Zoologist Civet Extrait de Parfum

Fragrance Family:
Mossy Woods

Notes:
Bergamot, Black Pepper, Lemon, Orange, Spices, Tarragon, Carnation, Frangipani, Heliotrope, Hyacinth, Linden-blossom, Tuberose, Ylang-Ylang, Balsams, Civet, Coffee, Incense, Labdanum, Musks, Oakmoss, Resins, Russian Leather, Vanilla, Vetiver, Woods

Concentration:
Extrait de Parfum (25%)

Occasion:
Sophisticated, spicy, warm. Civet is a wintery delight that reveals many impressions in layers.

Made in Canada

The civet note stands for potency in perfumery, but diluted down (<1%) and added to compositions, it lends incredible radiance and complexity. Such is the caution of perfumer Shelley Waddington, the nose behind this fragrance. With Civet, Waddington unites two impressions: one the one hand, it exalts the vintage feel associated with the civet note, turning a classical assemblage of floral notes into an unctuous and concentrated paste with evident chypric elements. The glory (begins) in the base, as balsamic, mossy, resinous, and leathery notes work up through to the top of the fragrance. Decadent floral notes constitute the heart, which is more akin to a sensation than any discernible ingredient, however frangipani, ylang-ylang, and tuberose iterate a sultry and exotic theme. Decoration is found at the top, where vibrant and lucid bergamot, black pepper, orange, and tarragon notes are to be found – producing something of a French compositional feel, deeply redolent of the spicy and sparkly top notes of vintage chypres.

Amongst this traditional play of top-middle-base, an extravagant coffee note surges through the body of this fragrance, and is essential to Civet’s unique feel. Indeed, this spicy, warm, and caramelised note is unmissable, punctuating the perfume with an addictive quality. There is some truth in the claim that Civet is a coffee fragrance, and whilst it is essential, it could never be reduced to this impression alone. As Waddington suggests, Civet is a ‘Realistic Classic’ that begins with both the note and the eponymous cat in which it was inspired – a “little sly, luxuriously furry … a creature who prowls and growls” in its context and venerated at once. Coffee, on the other hand, invites closeness with its charismatic warmth. This complex blend is sophisticated and decidedly dashing.