ZOOLOGIST
CHAMELEON

2019

PERFUMER
Daniel Pescio

Ylang-Ylang
Mango
Carambola (Star Fruit)
Violet
Lemon
Bergamot
Pink Pepper

Frangipani
Coconut
Sea Notes
Cashmeran
Skin
Sea Salt
Jasmine
Saffron
Clove

Vanilla
Sandalwood
Musk
Woody Notes
Vetiver
Opoponax
Patchouli
Amber

Chameleon is a sun tan lotion-esque Zoologist offering with a lot of tropical floral elements. I kind of hoped this would be a bit different, perhaps more fruity. Up top you get some fruitiness, but I mainly get citrus and load of ylang ylang and frangipani.

The fruits listed are mango and star fruit, which sounds very interesting, but I wish they were more prominent and longer lasting. The effervescent (© Steven from Redolessence) quality fades away quickly and it becomes a pleasant, albeit familiar, exotic scent. I keep getting a lot of ylang ylang, florals and after a while coconut becomes one of the main players, alongside more typical aquatic touches. There’s a bit of saltiness, but I never got that full ‘at the beach’ type vibe, because it also becomes sweeter as it dries down. That sweetness, unfortunately, feels like a generic vanilla and it doesn’t add much to the experience for me. The same goes for a pretty standard sandalwood base, with some more of the musk coming through, ending up smelling a bit like mud to my nose.

Overall, I was not all that impressed with the composition and I found it less interesting on skin than it sounded on paper. Don’t get me wrong, it is still a good tropical scent and I really enjoy the coconut in the middle of the wear, as well as the opening, but it lacks in certain aspects to blow me away (especially for a Zoologist). I think Hummingbird is a more interesting take on this style, albeit a more feminine release. Maybe this is worth it for those that really love these tropical sun tan lotion style fragrances, but for me Chameleon was middle of the road.