Musk Deer Zoologist 2020

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7.6 / 10 160 Ratings

A popular perfume by Zoologist for women and men, released in 2020. The scent is spicy-woody. It is still in production.
Pronunciation

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Main accords

Spicy

Woody

Animal

Floral

Sweet

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Cardamom

Calamus

Rose

Heart Notes

Atlas cedar

Labdanum absolute

Patchouli

Jasmine sambac absolute

Base Notes

Ambrette seed absolute

Australian sandalwood

Laotian oud

Orris absolute

Perfumers

Pascal Gaurin, IFF (International Flavors & Fragrances)

Ratings

Scent

7.6160 Ratings

Longevity

7.5130 Ratings

Sillage

6.9130 Ratings

Bottle

8.6121 Ratings

Value for money

6.667 Ratings

Submitted by Franfan20, last update on 01/14/2025.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

Extase Moschus for Men / Extase Musk Man (Eau de Toilette) by Mülhens

Extase Moschus for Men Eau de Toilette

Enigma Parfum Cologne

Amour de Palazzo

Amber Teutonic

Reviews

13 in-depth fragrance descriptions

07/25/2023

9
Scent

Sterben9225
5 Reviews

Sterben9225

4

Clean Musk

I expected a dark and heavily animalic scent (which I love) but was pleasantly surprised. Many of the newer zoologist fragrances are transitioning away from stinky and overly animalic fragrances and moving towards more pleasant and wearable creations.

The musk is clean and fresh, which the sweetness of the cardamom perfectly compliments. It is obvious the perfumer was familiar with the differences between a synthetic musk and ambrette and beautifully played into ambrette's strengths. The spice is subtle and bright. The rose and oud are slight at first but once it drys down the oud really shines. The heart notes are blended well together making it hard to pick them out individually but their effect can still be appreciated.

01/11/2025

5
Pricing 6
Sillage 8
Longevity 5
Scent

Smirky
296 Reviews

Smirky

3

Horrible opening, and average after

The opening was pretty putrid. Some sorta generic bathroom cleaner-floral scent I couldn't stand. Could have used a clothes pin on my nose but I stuck it out. Eventually got to a woody/musky scent that was OK but nothing special. I've given the scent a middle 5 rating overall but the opening would be a 1. Longevity was pretty good but projection was only moderate. Definite pass for me.

08/28/2023

9
Scent

Vsakega
2 Reviews

Vsakega

3

Sensual

I love this scent... it is masterfully blended like all Zoologists are. I can dissect the smoothness of the labdanum, a sharp, but not at all overpowering animalic musk note, and some rose. I find the scent very unisex, but personally, as a woman, it makes me feel sexy in a primal way. Simple yet elegant and unmistakably animalic. I also completely understand and relate to the comparisons of this perfume smelling like the comforting embrace of a mother doe. If I was not worried about people around me finding it offensive, I would definitely get a full bottle. I will probably get it anyways.

01/14/2025

10
Scent

Thrashxrat
1 Review

Thrashxrat

1

Natural Beauty

Musk Deer is my first experience with Zoologist and I wasn't expecting to love it as much as I actually do. Earthy, warm, elegant, and uplifting. Feels like a love letter to the natural environment of SE Asia. As someone who's worked closely with wildlife in past, I'm very impressed with the soft presence of a clean mammal fur note. I probably shouldn't be surprised, considering the theme, but it does make me happy. I'm obsessed.

02/07/2021

8
Pricing 10
Bottle 9
Sillage 8
Longevity 9
Scent

Pollita
243 Reviews

Translated Show original

Pollita

Top Review 54

Polly and the deer

With the Canadian label Zoologist I would never have believed that I could like a fragrance. When I started to test the fragrances some time ago, I was only annoyed at first. They're too loud, they're all kind of smelly to my nose. No, there was nothing there that I would have paid attention to for a longer period of time. Moth and Civet I found quite neatly done. But Moth was me letztens also much too overloaded and Civet of course not at all my scent direction.

But then came Musk Deer. And - oh miracle - Mrs. Polly got for the first time quite big eyes at a zoologist. Admittedly, this is not a simple, quick grab scent either. We have a play of a plethora of notes here and you have to get through that too. The stag wears a dark resinous leather jacket at the beginning. I don't find leather in the listing of notes, but I think calamus and patchouli with the labdanum cause some confusion for me here. The cardamom is there from the start and picks me up right away too. Do not worry, this deer is indeed first a dark fellow and lives in the equally dark forest, but he also has a gentle side, which is why I continue to give this animal my attention.

Gradually, the harsh, coarse, creaky in the deer subsides and the cardamom is joined by the subtle sweetness of the ambrette seeds. Also here we have, as with many musk fragrances or musk imitations, an almost peachy sweetness, which I like incredibly well. A teeny bit of oud in the background adds a sensual feel. Now I have the deer eating out of my hand. The base notes are just wonderful, almost caressing. If the fragrance tended in this direction earlier, it would be a definite buy for me. The opening and also the heart notes make it a bit too harsh and masculine for myself. Basically, I see Musk Deer also rather on a gentleman.

I also clearly make a few parallels to the good old Extase Musk for men, if who still knows. Musk Deer could be a perfume of the eighties or early nineties. Here, Pascal Gaurin gives a classic fragrance concept (especially recognizable in the heart notes) an all-around modern twist. What came out of it, I find absolutely great. Chapeau Zoologist!

And love thanks to Chizza for the sample.

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