ZOOLOGIST
HUMMINGBIRD

2015

PERFUMER
Shelley Waddington

Lilac
Cherry
Pear
Plum
Lily-of-the-Valley
Apple
Violet
Rose
citrus notes

Honey
Honeysuckle
Mimosa
Ylang-Ylang
Tulip
Peony

Whipped cream
Musk
Coumarin
Moss
Sandalwood
Amber
White Woods

The florals are the star of the show here, opening with a strong floral and slightly sweetened scent. Now as a guy with a balcony and strictly articial flowers in his house (partially due to my cats eating flowers, partially due to my gift to let even cactuses die within a week), I’m not able to distinguish most florals. My initial connection with Hummingbird was the smell of orchids.

The second main note here is honey, but in the opening I only got the sweetness and not so much the creamy or smooth texture that sometimes comes with a honey accord. Most surprisingly, when looking at the listed notes, is that I barely got any of the fruits in the opening. Pear, apple, cherry and plum are listed, but I wouldn’t say this has a fruity opening. It’s not until the drydown, where fruits become a more prominent player, turning into a sweet pear fragrance to my nose. Whereas the first hours have a slight musky and powdery undertone, the drydown also becomes much creamier, which I really enjoyed. Overall, this is a beautiful, smooth fragrance. It leans pretty far traditionally feminine. Obviously, everyone should be able to wear any kind of fragrance, but the opening reminded me of female hair shampoos and I would highly recommend this to female readers in particular.