Zoologist Civet Eau de Parfum Review

Zoologist Civet Eau de Parfum is the latest unique fragrance launch from our friends at Zoologist. Civet launched late last month and was an unexpected surprise after not one but two new launches from Zoologist that happened in November including one of my new favorites, Nightingale.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Civet and the note and name alone scared me a little. Basically the fragrance captures a synthetic civet note (Zoologist does not use animal products in their fragrance). If the idea of civet makes you cringe or raise a brow keep in mind it does make an appearance in many popular and cult favorite scents from Chanel, Guerlian, and more. If you’re unfamiliar with the note, allow me to briefly explain.

Ah yeah, ahem, well civet cats release a pungent secretion that marks their territories. Apparently when diluted with other notes, particularly florals and given time to age it actually adds warmth and body to fragrances. I won’t go into where exactly this “musk” is secreted from. The note has actually been replicated though in a synthetic form so, the idea is a little less gross than you might be thinking.

Let’s take a look at my thoughts and review of Zoologist Civet Eau de Parfum.

Shelley Waddington and Zoologist founder, Victor Wong are the noses behind the the stunning Zoologist Civet creation. You may recognize Shelley’s name for a few reasons. One being she has her own find niche fragrance house called En Voyage and the second reason is you might recall me mentioning my other favorite fragrance scent from Zoologist, Hummingbird, in my introduction of the brand as Shelley is also responsible for this fragrance as well.

I admit, I heard Shelley’s name and I had no reservations about purchasing Civet considering my love of her own house brands as well as my intense passion for Hummingbird. I knew it was bound to be special and it is.

Civet isn’t for the faint of heart as he’s a refined gentleman with a vintage air and a certain cloying warmth that travels with you throughout the day. If I close my eyes I can easily imagine Lord Alfred Douglas misting this on before a meeting with Oscar Wilde. It’s very much a fragrance that’s elegant, vintage, and truly glamorous.

I think the way Zoologist describes the scent can be a little intimidating with a promise of “raw, alluring, animalistic musks”. For me this opens up with a spicy floral element with a burst of black pepper, bergamot, and a spiciness that my nose is too novice to define. As it settles down a beautiful layer of floral notes emerge and if you concentrate hard enough you can pick some of them out particularly the spicy warm of carnation and tuberose. As it dries down further a slight incense-y warmth embraces you and the floral notes become even more complex courtesy clean vanilla, woodsiness, musks, oak, and coffee. Dare I say at this point the scent even reveals a slight sweetness. The fragrance is so well blended that you’ll never really capture the element of the civet note here but you will feel it’s presence as it enriches the perfume and gives it warmth and sensuality.

I can tell you all of these things but you might never full visualize or understand Civet until you smell it for yourself. For me it smells like an old worldly perfume. It’s a vintage scent that’s wrapped in a flare of notes that will bring you back to centuries past but with an edge that can only be described as modern sexy. It deserves mentioning that this is created with 25% concentrated perfume oil so the scent is strong with an incredible linger and throw. It’s a conversation piece that will have people leaning into you and asking, “What is that beautiful smell?”

Zoologist Civet Eau de Parfum does not disappoint and is another fine offering from this incredible niche fragrance house.

Well done, Zoologist! You’ve done it again.

A most perfect, vintage scent that with a complex and unique formula that’s sure to please indie and niche fragrance fans far and wide.

Muse Approved.

Try a sample of Zoologist Civet for $6 which can be purchased at etsy.com and from zoologistperfumes.com.