ZOOLOGIST
BEE
2019
PERFUMER
Cristiano Canali
Beeswax
Ginger
Orange
Mimosa
Broom
Heliotrope
Orange Blossom
Vanilla
Benzoin
Tonka Bean
Sandalwood
Musk
Labdanum
Bee was the most anticipated fragrance out of the Zoologist discovery set that I acquired for me, and it met my expectations. This is a stunning fragrance from start to finish, albeit somewhat for an ‘appreciation of the art’, rather than being the perfect scent to wear and ultimately, this is not my favorite honey fragrance.
The opening is a floral, honey accord, that’s extremely natural smelling. There’s a hint of orange, but only faintly. It’s slightly powdery and the opening is reminiscent of pollen and flowers at a sunny dawn. It quickly becomes sweeter, as the orange and flowers fade even more and the honey really takes the lead. There’s a touch of nuttiness from the heliotrope. The honey accord is sweetened by vanilla and tonka and there’s a good balance of powdery and syrupy texture.
The drydown is very similar as this is a linear scent to my nose. It leans a bit traditionally feminine, and the powdery quality has a classic perfume connotation. It’s a bit cloyingly sweet for my taste, but the fragrance sits pretty close to the skin, so the sweetness isn’t in your face all the time. The downside was that I got tired of it pretty quickly; with it being linear and it somehow being an ‘active wear’, it didn’t give me much comfort.
For honey alternatives I’d recommend checking out Hiram Green Slowdive and Thomas de Monaco Raw Gold.