Snowy Owl Zoologist 2021

The first time I wore this fragrance, I actually got bored and washed it off because I wanted to try something else. It’s very linear, and the scent is so unobtrusive that I felt like I was wearing a deodorant rather than a fragrance, even though the scent itself is decidedly niche.

Snowy Owl is very quiet, like the soft beat of a swooping owl’s wings dampened by heavy snowfall. The main notes I get are menthol, oakmoss, something vaguely floral, and something vaguely green. The overall impression resembles the water from a flower vase (while it’s still clean! not stinky water). A flower vase that has been sitting in a very, very cold room. The menthol really dominates this scent and makes it ice cold, so I suppose in that regard it fits its subject matter well. There is also a slight earthiness. The dominant “cold” note here reminds me of the dominant note in Penguin, but I find that it smells more natural and softer here, whereas in Penguin it smells medicinal. I feel like Penguin is an attempt at making a more masculine version of Snowy Owl, though I don’t find Snowy Owl particularly feminine.

Unlike most people, I didn’t get coconut or vanilla at all, and notice no sweetness or powderiness at all. I am relieved by this.

I actually really like Snowy Owl as a way of creating a refreshing cold ambience on a hot day, where I don't really want to be surrounded by a cloud of strong perfume. It might not sound particularly pleasant, but I enjoy the "flower vase water" scent profile a lot. It's just...a bit boring if I'm looking for an olfactory experience.

I feel like I've spent forever searching for a perfume that perfectly captures the picture in my mind of what winter is: bone-deep cold, teeth-chattering winds, and snowdrifts mixed with earth. After being repeatedly disappointed by other fragrances, I finally came across Snowy Owl. This is what I've been wanting!

Snowy Owl, much like other Zoologist perfumes, is an experience rather than just a perfume. It is a chilly, wet scent that I associate with snow - not the freshly fallen snow pictured in Hallmark Christmas cards, but instead a snow that has overstayed its welcome and has mingled with dirt after resting in drifts or on the side of the road. There is also a hint of something green underneath, as though grass were attempting to poke its way through after a blizzard. I was a bit worried after seeing coconut listed in one of the notes, since I'm not a huge fan, but fortunately this was not a note that I picked up while I was wearing it.

While a lot of people may disagree with me, I think Snowy Owl is a perfectly wearable fragrance. It's incredibly interesting without being offensive - at least as far as I've found. It has above-average longevity, although there is a chance you might need to reapply it depending on how long you want it to last. I can get between six and eight hours on a good day.

this literally smells cold! this opens with a refreshing blend of coconut and sweet mint with an ice cold calone note and airy lily of the valley. this is a snowy owl flying above snow capped mountains, flowers frozen over and crisp air breezing past. Then comes more florals, these are earthy, grounded and fresh. The snowdrop floral note here is interesting, as I believe it’s a fantasy note, but this really does feel like fresh flowers in the cold wintertime. The dry down is sweet, slightly animalic but in an earthy, woody, and aromatic sense. The snowy owl has perched upon a branch in the side of a mountain now. Sweet musky air passes by, mossy patches along the mountain damp from the snow, the snow smooth and soft.

This scent is just a hot mess to my nose. Kinda earthy, kinda green, but all in a very unpleasant muddy/damp way. There’s also a distinct rubbery smell that is just plain weird and feels reminiscent of a tire store on a rainy day. Based on the reviews, this one seems to be polarizing. Try before you buy.

Snowy Owl is one of the perfumes that, on concept alone, made me want to get into perfume to try it. When I first smelled it, it did not disappoint, and it is still one of my favourites to this day. It's earthy, but specifically it is a cold and wet earthiness. It reminds me of early-to-mid-spring, when the bare mud is just appearing from underneath the snow. Fresh and cold, but hopeful and filled with promise.