I actually put off testing Zoologist Beaver for a few reasons.

Reason #1 – I think beavers are adorable. They are nocturnal, chunky, industrious and live in little family units. I can relate. Out of the animals in the Zoologist line, beavers are my favorite. And I wanted to love this one because the bottle is adorable and this leads to…

Reason #2 – CASTOREUM¹. I actually like animalic notes but with this name and the note list, I feared it would be out of my comfort zone. And not like something I wouldn’t wear, but something that I’d catch myself wearing out in the “real world” and people would wonder if I stepped in something. I had to reserve my sampling of this perfume to a shut-in schedule.

Well, after sampling Beaver a few times, I’m hooked. It’s an unusual perfume with charm and beauty. This perfume is all about the contrasts.

Beaver opens up as fresh and ozonic. It’s like lime blossoms floating on cool, clear water. The aldehydes are both sharp and creamy. AND THEN BAM! It’s musky, animalic and smoky. All without being too musky, animalic or smoky. The trick here is that these notes are balanced by florals. The florals in Beaver are honeyed, almost overripe, like what blossoms smell like before they fall to the ground. The “hair spray” opening and voluptuous florals give this fragrance a  delightful vintage-modern feel. Beaver dries down to a smoky leather combined with lush, green notes.   Before it’s completely gone, it fades into a perfect “my skin but better” musk.

Beaver is such an odd one not because of how it smells, but how it can appeal to paradoxical groups. This is an animalic perfume for those that get weak in the knees when they sample something musky or with leather Yet, it also appeals to those whose stomach turns at the thought of wearing something animalic. It’s like “beginner skank”. But, at the same time, it’s going to appeal to those that like musks. Beaver also appeals to anyone that likes vintage style perfumes. It actually reminds me of a modern interpretation of classic feminines – aldehydes, ripe florals paired with all those skanky notes. These contrasts give Beaver a playful feel. It doesn’t take itself too seriously. And how can it with a name like Beaver?

Notes listed include linden blossom, fresh air, musk, citrus, castoreum, iris, vanilla, smoke, undergrowth, animal musks, ash, cedar and amber. Launched in 2014. PERFUMER – Chris Bartlett

Give Beaver a try if you like “skanky”/musky perfumes or even vintage florals. Or if you like perfumes like Ann Gerard Cuir de Nacre, Caron Nocturnes, Lancôme Climat, Roja Dove Reckless and/or Tauer Zeta. It’s actually difficult to compare Beaver to anything else as it’s unlike anything else. It’s masculine/feminine, vintage/modern, clean/dirty.

Projection and longevity are above average.

The 2 oz spray retails for $125 at Zoologist. Samples are also available for purchase.

Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Linden blossoms and skank. A paradox of clean/dirty and vintage/modern. I absolutely love this perfume. It’s classic and dare I say “sexy” without smelling cliché or antiquated. Plus, the bottle is adorable. I want a beaver bottle.

¹AKA “beaver butt” which is usually as intense as it sounds. However, in Zoologist perfumes, synthetics are used to recreate this effect. No animal products are used.

Want more reviews? Try…

Colognoisseur

This Blog Really Stinks

Pomelo Girl Thoughts

Ça Fleure Bon

Fragrantica – Member reviews

*Disclaimer – Sample provided by the brand. I am not financially compensated for my reviews. My opinions are my own. Product pic from the brand. Tania Mallet pic from www.fanpix.net.