Elephant

Close

All about this fragrance

Vibe check

Elephant suits an unhurried afternoon when conversation stays close and the atmosphere is informal. Its leafy opening suggests crushed greenery underfoot, while creamy sandalwood gives the wearer a grounded presence: quietly tactile, without the sweetness of a gourmand.

How to wear

The contrast between airy leaves and creamy woods lends itself to mild spring or autumn weather. Start with one or two sprays on the neck or forearms, allowing the green opening to settle before adding more. In warm conditions, a lighter application keeps the emphasis on freshness rather than the richer coconut-milk and sandalwood facets.

Who it’s for

For lovers of green fragrances who want more texture than a crisp leafy accord alone can offer. Elephant particularly rewards a taste for sandalwood, tea and restrained creaminess, with coconut and cocoa supporting the woods rather than delivering overt sweetness.

Release year

2017

The nose

Chris Bartlett is an independent British perfumer and the founder of Pell Wall. His work combines a technical interest in fragrance materials with an exploratory approach to composition. For Elephant, he developed an airy, leafy opening around a substantial sandalwood core, using cocoa and coconut milk to enrich the wood rather than create a dessert-like accord.

Collaborators

Zoologist founder Victor Wong shaped the creative brief with Chris Bartlett. His initial association of elephants with India suggested chai, spices and sandalwood; during development, his image of elephants foraging through trees helped redirect the composition toward fresh air and leafy greenery.

Zoologist’s story

Zoologist translates animals and their habitats into distinctive olfactory portraits, embracing beauty, playfulness and occasional strangeness rather than a uniform house style. Founded in Toronto by Victor Wong, it works with independent perfumers and replaces animal-derived musks with synthetic alternatives.

Elephant’s concept

Elephant began as a spiced chai and sandalwood concept inspired by India. As development progressed, the focus shifted to elephants moving through a leafy tropical habitat. Sandalwood remained the anchor, while fresh greenery supplied the opening and cocoa and coconut milk brought depth and creaminess without turning the fragrance gourmand.

Extra info

Elephant was a finalist in the Independent category at the 2018 Art & Olfaction Awards. The original formula contains no animal products and uses synthetic musks. Its coconut-milk and cocoa notes were designed to enhance sandalwood, not to make it smell like dessert.