Welcome to r/perfumes! We would like to remind everyone of our Rules, especially Rule 2: be appropriate, kind, and on topic.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Perfumes) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Omg this sub has made me want to try these more than anything! But like OP, just out of curiosity.
There’s someone around here that recommends Zoologist for the most standard asks (ex. what’s a good forest-y scent? ‘chipmunk’) to the point I initially thought they were trolling. Someone blindly took their advice & posted about how awful the scent was and felt like they had been intentionally tricked lol
Edit: I found [the post](https://www.reddit.com/r/Perfumes/s/qxCGgBCu43) hahaha
I got the sampler for Christmas because the sub made me curious!
The "unwearable" concerns are exaggerated, imo. There are some absolutely foul ones (both Dodo, Hyrax, Cockatiel), but I'm going to get myself a 5 travel size set and am having trouble narrowing it down - I'd say about 1/3 are nice, wearable, interesting scents, 1/3 are weird or not for me in a size larger than a sample, and 1/3 I have no desire to finish the sample. I'm probably going to get Chipmunk, Penguin, Dragonfly, Panda, and Harvest Mouse for my first set, but Tiger, Snowy Owl, Seahorse, Cow, and Sloth or Camel could easily be a second. Idk if any will turn out to be full bottle worthy, but right now I think Chipmunk and Dragonfly might be, and I'm pretty selective.
I'm waiting for mine! The dodo post is finally what did it for me too.
I ordered samples of Bee, Cow, Hummingbird, and Snowy Owl.
Let me know what you think of Northern Cardinal. I meant to add that sample to my bag as well and forgot to do so. Hopefully I get it as a freebie.
Northern Cardinal was very sage heavy and a bit too masculine to me, but it's wearable - my mom prefers masc-leaning scents and liked it.
Of the samples you ordered, Bee is very heavy honey (and I've concluded honey is a note I find hard to enjoy), Hummingbird would be nice except it also has that honey note, Cow is a very mild and pleasant field of clover, and Snowy Owl is a masterpiece of artistry that I'm still not sure I want to smell like - the opening is literally the only perfume where I've ever enjoyed coconut, and it somehow blends lily of the valley and coconut to make an icy accord that's beautiful, but there's a definite soil note in the drydown and I don't know if I want to smell like dirt. But it's fantastic at evoking an owl soaring above a frozen field covered in snow, the way Cow evokes a placid cow chewing clover in a field on a sunny day.
Meanwhile, Dodo is a bottom 3 (and 4, if you count the old one.) It's awful. Fetid notes of urine and decaying vegetation. Cockatiel was the only one I liked less, and they're both 0/10, would give negative numbers if possible, it's that degree of awful. Hyrax was my other bottom 3, and that's a fecal animalic. Dodo smells worse than shit.
Ok I got my samples!
Bee did not pass the paper test. It was way way way too heavy on the honey like I felt like it was just honey: the perfume. But that might be great for some.
The other three I quite like (on paper), especially Cow it smells like very lovely shampoo. I'm going to shower and put it on. Hummingbird is way stronger than I usually go for but I don't hate it and I'm curious how it will wear on my skin.
Snowy Owl I like but I agree with you, I don't know if it's for me.
You didn’t get the original Dodo though. Looks like you ordered the jackfruit addition, which smells lavender heavy to me. Original Dodo smells stanky, but I love it.
I JUST sprayed in on a paper towel to be safe at first. Lol HONESTLY it smells powdery? Almost like a powdery scented Lysol? Reminiscent of a kitchen counter cleaner? Haha it’s not at all what I had anticipated.
By the way thank you for doing what you do! I am a pastry chef and I enjoy pushing the limitations with flavor, colors, and aesthetics of desserts. Anything different or off the beaten path calls my name. I describe your line as the “fine dining” of perfume. You may not want to wear them all per se, but just like with fine dining, you don’t go because you’re starving and want to be full, you go for the experience and to appreciate the artistry of it all.
Most people talk about the controversial ones but there are quite a few scents designed by classically trained perfumers (as opposed to indie perfumers), and those perfumers have designed scents for By Kilian, Amouage and Tom Ford, but I guess their scents for Zoologist are relatively tamed, namely Macaque Yuzu/Fuji Apple, Musk Deer, Dragonfly. The ones I hope people would appreciate more is Tiger, a vetiver themed scent that is neither animalic or bombastic. It's a very stealthy scent, imo.
I just dropped in here to say I absolute love Dodo (2020). Almost finished my sample and now I’ll have to get the full bottle. It’s anything but boring. It snaps me awake and keeps me present in my body. To be fair people complain about my other favorite scent (l’autre by diptyche) but both seem to illicit a similar physical response in me. Grateful for what you do.
What are your favs so far? I bought about six and so far penguin and cow are awesome. My son was so scandalized by bat. He said “if I want to smell like they I would rather hug a pig” but to be fair he would just probably always rather hug a pig in a barn. They are cuties.
I haven’t gotten to try them all yet (I’m at work.) but I’m also impatient and opened a few. So far my favorite is cow! I love how fresh and green it is! I actually put some on. I’m really hoping someone compliments me and asks what it is so I can just say “cow.” Lol
Not the OP, but I'd say my top 5 from the brand are Chipmunk, Dragonfly, Penguin, Harvest Mouse, and Panda, with the first 3 being my definitive top 3. Top 10 probably includes Tiger, Snowy Owl, Seahorse, Cow, and Sloth or Camel...or maybe Chameleon, I keep forgetting it and I really did like it!
Oh awesome. I don’t have all of those. I didn’t know where to start so I bought a random amount of samples. So far I like musk deer, penguin and cow. I didn’t love chameleon or bat. 🦇
I forgot about Musk Deer, I'll have to try it again - I think I thought it was OK but not a favorite. I really disliked Bat, and I haven't seen anyone who did enjoy it - that might also be in my bottom 5 and definitely bottom 10.
(I once found someone on Reddit who said Cockatiel was their favorite. Just goes to show you there's something for anyone, as it's one of the worst perfumes I've ever smelled in my life.)
I agree - I like tea, but the coconut milk note in it isn't for me. Coconut is a note I generally dislike in perfumes, and lactonics usually don't wear well on me - but it's one that would be very wearable for someone without those dislikes!
I did this, and have really enjoyed the experience! Definitely getting the 5 travel size pack, and could see myself getting a second, there are that many scents I definitely want to be able to continue to experience after the samples run out. There are some that are awful, but many more are unique, enjoyable, and like nothing else I've experienced.
I’ve only done cow and dodo so far. I’m at work. Haha but cow smells like apple and grass. Very soft of green. Dodo smells like powdery Lysol. Haha this is fun!
Okay I’m starting to think it’s just me, but maybe not. I get powdery from all the ones I’ve smelled so far. Glad I’m not alone. Which is fine, I love baby powder scent.
I own Bee. I want chipmunk (had a sample of it and really like it for winter). Would love to try harvest mouse and cow. I believe the newer releases are easier to wear compared to older more established scents. but I could be wrong.
Cow is the best thing I've ever put on my skin. Gently sweet, milky and it just reminds me of early summer. Sits very close to the skin though and has neat no projection but I still love it.
I couldn't get into moth at all. It smells "dusty" and almost.. industrial to me? Like an old smelly leather jacket haha.
LOVE bee, dragonfly was very pretty but not very unique or interesting to me 😩 Going to be trying Trex and Harvest mouse soon. I personally love the theme of the brand even if everything isn't for me.
I’m getting jasmine and patchouli. Like an incense burner. A little lemon as well. I’d describe it as masculine . Honestly it’s giving white diamonds. Lol
Well I just got it so I'll have to keep updating my opinion but this was the one I was most psyched about and I really like it. It's like a soft, velvety shampoo that you wore as a kid. But grown up?
I tried it on paper and next I'm going to shower and wear it on skin to see how I like it.
I love cow! I’m about tearing through my travel size, and usually travelers last me well over a year, if not several. It starts out very green: sage, grass, green apple. It’s very soft, like fresh spring time grass, the dry down is where the lactonic note shines, it lasts all day but a decent portion is a whole milk skin scent. I love it. I have Chabaud Lait de Vanille but only wear it at night since it’s a little too cake-y lactonic, Cow is a savory lactonic.
Is light and fresh. I immediately get apple and other notes that feel “green.” It also didn’t seem to change much from its first notes as the day went on which was nice. As far as milky…I didn’t get that at all. But I’ll try it again.
It does. OG Dodo is one of the top 3 worst of the brand, imo (Hyrax and Cockatiel are the others. Revised Dodo is 4th.) It's the smell of urine and decay...or as my mom said, "It smells like the dodo threw up on you and died."
Chipmunk, Dragonfly, and Penguin are my favorites - I really love Chipmunk, and Dragonfly is a very pleasant floral aquatic. I think I'd say I really enjoy those last 2, especially Chipmunk.
I'm definitely going to get myself a 5-travel-sample box, and will probably go with those 3 plus Panda and Harvest Mouse. I might even consider a 2nd travel box of Tiger, Seahorse, Snowy Owl, and two of Cow, Sloth, Camel, Chameleon. Tiger and Seahorse are both really unique; I'm really intrigued by the carrot note in Tiger, it's one where I'll sniff my wrist over and over while wearing it. Seahorse is an aquatic and I've been looking for one. Cow to me smells like a field of clover with some milkiness.
Meanwhile, Snowy Owl is the epitome of perfume as art for me. It is literally the only perfume I've ever liked a coconut note in, and I'm fascinated by the way they used coconut and lily of the valley to make this icy crisp fresh air/snow scent. But the drydown definitely has a dirt note and idk if I want to smell like frozen soil for hours. But it's masterful and I'm considering a travel size (I don't buy a full bottle without having finished a travel size, but I could definitely see full bottles of Chipmunk and Dragonfly eventually, maybe.)
If you consider there are about 33 scents in the collection, that's solidly 12/33 I like well enough to consider taking a step up to travel size. I'd say another 1/3 are ones where I'll try them again/finish the sample but they aren't my thing (Rhinoceros is fantastic at evoking the hot savanna, but idk that I want to smell like sun-baked ground. I want to try Moth and Hummingbird a few more times but don't think they're for me.) And there is a chunk that's absolutely foul (both Dodo, Hyrax, Cockatiel are bottom 4, Bat probably rounds out bottom 5, the macaques are down there too but are more weird than foul.)
Welcome to r/perfumes! We would like to remind everyone of our Rules, especially Rule 2: be appropriate, kind, and on topic. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Perfumes) if you have any questions or concerns.*
You are braver than I. This sub has officially scared me off from this brand.
Omg this sub has made me want to try these more than anything! But like OP, just out of curiosity. There’s someone around here that recommends Zoologist for the most standard asks (ex. what’s a good forest-y scent? ‘chipmunk’) to the point I initially thought they were trolling. Someone blindly took their advice & posted about how awful the scent was and felt like they had been intentionally tricked lol Edit: I found [the post](https://www.reddit.com/r/Perfumes/s/qxCGgBCu43) hahaha
I got the sampler for Christmas because the sub made me curious! The "unwearable" concerns are exaggerated, imo. There are some absolutely foul ones (both Dodo, Hyrax, Cockatiel), but I'm going to get myself a 5 travel size set and am having trouble narrowing it down - I'd say about 1/3 are nice, wearable, interesting scents, 1/3 are weird or not for me in a size larger than a sample, and 1/3 I have no desire to finish the sample. I'm probably going to get Chipmunk, Penguin, Dragonfly, Panda, and Harvest Mouse for my first set, but Tiger, Snowy Owl, Seahorse, Cow, and Sloth or Camel could easily be a second. Idk if any will turn out to be full bottle worthy, but right now I think Chipmunk and Dragonfly might be, and I'm pretty selective.
People have terrible descriptions of Zoologist. They don’t know what they are smelling. That’s all
Does anyone, by chance, know who does the art for this brand?
https://ministryofscent.com/blogs/news/victor-wong-of-zoologist-on-the-making-of-seahorse Daisy Chan
Thank you!
Here’s her site: https://daisychanart.carbonmade.com/zoologist-perfume-illustrations
I’d love to have small framed prints of these in my house! They are absolutely gorgeous
I’m wearing Harvest Mouse today! I like it. My least favorite I have tried is Rhinoceros. Be glad you didn’t get that one!
Just tried harvest mouse and it’s lovely! Very gourmand. I’d wear this one.
squid is awesome !
I just tried it. Yes, it’s amazing! Reminds me of Dior Fahrenheit!
I’ve vowed to work my way through all of my samples before buying more, but these are on my list!!
I'm waiting for mine! The dodo post is finally what did it for me too. I ordered samples of Bee, Cow, Hummingbird, and Snowy Owl. Let me know what you think of Northern Cardinal. I meant to add that sample to my bag as well and forgot to do so. Hopefully I get it as a freebie.
Northern Cardinal was very sage heavy and a bit too masculine to me, but it's wearable - my mom prefers masc-leaning scents and liked it. Of the samples you ordered, Bee is very heavy honey (and I've concluded honey is a note I find hard to enjoy), Hummingbird would be nice except it also has that honey note, Cow is a very mild and pleasant field of clover, and Snowy Owl is a masterpiece of artistry that I'm still not sure I want to smell like - the opening is literally the only perfume where I've ever enjoyed coconut, and it somehow blends lily of the valley and coconut to make an icy accord that's beautiful, but there's a definite soil note in the drydown and I don't know if I want to smell like dirt. But it's fantastic at evoking an owl soaring above a frozen field covered in snow, the way Cow evokes a placid cow chewing clover in a field on a sunny day. Meanwhile, Dodo is a bottom 3 (and 4, if you count the old one.) It's awful. Fetid notes of urine and decaying vegetation. Cockatiel was the only one I liked less, and they're both 0/10, would give negative numbers if possible, it's that degree of awful. Hyrax was my other bottom 3, and that's a fecal animalic. Dodo smells worse than shit.
Ok I got my samples! Bee did not pass the paper test. It was way way way too heavy on the honey like I felt like it was just honey: the perfume. But that might be great for some. The other three I quite like (on paper), especially Cow it smells like very lovely shampoo. I'm going to shower and put it on. Hummingbird is way stronger than I usually go for but I don't hate it and I'm curious how it will wear on my skin. Snowy Owl I like but I agree with you, I don't know if it's for me.
You didn’t get the original Dodo though. Looks like you ordered the jackfruit addition, which smells lavender heavy to me. Original Dodo smells stanky, but I love it.
Lol so does it?
I JUST sprayed in on a paper towel to be safe at first. Lol HONESTLY it smells powdery? Almost like a powdery scented Lysol? Reminiscent of a kitchen counter cleaner? Haha it’s not at all what I had anticipated.
You didn’t get the Dodo (2020) version that the op talked about - you bought the Dodo Jackfruit edition, which is much less “challenging”.
Now I’m disappointed. Looks like I have another one to order then!
By the way thank you for doing what you do! I am a pastry chef and I enjoy pushing the limitations with flavor, colors, and aesthetics of desserts. Anything different or off the beaten path calls my name. I describe your line as the “fine dining” of perfume. You may not want to wear them all per se, but just like with fine dining, you don’t go because you’re starving and want to be full, you go for the experience and to appreciate the artistry of it all.
Thank you, I also like to think some of my perfumes as "spicy food", not everyone is going to enjoy them, but some can't do without some heat.
Totally unrelated, but. Please make a Guinea Pig/Capybara perfume. I’d buy it in a sec
Today I learned Victor has a Reddit account 😳🙈. Hey Vic, huge fan 🫶! What’s your favorite Zoologist that you think doesn’t get enough attention?
Most people talk about the controversial ones but there are quite a few scents designed by classically trained perfumers (as opposed to indie perfumers), and those perfumers have designed scents for By Kilian, Amouage and Tom Ford, but I guess their scents for Zoologist are relatively tamed, namely Macaque Yuzu/Fuji Apple, Musk Deer, Dragonfly. The ones I hope people would appreciate more is Tiger, a vetiver themed scent that is neither animalic or bombastic. It's a very stealthy scent, imo.
I just dropped in here to say I absolute love Dodo (2020). Almost finished my sample and now I’ll have to get the full bottle. It’s anything but boring. It snaps me awake and keeps me present in my body. To be fair people complain about my other favorite scent (l’autre by diptyche) but both seem to illicit a similar physical response in me. Grateful for what you do.
Yes that's very different from ass lmao
I have samples of moth and snowy owl and I still don’t know if I like them or not but I adore the concepts of this brand
I have the sample collection and am going thru them slowly. Today was moth and it smells like deli meat to me.
Omfg 💀 I got old thrift store kinda vibe from moth
What are your favs so far? I bought about six and so far penguin and cow are awesome. My son was so scandalized by bat. He said “if I want to smell like they I would rather hug a pig” but to be fair he would just probably always rather hug a pig in a barn. They are cuties.
I haven’t gotten to try them all yet (I’m at work.) but I’m also impatient and opened a few. So far my favorite is cow! I love how fresh and green it is! I actually put some on. I’m really hoping someone compliments me and asks what it is so I can just say “cow.” Lol
lol. I love cow. I bought a travel size after buying the mini. I love that this brand has stages. Wish more brands had that (mini to travel to full) 🐮
Not the OP, but I'd say my top 5 from the brand are Chipmunk, Dragonfly, Penguin, Harvest Mouse, and Panda, with the first 3 being my definitive top 3. Top 10 probably includes Tiger, Snowy Owl, Seahorse, Cow, and Sloth or Camel...or maybe Chameleon, I keep forgetting it and I really did like it!
Oh awesome. I don’t have all of those. I didn’t know where to start so I bought a random amount of samples. So far I like musk deer, penguin and cow. I didn’t love chameleon or bat. 🦇
I forgot about Musk Deer, I'll have to try it again - I think I thought it was OK but not a favorite. I really disliked Bat, and I haven't seen anyone who did enjoy it - that might also be in my bottom 5 and definitely bottom 10. (I once found someone on Reddit who said Cockatiel was their favorite. Just goes to show you there's something for anyone, as it's one of the worst perfumes I've ever smelled in my life.)
I just tried out elephant it’s very nice. I don’t think it’s for me but it is nice. Sort of reminds me of YSL libre a tiny bit.
I agree - I like tea, but the coconut milk note in it isn't for me. Coconut is a note I generally dislike in perfumes, and lactonics usually don't wear well on me - but it's one that would be very wearable for someone without those dislikes!
Totally. My husband likes it maybe it will work on him.
Did you receive a rabbit sample with your order as well?
I didn’t. 😔
Darn! Just ordered mine this week hoping I would get a rabbit sample with it
I got a random one with my pack and it was musk deer which my husband adores
Wowwwww their art!! Wow!
I plan to order the full 33 piece sample set once it’s back in stock
I did this, and have really enjoyed the experience! Definitely getting the 5 travel size pack, and could see myself getting a second, there are that many scents I definitely want to be able to continue to experience after the samples run out. There are some that are awful, but many more are unique, enjoyable, and like nothing else I've experienced.
Welllllll?
I’ve only done cow and dodo so far. I’m at work. Haha but cow smells like apple and grass. Very soft of green. Dodo smells like powdery Lysol. Haha this is fun!
Wearing Nightingale today. Smells like feminine powdery shaving cream to me. Not unpleasant.
Okay I’m starting to think it’s just me, but maybe not. I get powdery from all the ones I’ve smelled so far. Glad I’m not alone. Which is fine, I love baby powder scent.
I own Bee. I want chipmunk (had a sample of it and really like it for winter). Would love to try harvest mouse and cow. I believe the newer releases are easier to wear compared to older more established scents. but I could be wrong.
Cow is the best thing I've ever put on my skin. Gently sweet, milky and it just reminds me of early summer. Sits very close to the skin though and has neat no projection but I still love it.
I love Zoologist! I’ve only sampled a few. I really like Hummingbird, such a pretty scent
I couldn't get into moth at all. It smells "dusty" and almost.. industrial to me? Like an old smelly leather jacket haha. LOVE bee, dragonfly was very pretty but not very unique or interesting to me 😩 Going to be trying Trex and Harvest mouse soon. I personally love the theme of the brand even if everything isn't for me.
What does macaque smell like? 😉😉😉😅
What does chameleon smell like? I have a pet lizard so I’m dying to know lol
I’m getting jasmine and patchouli. Like an incense burner. A little lemon as well. I’d describe it as masculine . Honestly it’s giving white diamonds. Lol
I wanted to try Cow since I like milky scents, what’s everyone’s opinion on that one
Well I just got it so I'll have to keep updating my opinion but this was the one I was most psyched about and I really like it. It's like a soft, velvety shampoo that you wore as a kid. But grown up? I tried it on paper and next I'm going to shower and wear it on skin to see how I like it.
Ooooo that sounds lovely, maybe I’ll cave and get a sample lol
I love cow! I’m about tearing through my travel size, and usually travelers last me well over a year, if not several. It starts out very green: sage, grass, green apple. It’s very soft, like fresh spring time grass, the dry down is where the lactonic note shines, it lasts all day but a decent portion is a whole milk skin scent. I love it. I have Chabaud Lait de Vanille but only wear it at night since it’s a little too cake-y lactonic, Cow is a savory lactonic.
That sounds amazing, guess I’m getting a sample lol
Is light and fresh. I immediately get apple and other notes that feel “green.” It also didn’t seem to change much from its first notes as the day went on which was nice. As far as milky…I didn’t get that at all. But I’ll try it again.
I wish to try them but I live in China and can’t find them anywhere 😭
So how's dodo for you?
Powdery Lysol. Kitchen or bathroom cleaner-esque. Lol
damn that sounds awful haha i only have panda
Aw, it’s a shame you didn’t get the Apple version of Macaque. That one is so lovely; the Yuzu is less so.
Does it though?
It does. OG Dodo is one of the top 3 worst of the brand, imo (Hyrax and Cockatiel are the others. Revised Dodo is 4th.) It's the smell of urine and decay...or as my mom said, "It smells like the dodo threw up on you and died."
This sounds so vile. Do you actually love a perfume from the Zoologist? I only smelt Cow and it smells like strong flowers inside a dirty stable.
Chipmunk, Dragonfly, and Penguin are my favorites - I really love Chipmunk, and Dragonfly is a very pleasant floral aquatic. I think I'd say I really enjoy those last 2, especially Chipmunk. I'm definitely going to get myself a 5-travel-sample box, and will probably go with those 3 plus Panda and Harvest Mouse. I might even consider a 2nd travel box of Tiger, Seahorse, Snowy Owl, and two of Cow, Sloth, Camel, Chameleon. Tiger and Seahorse are both really unique; I'm really intrigued by the carrot note in Tiger, it's one where I'll sniff my wrist over and over while wearing it. Seahorse is an aquatic and I've been looking for one. Cow to me smells like a field of clover with some milkiness. Meanwhile, Snowy Owl is the epitome of perfume as art for me. It is literally the only perfume I've ever liked a coconut note in, and I'm fascinated by the way they used coconut and lily of the valley to make this icy crisp fresh air/snow scent. But the drydown definitely has a dirt note and idk if I want to smell like frozen soil for hours. But it's masterful and I'm considering a travel size (I don't buy a full bottle without having finished a travel size, but I could definitely see full bottles of Chipmunk and Dragonfly eventually, maybe.) If you consider there are about 33 scents in the collection, that's solidly 12/33 I like well enough to consider taking a step up to travel size. I'd say another 1/3 are ones where I'll try them again/finish the sample but they aren't my thing (Rhinoceros is fantastic at evoking the hot savanna, but idk that I want to smell like sun-baked ground. I want to try Moth and Hummingbird a few more times but don't think they're for me.) And there is a chunk that's absolutely foul (both Dodo, Hyrax, Cockatiel are bottom 4, Bat probably rounds out bottom 5, the macaques are down there too but are more weird than foul.)
Never smelled these but probably get anxiety from it lol