Partners in Crime by DSH Perfumes: A Honeyed Labdanum For Night Owls

If you think honey in perfume is always syrupy and safe, Partners in Crime by DSH Perfumes wants to smudge your lipstick and steal your lighter. This is an unapologetically autumnal eau de parfum from Dawn Spencer Hurwitz that wraps labdanum in a lacquer of honey, then lets it purr low and close to the skin. I tried it on a chilly evening with a leather jacket and no plan. Big mistake, or maybe the best idea I’ve had all season.

First minutes give that viscous, ambered sweetness you can almost taste on your tongue. Not dessert sweet, more like the crust on a crème brûlée that cracked ten minutes ago and is now cooling into smoke and shadow. Labdanum steps in fast. It’s resinous and a little feral, the kind of warmth that rises from skin rather than sits on top of it. Partners in Crime reads like the private room in an old bar, not the glittering lounge up front.

What surprised me is the restraint. So many autumn launches shout spice and maple until your scarf smells like a bakery. This one whispers. The honey glows instead of gushes, letting the resin breathe and turning the whole structure into a slow burn. Imagine amber light on a wooden table, a glass you haven’t finished, a text you probably shouldn’t send. That vibe.

Performance on my skin was solid through a full evening with a soft halo. Sillage stays close, which suits the mood. This isn’t for the commute or a boardroom. It’s for late dinners, gallery openings, or the kind of night you’ll only talk about in emojis tomorrow.

If you’re a DSH Perfumes devotee, you’ll recognize the artisanal hand here. Dawn Spencer Hurwitz makes naturals feel alive, and Partners in Crime is no exception. The blend is cohesive, tactile, and human. No gimmicks, no sticky gourmand overload. Just honey meeting labdanum and deciding to get into a little trouble.

Wear it when the air gets sharp and your playlist gets darker. Partners in Crime by DSH Perfumes is an autumn EDP that doesn’t flirt politely. It leans in, smiles slow, and asks if you’re game.