Zoologist Nightingale Eau de Parfum Review

Nightingale is one of two new fragrances that Zoologist Perfumes launched for Fall 2016. I purchased a sample recently of Zoologist Nightingale Eau de Parfum and I regret the purchase as I really should have picked up a full-size of this beautiful scent. But no worries, I can always place another order right?

Let’s take a look at Nightingale.

A few months ago I did an introduction post to Zoologist and I do urge you to read it as it is a great way to familiarize yourself with this wonderful indie perfume house before reading this review.

I really felt compelled to blind buy a large bottle of Zoologist Nightingale because I was taken in by the beautiful artwork gracing the bottle, the gorgeous pink hued juice inside it, and the the plum blossom chypre notes. I ended up playing it safe and purchased it along with a sample of the other new fragrance called Macaque, which I’ll tell you more about soon!

Nighingale might be better suited to a Spring release rather than a Fall one with her gorgeously complex floral notes but I’m not complaining and I’m just happy to have tried her and look forward to adding a full bottle to my collection. For me, Nightingale is a fragrance in the vein of Lush Ginger, Dianne Brill Eau de Parfume, Replica Lipstick On, and Frédéric Malle Lipstick Rose. She’s a complex old Hollywood glamour fragrance that makes you think of bright red lipstick and face powder housed in cut crystal jars. She’s every naughty pin-up girl from Bettie Page to Dita Von Teese and every elegant celebrity from Fay Wray to Greta Garbo. She’d be right at home sitting atop a mirrored vanity tray among vintage gold cased lipsticks and fluffy powder puffs.

I personally love fragrances like this as they have a very vintage feel and scent. But, be warned, not everyone will like how powdery this scent is and it might just be a bit too mature for some and quite powdery. But if you’re seeking unique, complex, and vintage you’ll adore this!

The fragrance’s inspiration doesn’t quite fit what it smells like to me. As I said above I get old world Hollywood from it but the creator, Japanese perfumer Tomoo Inaba, was inspired by Spring, flowering plum trees, and the songs of nightingales. The composition of this fragrance is unique and complex. This is a perfect presentation of everything I love about indie fragrance houses. Zoologist captures the spirit of something truly unique here.

One of the things that will capture your eye first about the fragrance is the beautiful blushing pink juice but what will keep your attention are the incredible notes. Nightingale misleads with fruity top notes such as apple, cherry, and citrus but the dominate floral notes prevail. The scent opens with a bold burst of violet which happens to linger well through the dry down. This note will instantly remind high-end makeup lovers of their most beloved Guerlain Meteorites. As it settles, muguet plays gently in the background with hints of plum and rose. My nose never quite catches the fruit notes here nor the warmer notes of amber and oud. Within 3 to 4 minutes a huge wave of powder takes over the scent. This will instantly remind you of some fancy vintage bath powder or a rice face powder but essentially, as a makeup lover, your nose and mind will likely make you think of lipstick. The chypre gives the scent a masculine edge but the violet leaf dominates and makes this a fancy, red carpet fragrance. It reminds me of standing in front of a mirror, uncapping my favorite Guerlain lipstick, and applying it to my lips. The scent of violet clings not only to my lips but also to the air around me and this is exactly where Nightingale brings me to.

When you want to feel a little fancy and a lot glam I’d highly suggest grabbing a bottle of Zoologist Nightingale Eau de Parfum. This is a keeper fragrance that will remind them of days of old.

Zoologist Nightingale Eau de Parfum is available from the Zoologist Etsy store at etsy.com or at www.zoologistperfumes.com. I highly suggest picking up Hummingbird as well! It’s a favorite of mine and very much worth grabbing up.