Imagine entering a sacred space encased in stone but with sunlight streaming in. A platter of fruit lies at the alter and the remnants of incense smoke hang in the air. You can feel the warmth of resins and of bodies that have been there before you. As you sit there contemplating everything that helped you get there, a cat slinks by, reminding you that you’re not alone. In fact, as you hear the rustle around you, you know that you’ve never been alone. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This is Sacred Scarab by Zoologist. The great thing about Zoologist is that the brand pairs with different perfumers, offering them a chance to create something that they might not have made for their own brands. In this case, the perfumer is Sultan Pasha, known for his attars and his collection of vintage perfume. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Maybe it’s because of this that Sacred Scarab feels so familiar – it begins by reminding us of perfumes we’ve known and finishes by reminding us of worlds we’ve lived in. There are aldehydes in the opening, for one, ot the clean aldehydes in today’s modern releases, but the aldehydes of the past. When I think of aldehydes, I think of Chanel No. 5, I can’t help it. There’s that twinkle in the eye, paired with a thick, warm fur. While No. 5 stays cold and aloof, Sacred Scarab has a warmth that beckons. Sacred Scareb is for anyone who has wanted the richness of a vintage perfume in a modern release. The opening is all aldehydic sparkle, powdery peachy lactones, a fading lily, and the distant purr of civet. Then, elements of the ancient Egyptian Kyphi incense, on which it’s based, come out: frankincense, benzoin, styrax, and labdanum, contrasting the old with the ancient, showing off the skill and aesthetic of the perfumer who dares to take us on this journey.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Sacred Scarab offers a reminder of the past. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If you had your heart set on one of the older Zoologist bottles, there are still some remaining at IndieScents, including one of Sacred Scarab. Yes, they ship worldwide.
