Zoologist: Moth
Fragrances can do strange things to a person, and Moth by Zoologist is a prime example of scent as a mood-altering force. When I first tested it, I was feeling light, bright, and ready to take on the day. Moth had other plans. It drew all of that brightness out of me, replacing it with a brooding, shadowy presence. This is not a scent for cheerful mornings or bustling school runs. It is moody, melancholic, and almost hypnotic in its darkness.
The Scent
Moth is impressive, the craftsmanship is remarkable, and Zoologist’s intention to evoke the image of a moth is spot on. This is a dark, dusty aromatic with a strong clove presence, layered over a deep woody backdrop. The cloves are particularly commanding, giving it an almost smouldering quality, as though the air itself is thick with aged spice and shadows.
It’s easy to visualise a lone moth circling a dimly lit room, its wings kicking up dust from forgotten corners. The scent feels weighted, heavy with atmosphere, and lingers like an old book left open too long. It’s evocative, immersive, and undeniably gothic but also, in certain moments, suffocating.
The Notes
I’ve purposely put the advertised notes below my impression of the scent here because, truthfully so many of these notes were not present at all for me (see honey, lemon and rose specifically).
Top Notes: Saffron, Black Pepper, Cumin, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Lemon
Heart Notes: Heliotrope, Mimosa, Iris, Rose, Jasmine, Lily-of-the-Valley
Base Notes: Honey, Smoke, Oud, Resins, Musk, Guaiac Wood, Nagarmotha, Ambergris, Patchouli, Vetiver
I get a lot of cloves, saffron pepper, and cumin from the opening and there’s certainly a resinous (but to me not honied) note to the dry down. Iris and Jasmine are present and there is a slight smokiness with patchouli and oud playing their parts along with the lightest hint of musk. The rest mix into the dustiness of the composition.
Performance
Projection: Enormous. A few sprays will fill a room.
Longevity: Strong. Lasts well over four hours, with the full dry down settling in toward the end of the first hour.
This is a fragrance that commands space. It doesn’t just sit on your skin it seeps into your surroundings, clinging to the air and shifting the mood of a room. If you’re someone who likes your fragrances to stay close and unobtrusive, Moth is not for you.
Who is this for?
As an aging almost-Goth, I have a fondness for peculiar, darker, spicier scents, and in the right setting, Moth could be very wearable. But that setting matters this is not an easy, everyday scent. Most people will find it cloying, and it has a borderline headache-inducing intensity that could easily overwhelm. You have to be committed to moody fragrances to want to go about your day smelling like a dust-covered moth.
Will Goths like it? Possibly. But be prepared for it to cast a shadow over everyone around you. This scent doesn’t just smell dark it feels dark, and that can be a lot to carry.
Final Thoughts
I didn’t enjoy wearing Moth, but I can’t fault its execution. Zoologist consistently delivers thought-provoking, concept-driven fragrances, and this scent fits that billing. The fact that it unsettled me proves how effective it is as an artistic statement.
That said, I found myself wanting to wash it off, if only because it was pulling me in a direction I didn’t want to go. Some fragrances enhance your mood, Moth shapes it. And if you’re not in the right headspace, it might just take you somewhere you weren’t prepared to go.
