Giant lotus pads part to make way for buds that pierce the surface of the jade green pond. They raise their faces to the sun, their delicate fragrance floating around them. In the shadow of the flowers, tiny dragonfly nymphs also emerge from the shallows. They spread their fragile wings and shyly take flight, ready to explore a world beyond the water. Shimmering pools of nearby golden rice fields call to the dragonflies. Their long, quivering bodies flit across the cascading terraces to alight upon swaying stalks, sparkling with sunlight caught in droplets on iridescent wings.
Like a lotus spreading its petals, Zoologist Dragonfly opens with a rush of beautiful aquatic florals. Hints of rice, powdery iris, and mimosa diffuse from within a lush shroud of green, beneath the intimate aroma of an imminent summer shower. Dragonfly encapsulates the richness and romance of impressionism, a canvas of florals under a watery veil.
This perfume is a new interpretation by perfumer Celine Barel. The original version, designed by Juan Perez, is discontinued and no longer available.
All about this fragrance
Vibe check
This is the scent of moving quietly through a bright, humid garden after rain, when petals are still wet and the air carries a soft green shimmer. It suits a close, contemplative setting where the fragrance can read as luminous and delicate rather than loud.
How to wear
Best in mild to warm weather, where its floral-green aquatic character can stay transparent and fresh. Apply with a light hand: one or two sprays are enough to let the rice, basil and florals unfold cleanly without overwhelming the skin.
Who it’s for
For wearers who like floral compositions with a green edge, a clean watery feel and a soft powdery undertone. It will appeal to those who enjoy artistic niche perfumes that are airy, nuanced and quietly distinctive rather than sweet or heavy.
Release year
2021
The nose
Céline Barel is known for composing with texture and contrast, often building fragrances around a clear central idea and giving them a tactile, modern finish. Her work tends to balance elegance with unusual materials and a strong sense of atmosphere. For Zoologist Dragonfly, Barel reimagined the original composition into a greener, more floral aquatic study, adding herbal facets, rice and iris-like softness to evoke a pond in bloom rather than a conventional marine accord. The result fits her style of turning an abstract concept into something vivid and wearable.
Zoologist’s story
Zoologist approaches perfume as narrative art, using scent to build vivid natural worlds rather than conventional luxury formulas. The house is known for imaginative compositions, animal-inspired storytelling, and a niche, concept-driven style that privileges atmosphere and character.
Dragonfly (2021)’s concept
Dragonfly (2021) is a full reworking of the earlier 2017 fragrance, created with a new floral-aquatic direction by Céline Barel. The concept draws on a lily pond scene: lotus buds, dragonfly nymphs, and nearby rice fields, with the brand framing the scent as an impressionist canvas of florals under water.
Extra info
The 2021 Dragonfly is a reimagining of Zoologist’s earlier 2017 release, which is now discontinued. The fragrance is vegan and made in Canada, and its imagery centers on lotus ponds, dragonfly nymphs and rice terraces.
Giant lotus pads part to make way for buds that pierce the surface of the jade green pond. They raise their faces to the sun, their delicate fragrance floating around them. In the shadow of the flowers, tiny dragonfly nymphs also emerge from the shallows. They spread their fragile wings and shyly take flight, ready to explore a world beyond the water. Shimmering pools of nearby golden rice fields call to the dragonflies. Their long, quivering bodies flit across the cascading terraces to alight upon swaying stalks, sparkling with sunlight caught in droplets on iridescent wings.
Like a lotus spreading its petals, Zoologist Dragonfly opens with a rush of beautiful aquatic florals. Hints of rice, powdery iris, and mimosa diffuse from within a lush shroud of green, beneath the intimate aroma of an imminent summer shower. Dragonfly encapsulates the richness and romance of impressionism, a canvas of florals under a watery veil.
This perfume is a new interpretation by perfumer Celine Barel. The original version, designed by Juan Perez, is discontinued and no longer available.
All about this fragrance
Vibe check
This is the scent of moving quietly through a bright, humid garden after rain, when petals are still wet and the air carries a soft green shimmer. It suits a close, contemplative setting where the fragrance can read as luminous and delicate rather than loud.
How to wear
Best in mild to warm weather, where its floral-green aquatic character can stay transparent and fresh. Apply with a light hand: one or two sprays are enough to let the rice, basil and florals unfold cleanly without overwhelming the skin.
Who it’s for
For wearers who like floral compositions with a green edge, a clean watery feel and a soft powdery undertone. It will appeal to those who enjoy artistic niche perfumes that are airy, nuanced and quietly distinctive rather than sweet or heavy.
Release year
2021
The nose
Céline Barel is known for composing with texture and contrast, often building fragrances around a clear central idea and giving them a tactile, modern finish. Her work tends to balance elegance with unusual materials and a strong sense of atmosphere. For Zoologist Dragonfly, Barel reimagined the original composition into a greener, more floral aquatic study, adding herbal facets, rice and iris-like softness to evoke a pond in bloom rather than a conventional marine accord. The result fits her style of turning an abstract concept into something vivid and wearable.
Zoologist’s story
Zoologist approaches perfume as narrative art, using scent to build vivid natural worlds rather than conventional luxury formulas. The house is known for imaginative compositions, animal-inspired storytelling, and a niche, concept-driven style that privileges atmosphere and character.
Dragonfly (2021)’s concept
Dragonfly (2021) is a full reworking of the earlier 2017 fragrance, created with a new floral-aquatic direction by Céline Barel. The concept draws on a lily pond scene: lotus buds, dragonfly nymphs, and nearby rice fields, with the brand framing the scent as an impressionist canvas of florals under water.
Extra info
The 2021 Dragonfly is a reimagining of Zoologist’s earlier 2017 release, which is now discontinued. The fragrance is vegan and made in Canada, and its imagery centers on lotus ponds, dragonfly nymphs and rice terraces.