Zoologist Moth Extrait de Parfum

Fragrance Family:
Woody Amber

Main Note:
Black Pepper, Cinnamon, Clove, Cumin, Lemon, Nutmeg, Saffron, Heliotrope, Iris, Jasmine, Mimosa, Muguet, Rose, Ambergris, Honey, Resins, Guaiac Wood (Palo Santo), Musk, Nagarmotha/Cypriol, Oud, Patchouli, Smoke, Vetiver

Concentration:
Extrait de Parfum (20%)

Occasion:
Brilliant sweetly spiced flames, Moth is a weightless smoke fragrance balanced to perfection – for lovers of the category, this is a easy reach, able to be worn in most contexts.

Made in Canada

Moth is a perfume of many complex parts, producing a singular image of the creature tantalised by the flame. Moth is a resounding success: an impressive narrative display that details the finest particulars of the winged creature, from its scaled wings to the dusty silk of its protective cocoon, as it flaps and flutters towards a flame that whips delicate lashes of sweet aromatic smoke. The perfume is matte and participates in an aesthetics of silence. In spite of its subject matter, Moth is impeccably clean and light. It is full of sumptuous ingredients, and yet it preserves a magnificent sense of space and ‘air’. This nocturnal scene is a serene one, haunting but tranquil, without menacing shadows but the soft and delicate engulf of moonlight.

Perfumer 稲葉 智夫 (Tomoo Inaba) manages to extract smoky impressions from unexpected materials, serving to purify and lighten the effect. Layering textures of raspy nutmeg, blunt cinnamon, sticky honey, angular black pepper, and arid cumin – to name a few – produces a crinkly and parched effect, calling to mind a fire glowing with a crackling charm. Its warmth is mysterious and soft, faint with a camphor note to reinforce its theme. Inaba has constructed a cleansing fire that does not burn. This is redoubled in the base, where woody and incense materials impart structure and sense to this smoke. It has a meditative and trance-like feel, like being lost in the recitation of a poem. Revered palo santo is the primary wood note here, which is bright, musky, and somewhat resinous, while the earthy duo of cypriol and aged Indian vetiver adds atmosphere and radiance without weight.

Bridging this smoky effect is a powdery accord, which relies on the velvety touch of florals – heliotrope, mimosa, and iris in particular. An innocent green effect results from muguet, while a red rose accord adds ‘passion’, lending a slow and dance-like rhythm to Moth. Honey emerges having infused with smoke, this combination of sweet and dark speaking to this perfume’s dominant textures. Moth is beautiful, and wears like a dream. Don’t let the notion of ‘darkness’ dissuade, because in strange darkness familiar materials gains a fuller sense of themselves. Indeed, Moth lets us see wonderful perfumery in a new ‘light’.