Toucan

The scent of an almost overripe papaya in the tropical rainforest initially overwhelms the nose a little. After a while, it turns into a pleasant orange blossom. It then stays close to the skin.

Toucan. Zoologist. This is the first, and possibly the only, Zoologist fragrance where I can actually smell every single listed note. Which is surprising, because Zoologist usually takes me on a completely different journey, often somewhere unexplored, exotic and unexpected. For me, Zoologist fragrances are usually perfume statements. Some are very wearable, some are incredibly cute, but there is almost always something a little strange about them, some unexpected twist. Toucan is completely different. It feels almost classical, even slightly vintage. It’s incredibly beautiful, absolutely wearable, and very feminine. And that is surprising too, because this is the first Zoologist fragrance that feels specifically feminine to me. Of course, men can wear it too - it’s up to you. There is a lot of rose here. A very creamy rose, with tropical fruits underneath. Lots of papaya, exactly as listed, the sweetness of lychee, coconut and vanilla. And the rose is really rose-rose - very lipstick-like and powdery. But because it’s surrounded by white flowers, with this jasmine veil around it, it never becomes suffocating. Instead, it gets this sparkling quality, slightly citrusy. White flowers as if someone had just splashed them with fresh lime juice. So delicious. And there is still that thing Zoologist always has for me: air, atmosphere. It’s tropical and somehow, at the same time, an English rose garden. Elegant, delicate, feminine. Floral, fruity, vanilla-creamy, but never heavy or stuffy.

Toucan opens very fruity and slightly soapy. My first association was sour gummy snakes and curd soap. Almost like eating gummy snakes with soapy hands and suddenly tasting both. I can perceive the papaya clearly. Over time, the fruitiness fades and the fragrance becomes significantly creamier. In the end, a spicy, creamy sandalwood scent with subtle floral nuances remains. Toucan is a nice fragrance that unfortunately does not suit my taste at all. Anyone expecting exotic jungle vibes like I did should give it a wide berth and check out Sloth instead.