Emperors they may be, but when a massive cyclone unleashes its merciless austral winds, the colony of penguins bow to its power. It's from such extremes that the male penguin must guard his precious bundle. Passed tenderly from mother to father, the egg is their shared purpose. She embarks on a perilous odyssey to the sea for food. He begins his own monotonous march, packed tightly in a circle of trudging penguins. So intent is he on protecting his egg that even the dazzling aurora australis against a lonely night sky escapes his notice.
Zoologist Penguin opens with saffron caught upon a salty blast of crisp antarctic air. Against the cool desolation, anticipation glimmers as lively aromas of pink pepper and sea moss swirl over musks, suede and sandalwood. Brace yourself for a vibrant scent that Is always invigorating, a reminder of nature’s harsh reality in a welcome blast.
Perfumer: Chiaki Nomura
All about this scent
Vibe Check
This is a scent for close, deliberate presence rather than easy charm: the kind of fragrance that suits a quiet morning in sharp weather, when the air itself feels metallic and clean. It projects a cool, composed aura with a faint salty edge and a dry, suede-like finish.
When and where to wear suggestions
Best in cool to cold weather, where its icy opening and marine transparency can breathe without disappearing. Apply lightly to avoid overwhelming the delicate ozonic effect; a few sprays are enough to let the saffron, pink pepper and sandalwood unfold gradually on skin.
Who It’s For
For wearers who like marine scents with structure, not sweetness; people drawn to cold, mineral freshness, airy spice and a dry woody finish. It will appeal to those who enjoy conceptual niche perfumery with a clean but unusual edge.
Release Year
2024
The Nose
Chiaki Nomura is the perfumer behind Penguin, shaping its cold-air illusion with ozonic, aquatic and spicy materials. Her style here is precise and atmospheric: the fragrance feels engineered to suggest wind, salt and distance without losing a polished, wearable structure. In Penguin, Nomura balances transparency with texture, moving from an icy opening into a drier, more tactile base of suede, musk and sandalwood. The result is a composition that reads as both elemental and composed, with the kind of clarity often prized in modern niche perfumery.
Collaborators
Victor Wong, Zoologist’s founder and creative director, shaped the brand’s animal-led concept and the narrative brief behind Penguin, which frames emperor penguins, Antarctic hardship and egg-guarding as the fragrance’s emotional core.
Zoologist’s Story
Zoologist builds fragrances as habitat studies rather than generic luxury scents, using animals as a starting point for imaginative olfactory storytelling. The house favors independent perfumers, vivid conceptual briefs and a playful, artful approach that turns wildlife into atmosphere, texture and character.
Penguin’s Concept
Penguin was launched in January 2024 as Zoologist’s first release of the year. The composition draws on emperor penguins surviving Antarctic extremes, translating that setting into a salty, icy opening and a spiced, woody drydown that mirrors the tension between harsh weather and steadfast protection.
Extra Info
Penguin is an extrait de parfum at 20% concentration and was made in Canada. It is vegan, uses synthetic musks, and was released in 60 mL bottles alongside samples. The fragrance sold out quickly after launch.
Emperors they may be, but when a massive cyclone unleashes its merciless austral winds, the colony of penguins bow to its power. It's from such extremes that the male penguin must guard his precious bundle. Passed tenderly from mother to father, the egg is their shared purpose. She embarks on a perilous odyssey to the sea for food. He begins his own monotonous march, packed tightly in a circle of trudging penguins. So intent is he on protecting his egg that even the dazzling aurora australis against a lonely night sky escapes his notice.
Zoologist Penguin opens with saffron caught upon a salty blast of crisp antarctic air. Against the cool desolation, anticipation glimmers as lively aromas of pink pepper and sea moss swirl over musks, suede and sandalwood. Brace yourself for a vibrant scent that Is always invigorating, a reminder of nature’s harsh reality in a welcome blast.
Perfumer: Chiaki Nomura
All about this scent
Vibe Check
This is a scent for close, deliberate presence rather than easy charm: the kind of fragrance that suits a quiet morning in sharp weather, when the air itself feels metallic and clean. It projects a cool, composed aura with a faint salty edge and a dry, suede-like finish.
When and where to wear suggestions
Best in cool to cold weather, where its icy opening and marine transparency can breathe without disappearing. Apply lightly to avoid overwhelming the delicate ozonic effect; a few sprays are enough to let the saffron, pink pepper and sandalwood unfold gradually on skin.
Who It’s For
For wearers who like marine scents with structure, not sweetness; people drawn to cold, mineral freshness, airy spice and a dry woody finish. It will appeal to those who enjoy conceptual niche perfumery with a clean but unusual edge.
Release Year
2024
The Nose
Chiaki Nomura is the perfumer behind Penguin, shaping its cold-air illusion with ozonic, aquatic and spicy materials. Her style here is precise and atmospheric: the fragrance feels engineered to suggest wind, salt and distance without losing a polished, wearable structure. In Penguin, Nomura balances transparency with texture, moving from an icy opening into a drier, more tactile base of suede, musk and sandalwood. The result is a composition that reads as both elemental and composed, with the kind of clarity often prized in modern niche perfumery.
Collaborators
Victor Wong, Zoologist’s founder and creative director, shaped the brand’s animal-led concept and the narrative brief behind Penguin, which frames emperor penguins, Antarctic hardship and egg-guarding as the fragrance’s emotional core.
Zoologist’s Story
Zoologist builds fragrances as habitat studies rather than generic luxury scents, using animals as a starting point for imaginative olfactory storytelling. The house favors independent perfumers, vivid conceptual briefs and a playful, artful approach that turns wildlife into atmosphere, texture and character.
Penguin’s Concept
Penguin was launched in January 2024 as Zoologist’s first release of the year. The composition draws on emperor penguins surviving Antarctic extremes, translating that setting into a salty, icy opening and a spiced, woody drydown that mirrors the tension between harsh weather and steadfast protection.
Extra Info
Penguin is an extrait de parfum at 20% concentration and was made in Canada. It is vegan, uses synthetic musks, and was released in 60 mL bottles alongside samples. The fragrance sold out quickly after launch.