THE ZOO
SPACEWOOD

2016

PERFUMER
Christophe Laudamiel

Mimosa
Acacia
White wine

I’ve been meaning to get to my samples from The Zoo for a while now. I haven’t tried much of Laudamiel’s work (although I do want Melt My Heart from the Strangelove NYC collection), but I always respect his opinions and de-smoke-and-mirror attempts regarding the fragrance industry.

Spacewood was one that I looked forward to trying the most. Mimosa, acacia and white wine already seemed like interesting notes, but I also like the brand’s description about naturals not always smelling natural.

This idea takes me back to Masque Milano’s use of mimosa to create a dream-like or alien flower for Ray-Flection. In comparison, that fragrance is pretty grounded in reality, whereas Spacewood really ups the ante with a neon fever dream that does in fact smell highly unnatural.

To me Spacewood smells of plastic tubes or vaccuum seal bags infused filled with the kind of lemonade you tell your kids will rot their teeth. It’s sparkling and fizzy, more champagne than wine, but also metallic.

Or maybe that’s the expectation leading on the perception? I can also pull it back into ‘just’ a citrussy, slightly sweetened green flower and fresh laundry. I do prefer the crazy variant myself though.

I would put Spacewood in a similar category as Nasomatto Fantomas or Scentspiracy Cyanide, although Spacewood is much easier to wear for me than either of those.