New Fragrance Review:  Zoologist Dragonfly (Juan Perez and Victor Wong) 2017 + Fantasy Chypre Draw

Dragonfly Digital Art by Gail for ÇaFleureBon©

I love watching dragonflies dipping and hovering in the summer garden. These ancient insects, so ephemeral, seem from another time and another world, their beauty almost alien in aspect. The iridescent jeweled bodies and wings of lace and light have been, and continue to be, the subject of art and poetry, myth and legend the world over. Zoologist Dragonfly.

Victor Wong of Zoologist Perfumes, Dragonfly and Juan Perez of Exotic Island aromas Aromas

Victor Wong's new fragrance developed with perfumer Juan Perez of Exotic Island Aromas, Puerto Rico, distills the poetic motion and radiant presence of these magical creatures into yet another beautifully designed and decorated Zoologist bottle.

Dragonfly tableau courtesy of Victor Wong

Zoologist Dragonfly is the 9th in a series of animal inspired fragrances that began in 2014 with Beaver, Panda and Rhinoceros.  Zoologist perfumes capture "the idiosyncrasies of the animal kingdom and transform them into scents that are unusual, beautiful, fun and even shocking." Creative Director Victor Wong and  independent perfumers Paul Kiler, Chris Bartlett, Ellen Covey (2016 A&O Award Winner for Zoologist Bat), Shelley Waddington (2017 A&O Finalist for Zoologist Civet), Sarah McCartney, Tomoo Inaba and now Juan Perez have put together a menagerie of fragrances that appeal to the wild nature in all of us. 

Powdery Flower photographed by Koo Bon Chang for Vogue Korea January 2014©

Dragonfly opens with a breath of translucent, tart lemon, a suggestion of peony and the powdery, sweet almond/cherry of heliotrope.  To my nose, the ability to work with heliotrope can define the skill of a perfumer and make or break a fragrance.  In Dragonfly, perfumer Juan Perez does wonders with the purple flower.  His use of buoyant aldehydes, citrus and the cool freshness of a rainwater accord, lifts and lightens the heliotrope, creating a green and purple iridescent shimmer. This fragile sweetness paints an uncanny olfactory portrait of transparent wings, the dragonfly poised at dawn on a reed, its glistening colors reflected in the still water of a dark pool.

Sung Hee Kim for Vogue Korea February 2014 – Blooming Beauty©

The heart of the fragrance flits and hovers like the insect on an afternoon breeze. The scents of sweet, white clover, azure iris, bright tangy, meadow flowers and the grassy, nutty aromas of rice, color the air for three hours and more.  As the perfume dries down the Dragonfly comes to rest again, this time on a pond stone, wings vibrating in sync with the late afternoon warmth, a sensation created by notes of a breathy amber, moss, sandalwood and musk.

Vogue Korea Dragonfly Fashion Editorial Cover apped MC

 Zoologist Dragonfly dances, suspended close my skin for five to eight hours. The exquisite insect and this evocative fragrance call to mind transience and transformation, a luminous brilliance and a throbbing love of love itself; evanescent life and fleeting passion shimmering in the sun.

Digital Art by Gail Gross ©

"Dragonfly, green fire  quivering on the threshold of a stone which your love cannot awaken.

Still, your restless heart longs to fuse with equanimity.

Your wings throb, knocking on the gate, seeking entrance into the cool stone." – Libelle, Grünes Feuer by Cyrus Atabay (1929-1996)

Zoologist Dragonfly is a fantasy chypre, a verdant floral that trembles with an unearthly beauty, a glowing jewel of a fragrance, sure to fascinate and delight the restless heart.

Notes: Aldehydes, heliotrope, lemon, peony, rainwater, cherry blossom, clover, iris, lotus, rice, amber, moss, musk, papyrus and sandalwood.

Many thanks to Zoologist Perfumes for the generous samples of Dragonfly.  My opinions are my own.

—Gail Gross. Editor

Editor's Note: Juan was inspired by Guerlain  Apres L'Ondee in creating  Dragonfly

Art Director: Michelyn Camen Editor-in-Chief

Thanks to the generosity of Victor Wong and Zoologist Perfumes we have three 11 ml travel sprays of Dragonfly available to (THREE) registered readers anywhere in the world. (Be sure to register or your comment will not count here). To be eligible for the draw, please let us know where you live, tell us what appeals to you about Gail's review of Dragonfly, and let us know if you have a favorite Zoologist fragrance. If you would like to win one any of the eight ZoologistTravel sprays instead please leave that in your comment. Draw closes July 3, 2017

We think Victor would be terrific addition to our Creative Directors in Perfumery Series. Agree? Let him know in your comment.

We announce the winners on our site and on our Facebook page so like CaFleureBon and use our RSS feed…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume. 

 

   

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41 comments

  • Maria Carattini says:

    I love how descriptive she is. Makes me feel like a Dragonfly. I would love to own a fun chypre 🙂 .. especially since I live in Florida. Here is hot and I have a lot of Dragonflys in my garden . Aa for the other 8 well I would love to own hummingbird

  • Kim Morgan says:

    Soooo exciting! I’ve never tried any of Zoologist perfume’s offerings! Humid summers where I live. The lemon and sandalwood would be most welcome!

  • TaffyJ says:

    What I love about Zoologist is how the fragrances capture the nuances of the particular animal’s ecosystem. Gail’s review is so beautifully descriptive; it captures the nuances of Dragonfly, as a creature of “transformation” and “green and purple iridescent shimmer.” Who wouldn’t want to wear this beauty!

    I really love this house. Hard to choose a favorite, but the number one at the moment is Civet.

    I live in Illinois

  • Vahagn says:

    Thank you Gail for nice description, especially for this -“… a luminous brilliance and a throbbing love of love itself; evanescent life and fleeting passion shimmering in the sun.”
    I’ve never tested Zoologist Perfumes, so I would love to win and as for other 8 fragrances- I would prefer Macaque.
    Armenia

  • bill says:

    I’m not sure whether the level of sweetness of Dragonfly agrees with me. Sounds like it could be rather sweet. However, I’d love to smell that “rainwater” note!
    I have heard nothing but praise about Zoologist perfumes, but I have yet to discover any of them. It’s not easy to find them here in France.
    If I’m lucky enough I’d love to try Civet. It sounds like something I’d love.

  • stephaniesteeman says:

    Very excited to smell this fragrance. I purchased a bottle of Bat 6 months ago after reading the very poetic description that inspired the fragrance. Like that fragrance, this review paints a picture, tells a story if you will, about the insect, the way it moves and interacts with its environment in a biological and poetic way. I just returned from a frog watching tour in the amazon basin and the great surprise for me was the dazzling array of insect life in jungle pools, creeks, and rivers. The elegance of moths, cicadas, ants, and dragonflies there is something I had not examined closely before. I found myself falling in love with creatures like the velvet worm and whip scorpion. I love that this fragrance is inspired by an insect.
    The fact that peony, rice, and sandalwood are notes as well make it something I just have to smell. It could be…the perfect summer scent.

  • Gigigirl says:

    I love dragonflies, they’ve always struck me as quite magical. I’m also a big fan of Zoologist perfumes, each is so unique and they are never boring. The artwork makes me smile every time, too. My favourites of the line are Civet and Beaver. If I were lucky enough to win, I’d love a travel spray of Civet, though I’ll have to try Dragonfly somewhere, too! I’m in Canada.

  • GrandmaGaga says:

    Although I have never had the privilege of seeing a dragonfly, much less smelling its environment, I have smelled several of Zoologist’s fragrances and I’m certain they’ve nailed it again with Dragonfly. I am in the US and would love to sample this ‘verdant floral’, Dragonfly!

  • MrsPress says:

    Seems as though Gail has lived a day in the life of a dragonfly…beautifully descriptive. If I were to win I would like to receive Civet or Hummingbird…surprise me! I have sampled Civet and do enjoy it. I haven’t tried anything else from Zoologist yet, but I’m sure I will…I’ve heard nothing but good things about this house! I’m in the United States.

  • John T says:

    Love the art really focuses on the strengths of Zoologist perfumes., and Victor’s designs. What a great line, its for the ages. I live in Virginia.

  • jenbat says:

    I am such a Zoologist fan, I would love to read an article about Victor Wong as creative director – his five-part series on the genesis of the company on his own blog (Sillyage) was such a good read! I’m interested in the opening lemon note, as it is notorious for being fleeting. I’d also like to explore a good heliotrope. My fave Zoologist is, um, all of them? But Rhinoceros if I had to pick only one. I live in Canada, thank you Cafleurebon and Zoologist for the draw.

  • NiceVULady says:

    Another beautiful review by Gail that captures the essence of the fragrance in words. I’ve tried Hummingbird and really liked it. I’d love to win this as it sounds ethereal and light. Thanks for the draw. I live in the USA

  • fazalcheema says:

    Victor deserves lot of kudos for working with independent perfumers some of whom I had never heard about before. I lvoe Chypres and Gail describes Dragonfly as fantasy chypre. Citrus, coolness, and rainwater accord plus the continuous transformation of the perfume is intriguing. Thanks a lot for the draw. I am in the US.

  • Tami H. says:

    Ooooooh. Huge fan of Dragonflies, they are so magical to me. Would love to win this, it sounds simply amazing. This was my favorite part of Gail’s’ great review.

    Dragonfly opens with a breath of translucent, tart lemon, a suggestion of peony and the powdery, sweet almond/cherry of heliotrope. To my nose, the ability to work with heliotrope can define the skill of a perfumer and make or break a fragrance. In Dragonfly, perfumer Juan Perez does wonders with the purple flower. His use of buoyant aldehydes, citrus and the cool freshness of a rainwater accord, lifts and lightens the heliotrope, creating a green and purple iridescent shimmer. This fragile sweetness paints an uncanny olfactory portrait of transparent wings, the dragonfly poised at dawn on a reed, its glistening colors reflected in the still water of a dark pool.

    I definitely think Victor would be wonderful addition to the Creative Directors in Perfumery Series! My favorite Zoologist perfume is Civet.
    Thank you for the generous giveaway, I live in the U.S.

  • ntabassum92 says:

    I am in the US. I love how Gail describes the dragonfly’s journey through the day, outside flitting from flowers to warm green grass. I felt so warm when reading about the transition into lazy afternoons among warm mossy fragrances. Thanks for the draw!

  • ringthing says:

    I’m in the US and look forward to smelling Dragonfly! Gail uses the word evocative about Dragonfly the fragrance and it’s ability to mimic the delicate flight of the dragonfly; her wonderful word descriptions make the vibration and throbbing pulse of both the insect and the fragrance visible to the mind’s eye. Beautiful words and pictures for a lovely sounding perfume. I have enjoyed everything I’ve tried from Zoologist with Civet being my favorite so far. Victor, thank you for your generosity! Everything about your line of perfumes is fascinating and it would be great to see you featured in CaFleurebon’s Creative Directors in Perfumery Series.

  • Sherri says:

    I absolutely adore the entire line of Zoologist’s perfumes. Bat and Civet are my two favorites. I have a strong connection to dragonflies. They represent transformation and self realization. When I read that Dragonfly was the newest addition the line of fragrances, I was ecstatic. I’d be gleefully honored if I was chosen as one of the winners to try Dragonfly. I live in Switzerland. The way Gail described the fragrance as a luminous brilliance throbbing with love has me wanting to try it even more! With gratitude for another beautifully written article and thank you for the draw! And I believe that Victor would absolutely be a welcome addition to the team! x

  • Lorenzo says:

    Hi, green floral perfumes always interests me, so Dragonfly review turned on a light for me!
    I like Zoologist approach to perfume, expecially the “second wave” of releases. As now, my favourite fragrance is Civet.
    Needless to say, I think Victor Wang would be a terrific addiction to Cafleurebon Creative Directors series.

    I live in Italy. As usual, thanks for the draw!

  • Dawn Crawford says:

    I love Zoologist! I have Civet and Hummingbird. Would love to win a lovely chypre. Have sampled all of their offerings but can not choose a fave, they are all that good.

  • Reg says:

    I didn’t have the chance to try any Zoologist fragrance yet, but just about everything in Gail’s description makes me want to try Dragonfly. It is very evocative in its description of the brightness and fragility of the scent and the notes are just to my taste.

    I live in the EU, thank you for the draw.

  • Amy M. says:

    I’m thrilled to hear that Juan is working with Victor Wong! I love Victor’s artistic vision, and every scent Juan has made.
    Gail’s whole review appealed to me; the images in the review itself, and the images conjured from the imagination of this: “the dragonfly poised at dawn on a reed, its glistening colors reflected in the still water of a dark pool.” I like Gail’s idea of the importance of the skill involved to work with heliotrope. And lastly, the image of the dragonfly coming to rest in the late afternoon on the pond stone. I can just imagine the beauty and warmth of the amber, musk, moss, and sandalwood. What a poetic review!
    I live in the DC area of the USA (Maryland.) My favorite Zoologist perfume is Civet. I’d love to be included in the draw – thank you!

  • aurora_ru says:

    I hope Victor Wong will give his agreement to participate in Creative Directors series! I have not tried any of Zoologist perfumes, but what I have heard from the independent reviewers, his approach is very outstanding and unique. To invent such aromatic constructions and dedicate them to noble creatures of wild Animal Kingdom, that is quite a brave project. I like the presentation of those perfums a lot: make me think of our Spirit Animals. I feel and understand that there is such a perfection in details, olfactive and visual.

    I hope to try out some of Zoologist soon. Also I hope that they will expand their line with Fox, Lion, Dog, Camel and Ram, which are my favorite animals 🙂

    Thank you for this amazing review and for the opportunity to participate in this draw. I choose to have Nightingale travel spray as my prize. I live in the EU. Peace, Love!

  • Richard Potter says:

    Gail has really captured the essence of a Dragonfly. I have been waiting for this release. Would love to try it.

  • Rustee46 says:

    I love the incorporation of clover into this scent, gives it not only the impression of the beautiful insect itself, but also the fragrant flowers on which it alights. Previously, I have tried Bat and Beaver, but have determined that animalics hold limited appeal to me. I have high hopes as to this new offering, though. Mr. Wong is a perfumer well-loved among our fragrance community and absolutely should be interviewed for the series. I live in the US.

  • Raee says:

    This brings back childhood memories of when we would play with the dragonflies. Chasing them in the green forests and parks.

    I will love to try this and see if my memories matches the scent profile.
    And I love the full presentation bottles.

    In US.

  • Maya says:

    I agree that dragonflies seem to be from another world. I have heard that Juan Perez is a wonderful perfumer and would love to try Dragonfly. I have tried only 2 Zoologist perfumes, Hummingbird and Bat. I should have loved Hummingbird but didn’t and I should have hated Bat but didn’t. Bat is somehow fascinating and amazing.
    “We think Victor would be terrific addition to our Creative Directors in Perfumery Series. Agree?” Yes.
    Live in the USA.

  • tarena says:

    I’ve been looking forward to Dragonfly since it was announced about a month or two ago! I love how this fragrance seems to capture the essence of dragonflies so well. Everything from their delicateness to their colorful glassy wings, with hints of aquatic and greenery, just really well done. Gail’s review is wonderful – the way she describes Dragonfly is reminiscent of a watercolor, and the term “glowing jewel” fits perfectly considering the actual perfume color is purple! My favorite Zoologist fragrance is Hummingbird. In the US. Thanks for the generous draw!

    Oh and I definitely agree that Victor would be a great addition to the Creative Directors in Perfumery Series! The concept behind the Zoologist line is brilliant and I’d love to read more about its origins and inspiration. 🙂

  • RoseMacaroon says:

    I’ve smelled only Bat from this line, enjoyable and all, but this sounds entirely gorgeous *as I’m a suckered for the writing here, “fantasy chypre” that “trembles” , and “glows like a jewel”??!! Oh GOD yes!) and I’d LOVE to try it! Thanks for the chance.
    Viktor, yes please — go for it!

  • BostonScentGuy says:

    The iridescent images are great, and I love how Gail describes the “scent” version of that iridescence…I’m always interested in a good usage of heliotrope. It can go so wrong as a note, but I love the sound of it being mixed with other flowers, woods, and greens. I’ve not tried anything else of Zoologist, but have been dying to sample the line overall. If I were to win the draw, I’d love to try a travel spray of civet. Thanks for this draw and, yes, from what I’ve heard it sounds like Victor would be a great addition to the Creative Directors series! I’m in the US.

  • tiffanie says:

    I am in the US. I live near a large park where dragonflies congregate over the water. Watching them is otherworldly, like Gail’s transporting description of this perfume. It is good to learn that Juan’s treatment of heliotrope is expertly done. I adore the heliotrope note in Apres L’Ondee. I don’t have a favorite yet from Zoologist. I would love to try Dragonfly based on this review.

    Victor would be a great addition to the Creative Directors in Perfumery series. Thank you to Victor and CaFleureBon for the generous draw and for making the world more fragrant.

  • Eon says:

    I’m quite interested in the cherry blossom and rice note. I usually can’t live with powdery purple flowers like iris or heliotrope and Apres L’Ondee really makes me uncomfortable. Well I still want to at least have a try. Dragonfly may be a modern interpretation of Apres L’Ondee. My favorite from the brand is macaque and I live in Sydney.

  • Claudia says:

    Generally aldehydes in a fragrance tend to smell like hairspray on me, its a strange thing. However the rest of the notes sounds intriguing together and considering that Juan P. created this with Apres L’Ondee in mind I can only imagine this to be delicate and beautiful. And who would not be lured by a “Fantasy Chypre” I am in 🙂 thanks so much. US 🙂

  • Morph Y says:

    I am a big fan of rhinoceros but this dragonfly sounds special. Canada and I would like civet

  • doveskylark says:

    I am intrigued by the notes here–especially the heliotrope and the rice. I grew up watching dragonflies and all the wonderful adjectives like shimmering, luminous, trembling, iridescent and glistening certainly apply to this magnificent creature.
    I haven’t tried anything from this line. If I were to win, I’d like to start with Dragonfly.

  • MichelleU says:

    Favorite part of the review: “Zoologist Dragonfly is a fantasy chypre, a verdant floral that trembles with an unearthly beauty, a glowing jewel of a fragrance, sure to fascinate and delight the restless heart.”

    Dragonflies are amazing insects, the helicopter was inspired by their wings. A scent inspired by a dragonfly must really be great esecially since I love a green chypre.

    I am a reader from the EU! Wish you all the best!

  • Bistra says:

    my fave zoologist is bat, and by far. best part of the review is the sentence about what the fume calls to mind: “transience and transformation, a luminous brilliance and a throbbing love of love itself; evanescent life and fleeting passion shimmering in the sun.” that truly works to spur longing and desire. i live in the eu, and i care for a dragonfly travel spray only. thanks for the beautiful pictures!

  • Hikmat Sher Afridi says:

    Interesting! Gail’s final conclusion is the heart of the review! “Zoologist Dragonfly is a fantasy chypre, a verdant floral that trembles with an unearthly beauty, a glowing jewel of a fragrance, sure to fascinate and delight the restless heart.”
    My favorite Zoologist perfume is BEAVER (before reformulation). Thanks to Victor Wong & Zoologist Perfumes for the generosity and CafleureBon for the opportunity. From: Pakistan

  • Jawad Afridi says:

    Thanks to Hikmat Sher Afridi ( My Relative) I am new to this site. I also want to win perfumes
    I am from Pakistan & doesn’t know much about perfumes and their companies as Hikmat Shed Afridi do but I love them .. I havnt tried Zoologist Perfumes yet but would love to win it
    Hope my luck runs this time around

  • hofken says:

    I enjoyed Gail’s review of Dragonfly. We don’t see many dragonflies in the desert, but her description of “The exquisite insect and this evocative fragrance call to mind transience and transformation, a luminous brilliance and a throbbing love of love itself; evanescent life and fleeting passion shimmering in the sun” reminds me of the ones I saw as a child. I live in the US and have not yet had the pleasure of wearing a Zoologist fragrance. I would love to try the “Sultry Nighttime Rendezvous” of Civet.

  • Greg Sh says:

    Great review on this one. I’ve only ever tried Beaver and I remember it being really unique! I’d love to win Macaque!

    Canada