer. He makes immersive worlds that you can enter in your nose. We are equally inspired by the weeds growing the cracks of New York as we are a field of flowers in the South of France.
What are the key elements of your role?
I am the Brand Director, head designer – I design all of our products. As a founder, I’m heavily involved in the day to day business activities and managing the overall operations.
Talk us through your daily routine.
Life in NYC with two kids and a business is quite erratic, so this varies heavily. I wake up around 6am, drink tea, read the news on my phone. Get the kids ready for school. Workout for 30 minutes if I can. I’m at the office between 8am and 9am. Meetings and work until 5pm. I then head home to cook dinner, as we try and eat at 6pm. The Nights vary depending on kids activities, however we might watch a show or play a game. I get tired early so when the kids sleep at 9pm, I usually just read and go to bed.
What advice do you have for anyone looking to follow in the same footsteps?
Do what you love. Try to figure out a way to do that thing that nobody else has done. With products, figure out what people like. Be patient. It takes time to grow something. If you are only thinking about the endgame, you’ll be miserable. Take chances stylistically – you know in your heart what is the way you would do something. Don’t get discouraged.
Tell us more about the products?
We make perfume, candles, auto fragrances, & body products. All of them are little worlds with the scent, the descriptive story, the images, and the playlists on Spotify. Our perfumes are like paintings you can walk inside of & explore.
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What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Don’t be tied to the fruits of your actions. Action is an offering, you can’t control what comes from it.
And what is the worst?
Wait until something is perfect to act. That day will never come. You need to be comfortable with the rough edges. Nothing here is perfect.
What’s the biggest challenge you have had to overcome?
Trusting my instincts amongst the noise of modern life.
What’s your future for the brand?
We plan to shine a light on the artistry of perfumery and share the joy we find everyday with as many people as possible.
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Images: Supplied & Feature Image: Instagram @dsanddurga
