Gulf Fragrance Guide
International house
Zoologist Perfumes
زولوجيست بيرفيومز
Canadaest. 20132 perfumes
Zoologist Perfumes is a niche fragrance house based in Toronto, Canada, founded by Victor Wong. The brand is characterized by its conceptual approach to perfumery, where each fragrance is designed to capture the habitat, behavior, or physical characteristics of a specific animal. The house collaborates with various independent perfumers to create complex, often challenging, and avant-garde compositions. Notable perfumes include Bat, Bee, Tyrannosaurus Rex, and Squid. Zoologist does not use animal-derived ingredients, opting for synthetic alternatives to ensure cruelty-free production. While the brand maintains a global distribution model through specialized retailers and its own e-commerce platform, it has gained a significant following among fragrance enthusiasts in the Gulf region. Its presence in the Middle Eastern market is primarily driven by niche perfume boutiques and online collectors who value the brand's unconventional, high-concentration, and artistic olfactory profiles, rather than traditional regional scent conventions.
Heritage
Founded in 2013 by Victor Wong, Zoologist Perfumes emerged from Toronto, Canada, as a bold experiment in olfactory storytelling. Wong, an enthusiast with a background in software, sought to capture the essence of the animal kingdom—not through the use of animal-derived musks, but through creative, synthetic-led interpretations of animal habitats, behaviors, and physical characteristics. Unlike traditional heritage houses that rely on centuries of lineage, Zoologist operates as a modern, independent boutique house that collaborates with some of the world’s most avant-garde independent perfumers.
Since its inception, the brand has gained a cult following for its uncompromising artistic direction. Each fragrance is treated as a character study, moving away from the mass-market appeal of designer scents to explore the raw, the strange, and the beautiful. The brand’s trajectory has been defined by its willingness to challenge the wearer, often pushing the boundaries of what is considered "wearable" in a commercial context. By partnering with diverse noses, Wong has ensured that the house remains unpredictable, with each release serving as a distinct chapter in a growing library of scent-based natural history. Today, Zoologist stands as a benchmark for niche perfumery, proving that conceptual art can thrive within the rigid structures of the fragrance industry.
House style
Zoologist is defined by its commitment to high-concept, narrative-driven perfumery. The house style is characterized by dense, complex compositions that prioritize atmospheric immersion over simple "pretty" aesthetics. There is a recurring fascination with the interplay between the organic and the synthetic, utilizing high-quality aromachemicals to replicate textures—such as the briny depth of the ocean or the powdery warmth of a beehive—that natural ingredients alone could not achieve.
This house is not for those seeking subtle, fleeting scents; it is for the collector who values thabat (longevity) and intishar (sillage). The perfumes are often heavy, textured, and incredibly potent, making them standouts in any collection. In Bee, the house demonstrates its ability to create a gourmand that feels alive and buzzing with resinous energy. Conversely, Squid showcases the house's mastery of aquatic notes, moving away from the typical "fresh" profile toward something dark, ink-stained, and deeply contemplative. Whether it is the animalic muskiness of a base or the crisp, photorealistic opening of a top note, Zoologist perfumes are designed to leave an indelible mark on the air, demanding attention and inviting conversation.
Signature
