Exploring New Scents #3 | Zoologist: Nightingale

Top Notes: Bergamot, Lemon, Saffron
Heart Notes: Japanese Plum Blossom, Red Rose, Violet
Base Notes: Oud, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Moss, Frankincense, White Musk*, Labdanum, Ambergris*

I wasn't quite sure what to think of this scent at first. The first spray was very intense. For the first 10-15  minutes, I found myself sitting in a cloud of borderline cloying floral and bergamot which surprised me given the other notes listed. Plum blossom and rose lead the charge for the first several minutes, but if you are patient enough to wait it through, Nightingale morphs into one of the prettiest floral scents I have sampled in a while.

Plum blossom and rose take a backseat while violet takes shotgun in the front seat. Bergamot is always lingering in the background with lemon cutting through the florals with a perfectly placed bright note. Beneath everything is a slight earthy undertone which I can't quite place, but again, this cuts through the floral making this more than just your basic Chypre fragrance.

Though the initial perfume was a little overwhelming, once it settles, I was hooked. This was such a beautiful well balanced floral and one I could actually see myself wearing often. Especially in the spring and early summer.

The scent profile took me on a beautiful journey. One with many new and exciting beginnings on the horizon. The scent reminded me of the first few days of spring. The chill is still hovering in the air, but the longer days bring more sunshine, slightly warming the freeze for better days ahead. In the distance, a few flowers peek up from the ground as the days get longer. A tiny nightingale is pecking around the new growth looking for tiny insects to eat as the ground continues to thaw. Close footsteps startle the little creature making it flutter past the flowers continuing to ascend into the blue sky in retreat, a train of the floral scent chasing close behind.

The sillage is stronger than Beaver and even Camel, but even though it starts out strong, by the 4-5 hour mark, Nightingale has become a skin scent. If you spray it onto your clothing, it will last most of the day and I could even smell it on my shirt the next morning. Light but lovely. I do find this scent to be a bit more feminine leaning than masculine, but always remember to wear what works for you. If it makes you happy, use it!

Some may call this vintage or slightly dated, but for me, the other notes keep it fresh and earthly making it vintage but with an updated twist. This is a perfume that follows a woman through her life. Beginning as the little girl sneaking her mom's perfume from the dresser to spritzing this beautiful perfume on her wedding day. As she grows older, she gifts this to her daughter to remember her by, while keeping a bottle on her own vanity looking back at her life with a cup of tea and a tiny smile. Just timeless.

I have a confession, I may or may not have bought this perfume this week as paid day is around the corner. It's beautiful and I am not afraid to admit, I may be ready for a new beginning with spring considering how cold it has been lately. Nightingale is reminding me to be patient, times move quickly!

I give this beauty an 8.5 possibly a 9.0, but this is only the 3rd scent I've tried, so I am being cautious.