Sacred Scarab

Sugary honeyed rose and rich, animalic jasmine. A garden in the desert, an oasis surrounded by scorched earth. Goats wander nearby, leaving very obvious traces of their presence, while Bedouins brew strong tea with mint, lemon and plenty of sugar served with dates and prunes. The air feels electrically charged - dense, physical, almost oily. Incense, musk and the smell of hot skin underneath layers of clothing protecting it from the heat. What fascinates me most is what happens as Sacred Scarab develops. As the animalic and resinous notes grow darker and richer, a floral note remains right at the centre, almost like a needle running through the entire composition. It keeps changing, shimmering between the smell of a fresh flower that hasn’t yet been picked and a thick, sweet preserve made from its petals. That contrast is incredibly beautiful. Something fresh and alive surrounded by heat, incense, skin, musk and animalic darkness. I think, i feel - this is one of the most beautiful Zoologist fragrances. Magnetic, sexual, bold, complex and wonderfully layered. It suddenly made me think of Bertolucci’s The Sheltering Sky. Sacred Scarab feels like the perfect olfactory soundtrack to that film. Now I want to put it on and watch the whole thing again.

Scarab opens with a pronounced animalic note which quickly disappears, leaving a close-to-skin scent of dried fruit forgotten in the kitchen cabinet. Unfortunately, on my skin there is no incense, no smoke, and no mystery.

Sacred Scarab is a very evocative fragrance. It immediately gave me images of ancient Egypt, warm sand and something old and almost ceremonial. I found it woody, spicy and ambery, with some unusual sweet and slightly resinous facets that made the experience quite distinctive. Unfortunately, as it develops, it becomes warmer and sweeter than I personally enjoy. The drydown can feel a little syrupy and heavy to me, which makes it less appealing as something I would actually wear. I still find the composition interesting and memorable, and I would like to revisit it, but for now I appreciate the experience more than the fragrance as something for myself.