DSH Perfumes Uptown Moonshine Review (Dawn Spencer Hurwitz) +An Intoxicating Draw

Cab Calloway plays the Cotton Club, New Year's Eve, 1937

The Cotton Club, 1924, New Year’s Eve. Gents and their gals sip bootleg from hip flasks in Harlem’s ritziest joint while trombones wail hot blues. The air is thick with Havanas and Lucky Strikes, the perfumes from a hundred pulse points as bodies jump and jive to a frantic Charleston. With its maple-y center and goodtime guy notes of whiskey, cigars and spice, Dawn Spencer Hurwitz’s new holiday perfume, Uptown Moonshine, grins over its shoulder that Prohibition never stopped anyone from having a ball.

Photo by Emma Summerton for Vogue Italia, Feb 2011

The opening of Uptown Moonshine is a rich gourmand swirl of brown sugar, vanilla, caramel and booze like a tipsy crème brulee or alcoholic softserve: instantly comforting, dairy-sweet and just a little naughty. Barrel-aged bourbon, with its vanillic, woody undertones, amplifies as a rich tobacco cuts through, smelling like an expensive Cuban just out of its wrapping. The cigar note takes precedence over the sweet, alcoholic opening as DSH Perfumes Uptown Moonshine spreads out, becoming drier the longer it wears.

Speakeasy, 1920s, stock image

Balsamic notes slow things down from a jitterbug to a waltz. Nutty cabreuva and sandalwood add some heft and more dryness to the middle stages, balancing out the gourmand notes nicely. In this unhurried tempo, DSH Perfumes Uptown Moonshine takes on some spice – I detect pinches of pepper and cardamom. Hooch and tobacco hang like a smoky veil over the gourmand notes and the fragrance shifts from dessert to afterhours club.

Photo by Steven Meisel for Vogue, Sept 2007

The dry-down is like the way remnants of night cling to the small hours of the morning. A redolence of booze, toasty woods and tobacco hugs the skin, accompanied by the thick, sleepy smell of maple syrup and amber. DSH Perfumes’ Uptown Moonshine is as deliciously toasty as a down comforter after a night of hard partying. And it’s a lovely smell to wake up to on these first days of the New Year.

Notes: Birch tar, brown sugar (accord), Carolina moonshine (accord), oakwood co2, whiskey whiff (accord), amber, ambergris, Australian sandalwood, bourbon vanilla, brown oakmoss, caramel, castoreum, Peru balsam, tobacco absolute, Bulgarian rose otto, cabreuva wood, grandiflorum jasmine, bergamot, davana, spice notes.

Disclaimer: Sample of DSH Perfumes Uptown Moonshine graciously provided by DSH Perfumes. My opinions are my own.

Lauryn Beer, Senior Editor

Photo of Dawn Spencer Hurwitz in her studio for CaFleureBon© Uptown Moonshine is Holiday Fragrance #18

Editor’s Note: Dawn Spencer Hurwitz is the recipient of The Hardest Working Perfume person of 2018, as well as Best of Scent 2018 awards for  Eau Cerise, Lis Oriental  and Paper*Whites–Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief

DSH Perfumes Uptown Moonshine Holiday 2018

Thanks to the generosity of DSH Perfumes, we have a dram of DSH Perfumes Uptown Moonshine for one registered reader anywhere in the world.  IF YOU DON'T REGISTER YOUR COMMENT WON'T COUNT CLICK HERE. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what appeals to you about DSH Perfumes Uptown Moonshine based on Lauryn’s review, where you live, if you have a favourite DSH Perfumes fragrance, and in what past year and place you’d like to spend New Year’s Eve. Draw closes 1/7/2019

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like ÇaFleureBon and use our Blog feed…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume. 

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


37 comments

  • aud604 says:

    Sounds like a great scent! I’m a fan of any review that manages to use the word ‘hooch’ 😉 I have not sampled DSH yet. I would love to re-live new years 1999! CAN

  • Gillian McNulty says:

    This scent sounds like something that I would love because I enjoy boozy fragrances with gourmand notes. I live in the US, and have never tried a DSH Perfume but I’ve been eyeing the company. The 1920’s sound amazing for New Years, but I would need something a bit more quiet than the pictures shown above. Thanks for the giveaway! I would love to win this one.

  • gtabasso says:

    Oooh aaaah. You had me at booze and smoke. I like that it gets drier in the base and evolves. 1000 Lilies and Dirty Rose are my faves of the few DSHs that I’ve tried. I love Dawn. She is wonderful. Her live videos on Mondays are so informative and fun. It’s like having coffee with your friend. I would like to spend New Year’s Eve in London in the height of the Victorian Era with a utensil and plate for everything. Lavish and opulent. I’m in USA.

  • cwoody says:

    Oh my! A boozy gourmand?! I’m a big fan of boozy fragrances and gourmand so this Uptown Moonshine fragrance fits my taste perfectly. I think I would enjoy NYE in the 1970’s in New York City! Arkansas

  • Alen says:

    Nice review. This fragrance must be awesome looking by the notes. I love Firefly and also Become the shaman is great. For the New Years i would go back in the 90’s with the best music and the best parties ever.
    Thanks for the chance, i am in the EU.

  • Yana_Tommelise says:

    First of all, DSH Perfumes is my favorite indie brand. Second of all, I love these DSH reviews because I haven’t tried everything from her yet but that is my big dream and thanks to these reviews I can get an idea of what fragrances smell. I’ve been really interested in Uptown Moonshine since I first heard about it. Love how down creates these boozy, resinous scent with delicious gourmand veil. I really like the name too. If I win this draw, that will be the sign that universe can hear our dreams. Fingers crossed. Thanks, I am in Germany!

  • Susana Craig says:

    This one is really interesting for that fact it mentioned Carolina moonshine. I live in South Carolina, USA and we patronize our local moonshine.

    I’ve never smell of this house DSH, the notes are quite interesting. Love the smell of smoky tobacco and plus the gourmand note. I would love to try and own this one.

    If time machine would allowed me to go back the past, I should say back in my home country Philippines.

    Thank for this opportunity to win.

  • INYA says:

    I love that it has booze, toasty woods and tobacco!!! It sounds like the perfect winter fragrance. USA

  • Rica6129 says:

    I love the perfumes of DSH … I just ordered Noël Enchanté and I hesitated a lot with Uptown Moonshine..I love perfumes with tobacco …. I know Foxy, Become a shaman but I want Rendez vous, Paper White and…etc..For a new year ?? to visit Dawn in Boulder Colorado .I’m from Montreal, Canada

  • Monica Beaton says:

    Great review Lauryn. What an incredible era – an era of a sort of innocent sensuality, and Uptown Moonshine the scent of the morning after the night before that lingers…walking home at dawn with shoes in hand trailing wafts of smoke, booze and sexy skin. What a time…I live in Australia. Thank you DSH and CaFleurebon for this wonderful introduction and generous giveaway.

  • esz says:

    Holy moly does this sound RIGHT up my alley!!! I am all about the sweet boozy scents….andddd I love me anything vintage. Been so lucky to sample a few DSH scents that Pep gave me and I am very impressed. What I’d give to win this one!! Thank you for the draw…I am in Melbourne Australia

  • BetsyG says:

    Fun review — love the allusions to speakeasies and jazz. I’m not familiar with many DSH scents, but I did recently order Colorado, which Dawn made for American Perfumer. I wouldn’t mind spending New Years in Paris or New Orleans someday! I’m in the U.S.

  • BostonScentGuy says:

    Sounds like a great scent! I loved the evocative storytelling–I definitely felt the scent unfurling throughout the narrative. I love DSH and was thrilled to be able to visit her shop in Boulder one day; many of her scents are my favorites, among them Twelfth Night, Scent of Hope, Chinchilla, and une Robe de Zibeline. As for the NYE question…a hard one, but I’d venture there would be something tawdry, thrilling, and fun about drinking martinis at a party in Malibu in the early 60s. Thanks for the draw! I’m in the US.

  • Greennote says:

    I’ve yet to smaell any of Dawn’s scents but I have been endlessly tantalised by reviews such as this describing beautifully constructed deft perfumes. I think Paris or Berlin in the 1920s amongst all the beautiful people would be a fascinating New Year’s Eve. I’m in Australia and if this came my way I’d make sure to share it with some of the beautiful perfumed people down here. Thanks as always to you and Dawn for your generosity.

  • Onyinye says:

    This really sounds interesting and I’ll love to sample this. I especially loved this…it’s a lovely smell to wake up to on these first days of the New Year. I don’t have a favorite DSH Perfumes fragrance.
    I’ll love to spend NYE as I did 2012 in my home country, Nigeria.

    I live in California.

  • Pato Loco says:

    Great review! The way this is described, it sounds like one I would love. Have not yet tried this house. Currently reside in Oregon. Would like to experience new years eve during the 20’s in Paris.

  • KWMonty says:

    Everything about this fragrance appeals to me.

    “The opening of Uptown Moonshine is a rich gourmand swirl of brown sugar, vanilla, caramel and booze like a tipsy crème brulee or alcoholic softserve: instantly comforting, dairy-sweet and just a little naughty. Barrel-aged bourbon, with its vanillic, woody undertones, amplifies as a rich tobacco cuts through, smelling like an expensive Cuban just out of its wrapping. The cigar note takes precedence over the sweet, alcoholic opening as DSH Perfumes Uptown Moonshine spreads out, becoming drier the longer it wears.”

    The above description makes me really want to give this one a try.

    I would like to go back to 1968 and spend New years in Vancouver, BC.
    That was a great time and place fram my past.

    I live in Canada.

  • Zibbyz says:

    This sounds just lovely, AMF I love how she brought in jazz! I would love to spend new years in NYC or Paris, at any time! I don’t have a fav dsh perfume, bud this one sounds like a great one. Thank you for the draw, in t the us.

  • Gypsy Parfumista says:

    I love how Lauryn equated the life at a speakeasy to the perfume’s evolution. I have some and it’s pretty much like that-spot on !!

    Live in Pennsylvania in the (CON) US

    Considering I have over 100 of Dawn’s superb scents, a favorite is asking a lot but no matter how awesome anything is my first love Mata Hari (an Outlaw Perfume) always woos me back again

    I would love to be in NYC at midnight on December 31, 1979 into 1980 (and to be a wee bit more mature than TEN as I was then!) Why? To be there when disco actually died.

    Thanks all round and happy New year one and all!
    smell swell & be well…
    GP xox

  • gunmetal24 says:

    I would love to participate. I love the idea of booze, tobacco, toasty woods surrounded by maple syrup. Have never tried a DSH perfume before. Based in Canada. Maybe one day, I would love to spend a New Year Eve’s on a mountain (any mountain). Thanks Dawn and Cafleurebon

  • Caliwas says:

    I have yet to smell anything from the house DSHS. This fragrance sounds so amazing with Moonshine boozy, smoky tobacco and the gourmand notes. I would love to try and own this one. I live in CA, USA. I would love to spend New Years Eve in Lake Tahoe in a large luxury cabin laying in a Jacuzzi with a glass of Cab and watch snow fall. Thank you Cafleurebon! Happy New Years to such a great team!!!

  • doveskylark says:

    I just love the smell of the bed garments after a night of debauchery. I don’t drink or smoke anymore, but i have no problem with the sensuous smells they evoke.
    I love Foxy from DSH.
    Oh, how I wish I could have celebrated New Year’s Eve at Studio 54, maybe ’78 going into’79.

  • Tanja says:

    This Sounds like a Fun scent. I like Booze und Tobacco notes. Never tested anything from DSH, as i am german.
    A new years eve in the 20ies would be my choice, think of all the great music!

  • Timea says:

    DSH Perfumes Uptown Moonshine sounds very nice. The notes are very interesting. I would like to spend the New Year for example in New Orleans in the 1791 or 1792. It would be really interesting. Or I would also like to spend the New Year in the Caribbean sea on a real pirate ship for example in 1785. That would be so much fun!
    Thank you for the draw. I live in Europe.

  • audesko1 says:

    I love tobacco scents. This one sounds like a winner. I do love her scent of Bohdi Sativa. Patchouli and spices. I would love to spend New years at Lake Como seeing fireworks over the lake. Maybe in the year 2000! Thank you for the generous chance to win. I live in the US.

  • Annatar says:

    “Well, show me the way
    To the next whisky bar
    Oh, don’t ask why…” Uptown Moonshine seems like a handful of sins in a bottle. I’ve yet to try any of DSH Perfumes.

    I think it’d be nice to relive my 2006 NYE when I was celebrating it alone. It was perfect!

    Thank you for the draw. Russia

  • Rockinruby says:

    Oh the review itself has made me swoon, so what will happen when I try the actual scent?! Lordy. I think I need to rest after all that dancing to the boogie woogie beat! Seriously, though, Jazz-age Harlem is one of my favorite places/periods, and my husband bangs the ivories 3 nights a week in an honest-to-gawd Speakeasy. I need this perfume in my life.

    My favorite DSH scent is still Jitterbug Perfume – even after all these years.

    I live North of Boston, USA.

  • Ivan.napoleon says:

    In the 60s
    It appeals the notes and presentation.
    Id be My firts bottle From this house Id love to try this one
    Miami Florida Thanks

  • NiceVULady says:

    I love the naughty and nice vibes that come from this fragrance based upon the review. Sounds like so much fun. Any year other than 2017 would be a year to celebrate the New Year. As to place, any place where all my loved ones would be gathered will do perfectly. Thanks for the draw. I’m in the USA

  • Hasib says:

    Still haven’t got a chance to check out this House. This one sounds good. Pretty good amount of notes. A boozy gourmand type fragrance. Thank You for the giveaway
    From California

  • Claudia says:

    This sounds divine. I have been a long fan of DSH fragrances. My absolute favorite is Mata Hai…but Cimabui, Indus, 1000 Lillies, Become the Shaman are all amazing. I would love to be entered.

  • Ish says:

    Thanks for another great review, Lauryn! This is what I loved most about your description- ‘DSH Perfumes’ Uptown Moonshine is as deliciously toasty as a down comforter after a night of hard partying. And it’s a lovely smell to wake up to on these first days of the New Year.’ If I could turn back time, if like to go back to the year 2000, my last new year celebration with my dad. I haven’t tried any DSH perfumes yet, I’m excited for this draw.
    Thanks for this opportunity. – CA, USA

  • Diana D says:

    Wow, what a yummy sounding fragrance with boozy, spicy notes with an added note of rose! I don’t own any DSH fragrances so this would be my first!
    I would love to spend a New Year’s Eve in Ireland because that is where my boyfriend’s family lives.
    I live in the USA.

  • Grandiflora says:

    What appeals to me most about DSH Perfumes Uptown Moonshine based on Lauryn’s review is the description of it being “a rich gourmand swirl of brown sugar, vanilla, caramel and booze like a tipsy crème brulee or alcoholic softserve: instantly comforting, dairy-sweet and just a little naughty.” I’m salivating! I’ve never experienced any DSH perfumes, but this could definitely be my favourite DSH Perfumes fragrance with a review like that! I would like to have spent a New Year’s Eve in 1970’s New York at Studio 54. Could you imagine? I’m in the U.S.

  • Dubaiscents says:

    I have been trying to adapt to the cold weather of CT after my move from the Middle East back to the US and this scent seems like the perfect antidote to the frigid temps! “DSH Perfumes’ Uptown Moonshine is as deliciously toasty as a down comforter after a night of hard partying.“ I have so many favorite DSH scents but my favorites are the musky animatics like Rondezvois. I’m in the US.

  • jeremyn87 says:

    Boozy scents generally appeal to me. The idea of soft serve reminds me of a bourbon ice cream I used to get at a bar near my apt.
    Im in IL in the US.
    I haven’t tried anything from the house.
    Probably an old jazz club or something would be fun on NYE. I’ve been to Speakeasy parties which were always loads of fun

  • aurora_ru says:

    Mmmmmm, “rich gourmand swirl of brown sugar, vanilla, caramel and booze like a tipsy crème brulee or alcoholic softserve: instantly comforting, dairy-sweet and just a little naughty”. Just a little! 😉 I really enjoy integrating of boozy tones into gourmand accords – just a little bit of alcohol makes those cakes more grown-ups and just a bit decadent. Delicious notes, I want to participate! Currently I feel too old for the NY parties, but if you are asking, I would choose to celebrate NYE at the Oriental Express or at the Pera Hotel in Istanbul (mood theme: Imperial Chic).