Seahorse by Zoologist Perfumes

I got a decant of Seahorse, my first step into niche. While the house is usually risky, this isn’t too much of a gamble. My girlfriend thought it was overpowering, like dry sunscreen in the sun, but I absolutely loved it. It starts salty, citrusy, and marine, evolving into a sweet neroli touch reminiscent of a fougère. The longevity is brutal—over 8 hours with 8 sprays from a decant (4 at the office is perfect; at the start, it was a bit too much). The projection is intense, very noticeable. Ideal for extreme heat if you control the sprays indoors. Blind buy for marine/fougère lovers.

Smells very good, like a natural, salty, aromatic soap. This Seahorse has character; even though everyone likes it, it’s noticeable. Salty and vibrant opening with a marine touch, then shifts to aromatic and slightly soapy notes. Floral heart and amber base. I love wearing it; it’s super versatile, ideal for summer, day or night. It brings that clean sea feeling. It doesn’t highlight the salty or aquatic aspects, but rather an aromatic note that I like a lot. It reminds me of Pacific Rock Moss but more mature and deep. The dry down loses strength and ends up faint, with that marine vibe. I really liked it; it performs well, but the price is steep. I want to try more from Zoologist.

Smells like salty water and something unusual; sometimes I detect cardamom or even fish scales (maybe algae?). At first, it’s a wild mix of algae and seafood, but then it calms down, loses the fishiness, and becomes spicy, like warm but fresh sage. It’s not very strong on my skin. The best part is that it reminds me of a large, rectangular, illuminated fish tank filled with goldfish and small corals. The worst part is that it smells like a plate of not-so-fresh seafood at some restaurant. A tiring scent.

After going through the entire Zoologist collection, Seahorse stands out as one of the most accessible without losing its unique character. To my nose, it’s an ultramarine scent with a countryside touch. The opening is spectacular: lots of sea, algae over ambroxan, balanced by cereal and nut notes (probably cardamom and fennel) that keep it afloat, preventing it from sinking like the same brand’s Squid. It’s a pity that this initial freshness fades quickly and loses a bit of originality. However, the marine side persists, now creamier thanks to the flowers holding it up, making it elegant. If I had to compare it, it reminds me of Orto Parisi’s Megamare, but less wild and much more polished. Moderate performance, a bit below the brand’s average; ideal for casual to semi-formal situations in warm climates, though not extreme ones. High price, but the composition quality justifies it. I liked it quite a bit and see it as very original, so I’d consider buying it. Rating: 8/10.