The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Seve de Pin arrived in 2014 from Dawn Spencer Hurwitz, the perfumer behind DSH Perfumes. Its name points toward pine, but the composition is less about a forest snapshot than the transformation of pine sap itself. The opening is bright, green, and lightly sweet, built around green mandarin orange, lemon, green notes, artemisia, and poplar bud absolute. That fresh, springlike surface gives way to a richer structure: rose, amyris, elemi, pine needles, and pinyon pine resin. As the fragrance develops, the citrus brightness softens into resinous greenery, while rose and amyris lend a rounder, more tactile character. The pine notes provide the central thread, carrying through the composition as fresh greenery gives way to a warmer, denser trail.
The unusual part is the crossing of green freshness with resinous depth. Citrus and poplar bud bring a crisp, saplike lift, while rose and amyris keep the heart from feeling purely outdoors. Elemi adds a bright resinous edge, pine needles sharpen the forest cue, and pinyon pine resin gives the composition its sticky, aromatic center. The base then changes the temperature: balsam fir, frankincense, opoponax, ambergris, labdanum, honey, fossilised amber, and cedarwood settle into a soft balsamic amber. It is botanical, but not naive.
The evolution
The first impression is a cut of brightness. Green mandarin orange, lemon, green notes, artemisia, and poplar bud absolute bring a zesty, leafy snap, like opening a window onto damp woodland air. That brightness does not linger as a simple citrus sparkle. The heart takes over with amyris, Bulgarian rose absolute, elemi resin, pine needles, and pinyon pine resin, turning the composition greener, rosier, and more tactile. Pine sap becomes the central image, with the fresh green opening gradually making room for resin and warmth. The drydown is the payoff: balsam fir, frankincense, ambergris, fossilised amber, labdanum, opoponax, honey, and cedarwood settle into a warm resinous amber, with a soft sweetness that keeps the woods from becoming austere. Expect the fresh opening to recede first, while the amber and pine character remain close to the skin.
Cultural impact
Seve de Pin invites close attention through its layered botanical composition and unconventional progression. It begins with green mandarin orange, lemon, artemisia, and poplar bud absolute, then gathers rose, amyris, elemi, pine needles, and pinyon pine resin before settling into balsam fir, frankincense, ambergris, labdanum, honey, and cedarwood. The fragrance is open to exploration, balancing fresh greenery, tactile resins, and warm woods in a composition that rewards repeated encounters.
The House
DSH PerfumesDSH Perfumes is an indie fragrance house rooted in Colorado. Founder Dawn Spencer Hurwitz blends botanical ingredients with a keen sense of visual art, offering scents that feel like scented sketches rather than commercial statements. The line balances historic perfume structures with contemporary twists, inviting collectors to explore each bottle as a quiet study in aroma.
The Creator
Dawn Spencer HurwitzDawn’s signatures are rich, tactile woods, resinous amber, and finely tuned floral accords that recall the texture of a canvas. She favors natural extracts—cedar, sandalwood, frankincense, and hand‑picked botanicals—often pairing them with unexpected mineral or metallic notes…
