September 8, 2017
Zoologist Perfumes Elephant (Victor Wong and Christopher Bartlett)- New Fragrance Review 2017 + Natural Kingdom Draw
Victor Wong and Christopher Bartlett
Art and Olfaction Winning Creative Director Victor Wong's latest Zoologist fragrance in collaboration with Christopher Bartlett, may have been announced last month, but sometimes it takes awhile for things to travel from Toronto to South Boston.
Artist: Daisy Chan
I'm always eager to sniff anything he's been working on, and I'm very taken with his rendering of the new perfume Elephant.
Blind men Approaching an Elephant Ohara Donshu (Brooklyn Museum)
THE BLIND MEN AND THE ELEPHANT
"It was six men of Indostan
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind".~ by John Godfrey Saxe 1872 (you can read the famous poem in its entirety here)
Elephant on a tea plantation in Assam photo khaleejtimes.com©
Majestic: the first descriptor my imagination conjures when contemplating the Elephant. I yearn to visit the veldts, the jungly forests of Africa and India; such longings must abide. I've had to satisfy my insatiable curiosity by frequenting country fairs and zoos, alas: not a proper environment for such sensitive beasts. I've ridden females with my young sons in hopes of fostering fearlessness, while admittedly experiencing mixed emotions (I prefer to stroke and bathe them – and as a woman and a mother, I felt their weariness). I love the way their hides shudder to the touch, much as horses' will; their smell, their gait, their demeanor.
Martin Middlebrook photography © stop ivory series
Zoologist Elephant does not smell like an elephant: it envelops one in an array of atmospherics. Victor Wong's vision of the elephant is both stark and gloriously holistic. One one hand, its association with India and sandalwood – on the other, as vital promoter of a fragile ecosystem – all the while trompling everything in its wake, uprooting vegetation and stripping the bark from nearby trees. It is Nature's necessity.
Martin Middlebrook photography © stop ivory series
Zoologist Elephant's introduction is deciduously verdant, darkly mordant, leaving a slightly bitter taste in my mouth. I salivate because it is that savory. This stage in its evolution lingers for quite awhile before a tender heart unfolds: unsweetened cocoa nib cohorted with feathery coconut milk, dusted with jasmine and magnolia blossoms. There is a weightlessness present here, a floating world, and it is simply beautiful. You can languish in it.
Martin Middlebrook photography © stop ivory series
Suddenly, Elephant takes a fiercely animalic turn, inferred by a robust musk cocktail, amber and patchouli. Intense would be an apt description.This aspect persists until sandalwood takes center stage. Oh, sandalwood! You who invoke reverie, cocooning us in your venerable embrace! Such a sensation of well-being, sweet contemplation.
Woman with elephant. by Visoot Uthairam©
I long to remain in this cherished state of suspension between heaven and earth indefinitely.
I don't need six blind men to describe this elephant for me – I have my nose…
Top notes: Tree Leaves, Darjeeling Tea, Magnolia; Heart notes: Cocoa, Coconut Milk, Incense, Jasmine, Woody Notes; Base notes: Amber, Musks, Patchouli, Sandalwood
Disclosure: Thank you for sharing – as always – your samples with me, Victor! My nose is my own…
~ Ida Meister, Senior Editor
Art Direction: Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief; I used photographs from Animal and Human Rights Activist Martin Middlebrook "Save Ivory" Series; see more of his work here
Thanks to the generosity of Victor Wong of Zoologist Perfumes, we have a draw for a 13 ml avant premier travel spray for one registered reader ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. You can register here. To be eligible for the draw, please leave a comment regarding what appeals to you about Ida's review, where you live, your favorite Zoologist perfume, or your own experiences with elephants. Draw closes September 12, 2017
We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS Feed…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.
Oh, how I love elephants! They are such beautiful, gentle souls. I follow on Twitter an account called Sheldrick Wildlife @DSWT. They are pioneers in the rescue, rehabilitation & release of orphaned baby elephants, and actively work to conserve all wildlife and wilderness areas in Kenya.
This fragrance sounds just as beautiful and gentle as the elephants themselves. I’ve only ever read reviews about the Zoologist perfume house. I would be so touched if I ended up winning this travel spray!
I live in the USA.
My favourite Zoologist scent is Civet. Such old world glamour.
I love how this sounds like it has a strong animal facet but is layered with other “relevant” ingredients perhaps reflective of india. I’ve been dying to try zoologist scents as they all sound interesting! Thanks for the draw. I’m in the us. My mom has a connection to elephants so I’d probably gift this to her after trying it!
My favourite Zoologist perfume so far is Bat. Oh those musks.
When I was a child, I used to love going to the zoo in Bombay, specifically to see the elephants. They were the most interactive species there, and the most magnificent in stature (of course). I’d visit their enclosure, stick my head between the bars, and offer them bananas. The place smelled of elephant and hay. One day, my favourite elephant there, Laxmi, she was called, took my offering of banana in her trunk, promptly ate it, then grabbed some hay, and placed it on my head, maybe as her way of completing the barter. The joy I felt then, was unparallelled. I walked a few inches taller that day.. The chosen one. The one who had had a deeper interaction with an elephant than any of the other kids at the zoo.
As I grew up, my visits to the zoo decreased, driven by a lack of time, as well as a growing consciousness of the horrors of caged or enclosed life for wild animals.
I don’t know where Laxmi is anymore. The zoo has probably changed a lot in the last 15 years. I must go back. Thanks for reminding me of her.
I’ve connected with Elephants all my life, in India, Thailand, most recently in Laos where I bathed one in the Mekong.Ida I’d recommend this in a careful sanctuary if possible. The heart overflows with the love and magnificence of these gentle giant. My daughter and I have an identical elephant Tattoo of a mother and baby – we did it to symbolise how we want our relationship to be, the unity of forever and Mama is always caring for her baby. Interesting Ida touches apon this in the review. I have never had the opportunity to try the Zoologist Perfume House’s creation. Inspired by the love of Elephants is great enough for me, cold be a relationship of a lifetime :)I would love to experience Elephant. I am in NZ and registered.
I’m a huge fan of sandalwood scents – can’t wait to smell this new one from Zoologist Perfumes.
Currently my favourite Zoologist scent is Panda.
I live in Saskatchewan, Canada.
There was always a lot of hype on Zoologist house and this Elephant release sound already like a big hit. Also their bottles and presentation are top notch. I live in EU, thanks for the draw.
Zoologist is such a creative and unique house. I’ve bought their sample set so tried many scents of theirs and each is so interesting and thoughtful in how they relate to the animal represented. My favourites so far have been Civet and Beaver. Elephant sounds amazing, the animal represents such great power and intelligence. I live in Canada.
The only elephant I’ve seen is in a zoo, so I just can imagine the odor of the “holistic” ecosystem then occupy! As for the animal, I would have imagined a big dose of natural oud and civet…
I don’t know any Zoologist perfume yet, but someday i hope they will be distributed in my country (would like to discover Bat and Civet especially).
I live in France, EU.
I like how this review captures the way perfume can immerse you in an atmosphere, above even just a literal interpretation of the subject at hand. My mom has always loved elephants, she collects figurines of them and admires their emotional intelligence. My fave Zoologist is, im, all of them. I live in Canada, thank you for the draw!
I’m a sandalwood lover, can’t lie about that haha.
But specially, I’m a huge fan of Victor’s work and fragrances.
My NUMBER 1 fragrance of the house is Hummingbird (Which I have a full bottle, by the way).
What I liked the most about this review is how clear and accurate was the image of the Elephant’s environment that I felt and saw by reading it…
It’s just beautiful how Victor use the magic of the scents to translate feelings and atmosphere to a beatiful fragance…
Can’t wait to try this new release…
I live in Brazil and wanna join the draw as well haha. Thank you for the opportunity.
I love sandalwood and animalics. I’d sure love to smell that.
My favourite Zoologist are Civet and Hummingbird. Bat and Rhinoceros are lovely too. I hated Panda at first but I’m liking it more and more.
I live in France.
I understand that Zoologist fragrances describe the scent of the environment the mammal/bird lives in. From Ida’s depiction, it seems green and dusty at the same time. So, probably, it is about all the seasons of the year: the dry, very hot one, when the elephants take mud baths to protect their skin, and about the rainy one, when the vegetation comes to live, and everything is green. All these sound interesting.
I watched on You Tube and read on Fragrantica so many reviews of different Zoologist perfumes over the past months that I had to apply for this draw.
I live in the E.U.
Thank you.
Wonderful, descriptive review! It certainly makes me want to purchase Elephant ASAP! Civet and Bat are my personal faves from Zoologist. I also enjoy Macaque. I live in Halifax, Nova Scotia and I.m looking forward to trying Zoologist new, massive beauty that is Elephant.
I love how the note lineup reflects the elephants nature, elephants are big monsters with some gentle souls and the notelineup I think is really spot on with those heavier notes of Amber and Patchouli, more animalic note like Musk and some gentle creamy notes like Cocoa, Coconut Milk, Jasmine and Sandalwood.
I live in Europe. Thanks for the amazing draw, fantastic despricpiton and helpful informations about this new fragrance
I have never had a chance to try any of Zoologist perfume. But I have read before from this brand, and I find it a very good idea to inspire perfumes from animals. Elephant sounds specially good for me, because the notes of Magnolia, Cocoa and Coconut milk. I would very like to try this perfume. Thank you for the chance. I live in Europe.
I feel like this is so far my favorite review on this site! This description, not only about elephants, but also about ecosystems is so soothing and giving me some unusual hope! I definately want to join this draw, but if i am not going to win, i think i will order some samples from zoologist soon! Thank you, I live in Europe.
I am from India. I can relate to the vision of Victor.
Would love to see how it has been executed. I am a fan of there creatings.
In USA.
I love this whole review Ida! Elephant sounds wonderful. Your writing drew me in to the whole experience. ❤️
DNEM Thank you Ida. Your reviews are always such a joy and delight to read!❤️❤️❤️
Ida’s review is reflective, as is she, and I felt the weariness of the elephant with her. Such majesty. I recall reading the poem in class in elementary school as a lesson in perspective, and indeed the elephant is many things to many people.
I am a fan of Zoologist and want to try everything they produce, Elephant is no exception. Hard to choose a favorite but Civet is just so GOOD. I’m in the US and thanks to all for the chance.
Haven’t got a chance to try a Zoologist perfume
Hopefully I can one day. Thank You for this giveaway
Peace
The way Ida oozed over how the sandalwood envelopes you in this fragrance drew me in. I’m a sandalwood fiend so I’m very happy to hear how mesmerizing it is. I haven’t had the chance to try any Zoologist perfumes though I have had some experiences with elephants at the Bronx Zoo. That’s about as far as my safari goes!
I’m in the US (NY)
Fabulous review Ida! This was my favorite part.
Zoologist Elephant’s introduction is deciduously verdant, darkly mordant, leaving a slightly bitter taste in my mouth. I salivate because it is that savory. This stage in its evolution lingers for quite awhile before a tender heart unfolds: unsweetened cocoa nib cohorted with feathery coconut milk, dusted with jasmine and magnolia blossoms. There is a weightlessness present here, a floating world, and it is simply beautiful. You can languish in it.
Thanks for the generous giveaway, I live in the U.S. My favorite Zoologist perfume is Civet.
Hi, the elephants are strong, majestic and incredibly smart animals, but riding on them is not a good idea. I’m not a one of crazy ecologists but I read about it and this is bad for elephants for 2 reasons: it is very bad for their health (paradox, considering their size) and because of terrible procedure of “domestication” for this purpose. In Thai or Siam (I don’t remember now) this process literally translates “to brake an elephant”. Unfortunately I haven’t try any of Zoologist perfumes yet, so I haven’t my favourite. I’d love to try them. I’m from Poland.
I used to work at the zoo in my home town of Rotterdam.
Not with the elephants, but at the aquarium.
Our “behind the scene” where we prepared all the food for the sharks and the sea turtles etc, was attached to the elephant stables.
Every night when I took the metro home, people were giving me strange looks. I thought it was the way I was dressed. A bit dirty and messed up from a full day cleaning aquaria, so I did not take any further notice and ignored the people pulling up their noses.
You can guess what comes up next…
WHAT IS THAT AWFULL SMELL!? My mum asked when I sat at the dinner table. Awfull? I shrugged?
Yes dear, you smell like a pigstie!
ELEPHANTS mum! ELEPHANTS!
Those poor people in the metro! I was the stinkiest person ever!
So yes please!!
Please let me smell like a Elephant again, but then in a delicious way!
:))
Regards Valeska
I love Ida’s description of the transition into the sandalwood. Sounds so enticing! The graphics that accompany the review are beautiful. My mother collected elephant figurines; that may be where I got my love of elephants.
It is difficult to select a favorite Zoologist perfume, as I enjoy just about everything from this house. Dragonfly is a real beauty and the new Panda is a lively edition. I still adore the old Panda as well.
I am in the U.S.
P.S. I am loving the stories of encounters with elephants.
Wonderful review! What Ida’s review appealing is that….”Suddenly, Elephant takes a fiercely animalic turn, inferred by a robust musk cocktail, amber and patchouli. Intense would be an apt description.This aspect persists until sandalwood takes center stage. Oh, sandalwood! You who invoke reverie, cocooning us in your venerable embrace! Such a sensation of well-being, sweet contemplation.”
My favorite is Zoologist BEAVER and Zoologist RHINOCEROS. Would love to win Elephant. Thanks for the draw and opportunity. Pakistan
lovely review i was hoping elephant would be like Nishane’s Afrika Olifant but now i think it will be totally different. my fav from the house is Panda 2017 and Bat. and i would love to win the giveaway.
Pakistan
I live in Romania (EU). Haven’t tried any fragrance from Zoologist and, unfortunately, I’ve only seen elephants in zoos. 🙁
Still, what struck me most in the review is the juxtaposition between heaven and earth, weightless and robust notes. Even though elephants are large and powerful animals, their movements seem almost ethereal, and I think that is the part of elephants that the idea came from!
I’d also be the happiest camper to be able to try this as sandalwood is one of my favorite notes! 🙂
I am most intrigued by the description of Elephant’s sweet heart and then the sandalwood taking the stage makes it seem amazing! Paired with Visoot Uthairam’s glorious image of ‘Woman with elephant’ that has me wanting to be there: crushed leaves, leathery skin and all. I live in BC, Canada and am currently enamoured with the earthy/ wet mineral vibes of Bat.
The part that says ‘does not smell like an elephant’ is my favourite. I have experienced riding an elephant and believe me you would not want to be smelling like them. Seriously, elephants are majestic and gentle creatures which have been of help to humans in various ways some of which were already mentioned in the review. It is just apt that a tribute is given to them which for this case is in the form of a perfume named after them. Have not tried any Zoologist yet so this would be a great opportunity to be able to experience one just in time for my upcoming birthday.. Ca, US.
YAY.
I’m so happy to find out that I’m the winner of the draw \o/
I’ve sent my personal informations already.
Thank you for the opportunity.