• About
  • Login to comment
    • Facebook
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Now Smell This

a blog about perfume

Menu ▼
  • Perfume Reviews
  • New Perfumes
  • Perfumers
  • Perfume Houses
  • Shop for perfume
  • Resources

Dawn Spencer Hurwitz Rendezvous ~ fragrance review

Posted by Jessica on 3 March 2016 15 Comments

Dawn Spencer Hurwitz Rendezvous

I like living with old things. I love my small collection of vintage dresses and jewelry, and when I buy new clothing and adornments, I gravitate towards vintage-inspired styles. My husband and I buy used books rather than new ones whenever we can. Most of the furniture in our home is older than we are. I spend my workdays thinking and talking about art history, with an emphasis on the "history" part. Many of my perfumes, not surprisingly, also tend towards the "retro." 

Indie line Dawn Spencer Hurwitz recently launched Rendezvous, a fragrance that's a throwback to the animalic perfumes of the mid-twentieth century, and naturally I was curious. The composition of Rendezvous includes notes of musk, civet, ambergris, castoreum, oakmoss, ambrette co2, labdanum, hyracium tincture (also known as African Stone), jasmine, orange flower, gardenia, white pepper and aldehydes. The result, according to Hurwitz, is "a lush, provocative, and thoroughly sexy perfume for both men and women."

Rendezvous makes me feel like I should be wearing a fur coat and riding in the back seat of an old-fashioned Checker cab, on my way to meet some sharply attired gentleman for a drink in some shadowy cocktail bar. It's heavy on smooth civet (synthetic!), a crushed, boozy jasmine, some plush resins and an earthy-woody ambergris note. Rendezvous has a bit of swagger and a hint of "skank," and it's definitely androgynous, despite the florals in its heart. I'd never be able to wear it on a steamy summer day, but in this late-winter weather it feels bold yet not overwhelming. (Granted, I'm wearing a single spritz!)

I like Rendezvous a lot, and I think my vintage-loving Now Smell This colleague Angela would appreciate it (maybe even love it!), too. If you're a fan of flea-market perfume finds but you could do without their frequent old-age mustiness, you should give Rendezvous a spin. 

Dawn Spencer Hurwitz Rendezvous is available in a variety of sizes and formats. For more information, see the Dawn Spencer Hurwitz website.

Possibly of interest

Zoologist Snowy Owl ~ fragrance review
5 Perfumes: unexpected comfort scents
Arielle Shoshana Sunday & Dawn Spencer Hurwitz Hot Masala ~ fragrance reviews

Filed Under: perfume talk
Tagged With: animalic, dawn spencer hurwitz, skanky

Advertisement


15 Comments

Leave a comment, or read more about commenting at Now Smell This. Here's our privacy policy, and a handy emoticon chart.

  1. Lovestosmellgood says:
    3 March 2016 at 2:22 pm

    I love retro, and I love fragrances with a bit of skank in them.
    This is on my MUST try list..if it doesn’t wear on the the masculine side?

    Log in to Reply
    • Jessica says:
      3 March 2016 at 2:41 pm

      Nope! I really don’t enjoy wearing anything that skews into masculine territory — that’s just not “me.” I just expected this one to be more BIG WHITE FLORAL, whereas it’s really smooth and warm resins/animalics/woods with some flowers just worn like a “boutonniere.”

      Log in to Reply
  2. galbanumgal says:
    3 March 2016 at 2:44 pm

    Sounds aptly named. And would love to be meeting a well-dressed gentleman in a retro bar. The sharply attired are sadly absent from my suburban world (not that I can cast aspersions, in my yogawear).
    Would love to give this a try, but am taking a sampling breather, after I test the Dame Perfumery vials that just arrived.

    Log in to Reply
    • Jessica says:
      3 March 2016 at 3:57 pm

      I’m picturing some film from the 1930s-1940s – you know, one of the “Thin Man” pictures or some film noir! :)

      Log in to Reply
  3. mayfly says:
    3 March 2016 at 2:54 pm

    A great review Jessica, I’m really intrigued by this line, if only the perfumes were available in the UK, I think shipping is probably prohibitive, but I would love to explore them at some point.

    Log in to Reply
    • Jessica says:
      3 March 2016 at 3:58 pm

      Oh, I’m sorry about that — I do hope you find a way to test some someday. I’ve been a DSH fan for a long time. She has an amazing variety, and she does really thoughtful work.

      Log in to Reply
    • DSHPerfumes says:
      10 March 2016 at 10:36 pm

      I hope that it’s ok to reply to this post directly :)
      We are starting to formulate a ‘non-alcohol’ version of almost all of our designs to be able to comply with postal regulations and still ship overseas. So, to that end we offer ‘voile de parfum’, which is the same formulation in terms of scent and concentration as EdP, but is in a fine-sprayable oil base that has a super high flashpoint. Sampling is no problem… :)

      Log in to Reply
  4. AnnS says:
    3 March 2016 at 4:55 pm

    This sounds gorgeous! I like other things too. There is an energy that only comes from old furniture, books, etc etc, that has been in the world for a long time. Thanks for the review! It is my fondest wish that someday I’ll get to go back to Boulder, have tea in the Dushanbe Tea House and spend the rest of the day sniffing out at DSH! I have a few, but I am sure there are more I’d love. Her artistic vision is always so strong.

    Log in to Reply
    • Jessica says:
      3 March 2016 at 5:31 pm

      One of my friends recently visited Denver, and she was planning a side-trip to Boulder, so I recommended the DSH studio to her. She took my suggestion and she went and had a wonderful time! I was a little envious, but happy for her. She came back with 2 bottles. :)

      Log in to Reply
    • Sun Mi says:
      3 March 2016 at 9:05 pm

      I agree about the energy of older things. :) Ever since I was a kid I’ve collected old books and coins (among random other things). I would always imagine who had held that coin throughout it’s life.

      Log in to Reply
  5. Marjorie Rose says:
    3 March 2016 at 5:29 pm

    Haven’t bought any samples for DSH in a while. This one might tip me over the edge. Sounds right up my alley!

    Log in to Reply
    • Jessica says:
      3 March 2016 at 5:31 pm

      I love the fact that she offers samples and wee little bottles as well as full-size bottles!

      Log in to Reply
  6. Petunia says:
    3 March 2016 at 6:42 pm

    Dawn did another take on a vintage perfume, that I know of, called Mirabella. I tested it right after I fell down the rabbit hole. I was too inexperienced at the time to fully appreciate it. Now I wish That I had bought it. I could be wrong, but I think. It was a dupe for Femme. I’ll have add Rendezvous to my list as well. I wish she would do a perfume dupe for vinty Jolie Madame. Thank you for a great review Jessica!

    Log in to Reply
  7. tejas says:
    3 March 2016 at 9:44 pm

    I spent an afternoon at her shop with my husband who isn’t really interested in perfumes, but by the time we left, he had fallen down the Rabbit Hole! My absolute favorite fragrances by her are Passport a Paris (smells like vintage Jicky), Peace (limited edition-very animalic- the dry down reminds me of a vintage Coty fragrance my mother used to wear) and Pandora (a fragrance that’s very lush with some fruit- smells vintage to me). For those who love modern fragrances, try Metropolis, it’s terrific in the heat wearing a linen white shirt and khaki shorts, my friend wore this outfit with the fragrance and it was stunning.

    Log in to Reply
  8. DSHPerfumes says:
    10 March 2016 at 10:46 pm

    Thank you for this lovely review! You perfectly get the vibe and feel of Rendezvous (yes, The Thin Man! I love those movies!). I don’t really love fur coats but I like the idea of their luxuriousness… this is my fur coat of sorts. Many thanks indeed <3 oxox

    Log in to Reply

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Advertisement

Search

From NST at Twitter

  • "D.S. & Durga founders on building their business: ‘There are no rules’" (glossy) https://t.co/sS437k795O, 5 hours ago
  • "You're Probably Making At Least One Of These Perfume Mistakes" (and it probably doesn't matter. instyle) https://t.co/otEVzNVKyh, 5 hours ago
  • Updated info on Regime des Fleurs Tears https://t.co/bNPNPDGRVJ, 5 hours ago
  • "Luxury perfume pioneer Frédéric Malle on hot China market, wannabe niche fragrances and buying perfume online" (so… https://t.co/ZlIJKQDKBV,
  • "Corpse flower on WSU Vancouver campus about to bloom again" (fox12oregon) https://t.co/OWe1pYenwr,

Browse by…

Topic

Perfume talk New fragrances
Shopping Books :: News
Body products Home fragrance
Polls Another subject

Date

July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
Prior months

Author

Robin Jessica
Angela Kevin
Erin Guest Author

Tag

Celebrity perfumes
Cheap thrills
Collector bottles
Perfumista tip series
Video
The complete tag index

Recent reviews

Atelier Cologne Love Osmanthus
Moschino Toy Boy
Arquiste Misfit
Diptyque Eau Capitale
Zoologist Bee
Parfum d’Empire Immortelle Corse
Comme des Garcons Series 10 Clash
Frédéric Malle Rose & Cuir
L’Artisan Parfumeur Le Chant de Camargue
Yves Saint Laurent Grain de Poudre
Régime des Fleurs Chloë Sevigny Little Flower
Chanel 1957
Gallivant Los Angeles
Amouage Portrayal Woman

Blogroll

Bois de Jasmin
Grain de Musc
Perfume Posse
The Non-Blonde
More blogs...

Perfumista lists

100 fragrances every perfumista should try
And 25 more fragrances every perfumista should smell
50 masculine fragrances every perfumista should try
26 vintage fragrances every perfumista should try
25 rose fragrances every perfumista should try
11 Cheap Perfumes Beauty Outsiders Love

Favorite posts

The Great Perfume Reduction Plan
Why I Love Old School Chypres
New to perfume and want to learn more?
How to make fragrance last through the day
Fragrance concentrations: sorting it all out
On reformulations, or why your favorite perfume doesn’t smell like it used to
How to get fragrance samples
Perfume for Life: How Long Will Your Fragrance Collection Last?

Upcoming

TBA September ~ fall swapmeet

TBA October ~ fall splitmeet

List of upcoming Friday projects

Back to Top

Home
About Now Smell This :: Privacy Policy

Shop for Perfume Online
Perfume Shopping in New York
Perfume Shopping in London
Perfume Reviews
New Perfumes
General Perfume Articles
The Monday Mail

Glossary of Perfume Terms
Perfume FAQ
Perfume Links
Perfume Books
Fragrance Awards

Noses ~ Perfumers A-E :: F-K :: L-S :: T-Z

Perfume Houses A-B :: C :: D-E :: F-G
H-J :: K-L :: M :: N-O :: P :: Q-R :: S
T :: U-Z

Copyright © 2005-2022 Now Smell This. All rights reserved.