ZOOLOGIST
HARVEST MOUSE
2023
PERFUMER
Luca Maffei
Bergamot
Clove
Chamomile
Orange Blossom
Davana
Hay Absolute
Benzoin
Opoponax
Rose Absolute
Beer
balsam fir
Oakmoss
Cedarwood
Sandalwood
Peru Balsam
Vanilla
‘Autumn winds skip across golden wheat fields. As the tall grasses billow, the rattle of husks beats a soft prairie lullaby, signalling to the weary sun to rest. In the fading light, tiny harvest mice venture forth, scrambling to gather seeds and fruits. For once the sun sinks fully beneath the horizon, its rule of the sky is bestowed on another. And when the coo of the owl breaks the night, the mice dash, trembling, back to their nests. Like a countryside bathed in sweet sunlight, Zoologist Harvest Mouse conjures images of home-baked goodness. Stalks of wheat sway among chamomile, davana and hay, and rich beer extracts are sobered by resins and woody notes. Cozy up in a warm nest of homespun scent.’ – Zoologist
Harvest Mouse is an interesting scent to me. It seems to be a divisive one, where some people find it less cozy than the cute mouse on the label suggests, whereas others (probably older fans of Zoologist) write it off as too sweet and too safe.
While I found Harvest Mouse to be very sweet, I definitely don’t think of it as a safe or generic scent. There’s a clear… something? in here that sets it apart and it’s what’s keeping me from getting fully comfortable with it.
I presume what I’m smelling is the beer note. At first, it felt a bit fruity to me, like an unripe pear, but later on in the wear it became more of a bitterness.
In general, it’s a texture clash of bright, almost lemonade like parts, that are dominated by a dry, powdery blast. It reminds me of dry sand and hay and it definitely fits the Harvest Mouse theme well in my opinion.
After several hours, is when this really settles into its sweetness without distractions. I like the vanilla scent that’s in here; it’s like a rich, Mexican kind of vanilla with a lot of warmth.
Not my favorite from the house, but it’s ‘in the uppper half’ for sure.
