Made by Zoologist Perfumes (Toronto, Canada)

Perfumer: Shelley Waddington

The Art & Olfaction Awards 2017, Independent Category Finalist

Zoologist Civet pays homage to the age-old ingredient, civet, as well as chypre perfumes of bygone days – perfumes that refused to be intimidated by raw, alluring, animalistic musks. Civet is a moody and complex brew entwined in mystery. It opens with a spicy floral accord, threaded through with dark coffee tones. Slowly it prowls forward, unraveling base notes of leather, moss and vanilla that combines with distinctive civet musk to create a bewildering, sophisticated scent with the promise of a sultry nighttime rendezvous.

Notes—
Top: Bergamot, Black Pepper, Lemon, Orange, Spices, Tarragon
Heart: Carnation, Frangipani, Heliotrope, Hyacinth, Linden-blossom, Tuberose, Ylang
Base: Balsams, Civet*, Coffee, Incense, Labdanum, Musks*, Oakmoss, Resins, Russian Leather*, Vanilla, Vetiver, Woods

*Synthetic notes. Zoologist Civet does not contain animal products.

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As the sun sinks over the dense tropical forest, civets emerge warily from the thickets. Under a carpet of narcotic flower blossoms, a smattering of coffee berries peppers the ground. The moist air is heavy with mossy aromas that penetrate every crevice, but the musky scent of the civets dominates; their marked territory daring one to enter at one’s own risk.

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Name: Zoologist Civet Deluxe Bottle Extrait de Parfum 60ml
Brand: Zoologist
SKU: 22392
Availability: InStock

Zoologist Perfumes

Zoologist Perfumes is a Toronto-based niche fragrance house founded in 2013 by Victor Wong. What began as a passion project has grown into an internationally acclaimed brand, celebrated for its imaginative storytelling, animal-inspired concepts, and daringly unconventional approach to perfumery.

A former 3D artist in the video game industry, Victor longed for a more expressive outlet. His fascination with animals and growing love of fragrance inspired him to create perfumes that capture the wildness of nature in olfactory form. Collaborating with renowned independent perfumers, he has built a collection that goes beyond imitation—transforming creatures like Bat, Hummingbird, Panda, and Squid into complex, wearable narratives.

The brand’s visual identity is just as distinctive: ornate illustrations of anthropomorphic animals in elegant attire reflect Zoologist’s playful yet sophisticated spirit. True to Victor’s values, the perfumes are entirely cruelty-free, relying on synthetics and natural alternatives rather than animal-derived ingredients.

Launching an independent fragrance brand in Canada came with its share of hurdles. With limited infrastructure for small-scale perfume production, Victor personally took on every aspect of the process – diluting, filtering, bottling, and labelling perfumes himself. His commitment and hands-on approach became part of the brand’s DNA, reinforcing Zoologist’s identity as a true indie house built from the ground up. That dedication has since earned the brand international recognition, with fragrances like Bat winning the Art & Olfaction Award in 2016 and Squid earning Perfume Extraordinaire of the Year in 2020.

Today, Zoologist continues to expand its universe of scents while remaining true to its roots: bold, inventive, and evocative perfumery that invites wearers to explore new worlds through fragrance. Victor’s vision is clear—to create perfumes that inspire wonder, spark imagination, and bridge the worlds of art, nature, and humanity. In an industry often defined by trends and repetition, Zoologist stands apart as a brand unafraid to experiment, to provoke, and above all, to tell unforgettable stories.

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