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 fragrance
Vibe check
This is a scent for close, focused company in cold air: a winter walk, a quiet commute, or a room where the temperature is low enough for the freshness to stay taut. It projects a composed, wind-cut presence rather than warmth or softness.
How to wear
Best in cool to cold weather, where its icy opening and marine transparency stay crisp instead of thinning out. Apply lightly to avoid overloading the spicy-musky base; a few sprays are enough for a clear, cool aura that lingers with suede and sandalwood on skin.
Who it’s for
For wearers who like fresh scents with structure, mineral edge and a slightly unusual marine character. It will appeal to those who enjoy transparent aquatics, subtle spice, clean woods and a polished, modern cold-weather freshness.
Release year
2024
The nose
Chiaki Nomura is known for composing fragrances with a clear, atmospheric structure, often balancing airy, ozonic effects with texture and restraint. Here she shapes Penguin as a cold-air illusion: a marine opening lifted by spice, then grounded in suede, sandalwood and musks for a dry, modern finish. Her work on this fragrance shows a precise hand with contrast. Rather than making the scent simply aquatic, she gives it movement and tension, so the freshness feels vivid and physical instead of decorative.
Collaborators
Victor Wong, Zoologist’s founder and creative director, shaped the animal-led concept and narrative brief, using the emperor penguin’s egg-guarding ritual and Antarctic setting as the fragrance’s emotional frame. Chiaki Nomura translated that story into scent, building the icy, spiced composition around the habitat and behavior rather than a generic fresh profile.
Zoologist’s story
Zoologist builds fragrances as habitat stories, using animals as a way to explore texture, instinct and environment rather than literal imitation. The house favors imaginative, independent perfumery, with each release designed as a distinct world and presented with strong visual identity and no animal-derived ingredients.
Penguin’s concept
Penguin was launched in January 2024 as Zoologist’s first release of the year, inspired by emperor penguins enduring Antarctic extremes. The fragrance follows the image of a father protecting the egg through cyclone winds and a frozen landscape, moving from a crisp, salty opening into a spiced, woody drydown.
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 deluxe bottles alongside samples. The bottle design has evolved over time, while the formula remained unchanged.
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 fragrance
Vibe check
This is a scent for close, focused company in cold air: a winter walk, a quiet commute, or a room where the temperature is low enough for the freshness to stay taut. It projects a composed, wind-cut presence rather than warmth or softness.
How to wear
Best in cool to cold weather, where its icy opening and marine transparency stay crisp instead of thinning out. Apply lightly to avoid overloading the spicy-musky base; a few sprays are enough for a clear, cool aura that lingers with suede and sandalwood on skin.
Who it’s for
For wearers who like fresh scents with structure, mineral edge and a slightly unusual marine character. It will appeal to those who enjoy transparent aquatics, subtle spice, clean woods and a polished, modern cold-weather freshness.
Release year
2024
The nose
Chiaki Nomura is known for composing fragrances with a clear, atmospheric structure, often balancing airy, ozonic effects with texture and restraint. Here she shapes Penguin as a cold-air illusion: a marine opening lifted by spice, then grounded in suede, sandalwood and musks for a dry, modern finish. Her work on this fragrance shows a precise hand with contrast. Rather than making the scent simply aquatic, she gives it movement and tension, so the freshness feels vivid and physical instead of decorative.
Collaborators
Victor Wong, Zoologist’s founder and creative director, shaped the animal-led concept and narrative brief, using the emperor penguin’s egg-guarding ritual and Antarctic setting as the fragrance’s emotional frame. Chiaki Nomura translated that story into scent, building the icy, spiced composition around the habitat and behavior rather than a generic fresh profile.
Zoologist’s story
Zoologist builds fragrances as habitat stories, using animals as a way to explore texture, instinct and environment rather than literal imitation. The house favors imaginative, independent perfumery, with each release designed as a distinct world and presented with strong visual identity and no animal-derived ingredients.
Penguin’s concept
Penguin was launched in January 2024 as Zoologist’s first release of the year, inspired by emperor penguins enduring Antarctic extremes. The fragrance follows the image of a father protecting the egg through cyclone winds and a frozen landscape, moving from a crisp, salty opening into a spiced, woody drydown.
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 deluxe bottles alongside samples. The bottle design has evolved over time, while the formula remained unchanged.