Description
“Climbing to its perch in the morning sky, the African sun reaches across a mountain range to caress a wide, flat boulder, baking it to a gentle heat. From the shade of a narrow crevice, a family of hyrax emerges, hot dust dulling the sheen of their golden fur. They settle onto the warm expanse of rock to partake in their ritual sunbath, but remain ever vigilant. The shadow of a soaring eagle rushes across the ground. With an urgent squeal, the alarm is sounded – the colony dashes for cover. As the heat from sweltering sun intensifies, ancient aromas are coaxed from the scorched rocks, sparse vegetation and petrified hyraceum. Eerily, they intertwine to form a scent that is both primitive and exotic, its animalistic tendencies tamed by an undercurrent of sweet florals.
At the heart of Zoologist Hyrax is a daring, seldom-used ingredient in the art of perfumery –– African stone, or hyraceum, giving this bold animalic scent its distinctive signature. This unique perfume skillfully blends saffron, pink pepper, whiskey, rose and musks to invoke an abstract image of a dusty African mountainscape. Like the nimble hyraxes that spill from hillside crevices in search of the sun upon their musky hides, this scent will weave its way into your senses with a light but primal touch.” – Zoologist
Hyrax was launched in 2018. The nose behind this fragrance is Sven Pritzkoleit.
Creadiadabaps – :
Let me make one thing clear right off the bat: I LOVE stanky scents. What other people find too animalic, dirty, skanky, sweaty, musty, musky, even fecal, I cannot get enough of.
But this smells like straight. up. POOP.
I travel by car every chance I get because road trips make me happier than anything else in the world. This fragrance recalls the public restroom of every single gas station, state park, beach, rest stop, et cetera, that I’ve ever had the misfortune of smelling.
I ordered the complete Zoologist sample set and I absolutely adore the vast majority of them, but this I could’ve lived without. I even gave it three tries just to be sure, but nope: this is liquid poop.
jdef – :
Leather. Leather and smoke. Leather and smoke and vetiver. Leather and smoke and vetiver and barn. Like in a barn with horses and goats where men dressed in worn out leather rest to taste a round of smokey whiskey around a fire that ends up in cold ashes. Hyrax is like the brother of Camel who grew up in the Highlands. I am impressed by this brand’s decisive and non apologetic take on animalic genre clearly at the opposite of all trends. My take is more Camel than Hyrax but both a must have for anybody loving proper animalic scents not having been washed with Lenor white musk..
mulya53 – :
Ok,this one is not for everyone definitely . It’s unique, dark and luxury fragrance with very very seductive and animalic vibes . You really will be able to stand out yourself from the crowd . I love it and for me it’s 9/10
NurAI – :
No.
Just. No.
This does not smell like some sexy anthropomorphic Furry wet dream musk, this smells like road kill during rutting season. Shrieking tire residue and terrified mammal anal gland excretion.
It won’t scrub off. My skin still smells like turtle pee and tarmac and rot-gut bourbon. I am not okay.
My cat is not okay.
rob909elipseskism – :
The king of all animalic perfumes. Nothing compares to Hyrax by Zoologist. I would like to advice those who like animalic perfume to buy this while it lasts. Because I guarantee you, it’s going to be reformulated by Mr Wong very soon.This is not going to be a popular hit with average perfume users. Very skanky and dirty to the extreme. Even Kouros will bow down to this. Long live the new king Hyrax!!!!!!
Papik82 – :
Perfect for a visit in an old Historical Castle in Europe during the winter. I’m in love with this perfume and I am also someone who loves Visiting Castles since I live in Belgium. The first second that the vapor of this perfume emanated form my arm to my nose I was instantly teleported to the almost one thousand years old Château de Bouillon in Belgium (borders with France), and than to many others.
1xxDIMAxx1 – :
okay, I admit that this one is hard to pull off…. This needs a batch of extra confidence, because this is not everyone’s cup of tea.
I usually wear 6 spritzes, but with this I only wear 4 spritzes, and it last the whole day.
This is a very animalic, very dirty leather. It conjures up the picture of Hyrax nest in Africa (not that ‘ve been there)… And the cute face of the hyrax is really deceiving hahaha.
Nonetheless, if you can appreciate the art of original animalic perfumery, this is a pure joy. There’s floral aspect here, but it only plays in the background, the skanky leather and whiskey are the prominent notes here.
Not for the faint hearted, but THIS IS WEARABLE, I wear it in a hot day, and it develops nicely.
kazakural – :
In recent years we have seen a revival of animalic perfumes, which for many years were practically taboo in modern perfumery. After the excesses of the 80’s the perfumery moved in a clean direction, with a predominance of aquatics, fruity florals and creations where the musk stopped being a support note for the base to become a great star with its discreet and second skin aroma. As a result of this, the animalic perfumes have left the scene and only recently started being appreciated again, only in another segment nowadays – that of indie and niche perfumery.
Still, animalic perfumes are not easy to sell, especially those that resort to the classic archetype of an animalic perfume, without hiding the fecal and urinal aspects that materials such as civet, castoreum and ambergris have in both natural and reconstitutions. An animaliv profile has been preferred based mainly on oud and castoreum accords – the first one being a trend and the second for having a synthetic profile less fecal and animalic and with more leather nuances. Therefore, it can be said that Victor Wong as a businessman was very bold when launching Hyrax – it is the type of creation that from the marketing point of view is known to be polarizing, which will hardly sell well in some markets and which is not the type of creation that will bring a large volume of sales.
However, as a brand can not be based exclusively on sales, Hyrax brings the Zoologist the apex of the brand idea by representing without barriers the concept of the aroma of an animal. Hyrax’s choice fits like a glove, since they are primitive mammals, animals distantly related to the Elephants. Their feces and urine harden over time and the stones they form are tinctured to be used in the perfumery. Hyrax, the perfume, alludes to the more primitive side of the aromas, being a kind of Nadir of the modern and clean perfumery.
Despite the perfumers idea to build and sell Hyrax as an animalic and fecal oud, Hyrax reveals itself as a combination of civet, castoreum and ambergris facets, with Hyrax’s tincture of the stones giving the idea a more rounded aura. At a milder temperature it is possible to clearly perceive the spicy and mineral aspect of the pink pepper and elemi. But a fecal and urine-like animal profile is quickly built on top of that, which at first is uncomfortable, as if the scent of the animals emanates intensely during their sunbathing on a summer day. By getting accustomed to the smell is possible to perceive at times a slight floral touch at the background and a nuance of leather that certainly appears here due to the use of castoreum. There is a slight glow in the composition which is perhaps to me one of the surprises here, a clean aspect that I only felt once in a natural civet, which is not used in this composition.
Perhaps the biggest surprise to me is that however much of the animalics present in the composition are synthetic, Hyrax passes a harmony that makes me think of natural in this case. It is a difficult perfume, one that I dare not exaggerate due to the potency of its aroma and my discomfort with the most fecal animal profile. Even if it’s not one of my favorites, Hyrax is essential as creation in my opinion. It is a scent that reminds us that the perfumery goes far beyond the comfort zone that we have experienced today and brings me to the more primitive side that we as humans try to hide and clean rather than accept.
gal4ona – :
Got a sample today tried it , this one is definitely unique and a challenging one . Will not be everyone’s cup of tea for sure and not mine either .
But Hats off to zoologist for trying something very very unique .
toyscoupon – :
Fragrances have been around for so long because they mask bad smells. Hyrax incorporates those very bad smells and it behooves you to know this. It’s a fragrance that is best worn close by applying less than more so it does not radiate. Other reviewers are right: the first hour or so is a little rough and the fragrance evolves ending in a bright slightly musky slightly flowery slightly woody mix that is unique. The presentation is very classy. It’s a challenge, but viewed like homeopathy works in small quantities only I find it to reveal rather than mask the wearer’s own particular odor. So clean up and then put on Hyrax.
fenisouff – :
We’ll, I’ve changed my vote from Dislike to Like, and this one has inspired me to write my first review.
I tried on two small sprays from my sample bottle this morning: one on my chest, and one on my wrists. Immediately, the thick, hot smell of an animal’s den hit me: furry, sweaty, feral, and unwashed. I lasted about five minutes, wanting to appreciate the scent past it’s opening, but had to go and wash my wrists. I couldn’t do anything about the second spray on my chest, as I had to leave the house and didn’t have time to change.
Well, after about a half hour, I started to get bursts of the nicest fragrance: a really lovely spicy, woody, and musky scent. I actually looked around once or twice to see if it was someone around me. Nope, just me!
So, I now believe this is a wearable and beautiful scent under the following conditions: use the tiniest possible spray, and avoid others until the top notes have evaporated.
critnesunsemi – :
Oh my! I am wildly in love with this gorgeous creation. The opener for me was fresh cut cedarwood, sandalwood and balsam combo. A little soft spice. A few minutes later I get the animalics – although differentiating between the three listed is beyond my ability. Whiskey, pink pepper, and a sweetness that must be the hyacinth… An hour later, there’s the patchouli, amber, rose, and a scent you’ll recognize if you’ve ever walked down a red dirt road in Africa. In other words, this is very heady stuff, but NOT in the older woman six sprays of Poison (cough!) kind of way. Heady in the sense of desire, anticipation, pursuit, even regret… Well, I’m an older woman, and I really wish my bed sheets had smelled like this in my 30s!
Some reviews mention it is too intense, too sweaty, just too much. Well, I say just apply less than you usually do,for Pete’s sake! I used one dab of the sample and that was enough to make me swoon.
This is not a fragrance for girls, or perhaps even very young women. If you know who you are and know what you want, Hyrax may be for you. It will also be marvelous for men who don’t insist on aggressive scents. Again, heady without being overpowering. It’s divine. If I buy myself another perfume, it will be this one.
Later: After 24 hours and a shower, I can still smell the animalics. Sour, a little musty, fur, damp sawdust…but yummy. I repeat, this is a dab from a sample vial!
Maksetonik – :
I tried this one with my brother and as we brought it to our nose we just burst out laughing because we were both so taken aback. What an insane, insane perfume – I cannot believe it was actually released. This is an animalic BOMB, and we’re not talking smooth-sexy animalic: this smells like sweat, barnyard, hot fur, mating animals, it’s not even primitive, it’s feral. I can smell a little bit of the whisky, some spices, and maybe a tiny tiny hint of flowers as well as a strong asphalt/hot cement note, but if you’re counting on that to tame Hyrax, don’t. This is pretty much the smell of a zoo enclosure on a hot day, and it projects.
That said: Hyrax is amazingly put together, and it exerts a potent fascination that will have you come back to it over and over again. I’ve sampled perfumes that were just hot messes, and this is not one of them. The mastery is evident, and it gave me a new respect both for Zoologist and nose Sven Pritzkoleit. To come up with it, and then choose to distribute it, takes creative people with talent and vision. It’s a kick in the unmentionables for sure, but does that mean it’s bad, or that it’s unwearable? No. In fact I think it would be amazing on the right person. It’s high-quality, it’s bold, it’s big, it’s unique, it’s evocative, and it works. It just does.
Hyrax is a must-try, if only to see what a real (and beautiful!) animalic perfume smells like. There’s truly nothing like it out there. Do yourself a favour and get a sample.
forest1973 – :
I was saving a skin test of this for winter as I could tell it was a bit of a beast, but it was cold here in Scotland last night, and that cute little fella demanded some attention.
And my God, does he get some attention!
Full-on hot, furry, dry blast of pure animal magic. Flowers? If you say so…
Not long before a wonderful whisky note comes through, followed by a sweetness that plays hide and seek. That furry critter wants to be heard at all stages!
It’s very woody, and something of the petrochemical about it, too. If you were that kid who liked sniffing freshly creosoted fence panels, then this may be up your street (I was that kid).
Longevity is off the scale, a tiny dribble I put on the back of my hand is still going strong after eighteen hours, showering, multiple hand washes and doing dishes.
Completely bonkers, but rather wonderful.
vladek74 – :
Satan’s moth balls. Like a weasel pissed in your grandma’s linen closet. After twenty minutes, I long nostalgically for a time when I had a scent on me that didn’t threaten to trigger my gag reflex.
Projection and longevity are great though. Showering doesn’t help. Only the sweet release of unconsciousness can save me now.
For real though, why? If I mix the notes of gasoline, vomit, and a hint of feces, I could conjure up the worst gas station I’ve ever been to, but what would be the point?
I un-ironically think it’s lovely when other people enjoy something that I hate, and that’s still the case here because apparently some people actually like this (mind = blown). Maybe it’s like how birds see colors that are invisible to humans. Maybe there are some humans who smell things that are invisible to the rest of us. Maybe Hyrax has a redeeming invisible layer to it that changes everything, but I’m just over here smelling it with my dumb human nose.
Edit: I had my dog smell this and she slowly rolled over and sighed. So take that as you will.
sacred1987 – :
I just got the whole set of their samples and Hyrax was the first one I sniffed – and I love it!The musk here is lovely.
androminimax – :
Hyrax is the first true animalic perfume from the eclectic Zoologist line which names all its perfumes after animals. This is also a very bold and polarizing perfume because it does contain hyraceum (which is an ethically obtained musk from the petrified and rock-like excrement composed of both urine and feces excreted by the Cape hyrax). The perfume is beautifully blended so that the hyrax is considerably sweetened but it still remains firmly in the picture throughout the wear of this perfume. The perfume has a very short beginning where one can detect notes of elemi, rose, pepper and saffron before it goes to the dense heart that contains the hyrax (very prominent), styrax, hyacinth and whiskey. Finally upon complete settling the hyrax remains with traces of civet, castoreum, benzoin, patchouli, tonka bean and sandalwood. The perfume is beautifully blended with strong sillage, projection and lasting power. Personally for me, it immediately evokes memories of my travels to Africa. Recommended for lovers of animalics and unusually bold perfumes only. This could shock casual floral and woody perfume wearers, so please tread with caution. I for one, absolutely love this gem. Enjoy!
nikita0909 – :
This is the first zoologist fragrance that I dislike! I respect them all and I really adore quite a few but I truely can’t imagine anyone wearing this.
I don’t want to say anything negative so I’ll just stick to positives… this really takes me back to life on the farm.
That’s all I’ll say.
Glad I sprayed it on a card and not on myself.
Edit: it’s now about a week later and I’ve come to appreciate this much more. For the last few days I’ve sprayed this on a card to let my friends smell how “horrible” this is, but it’s nicer every time I smell it. And it’s got lovely projection. I can smell it gently when I’m within 3-4 feet of it, and it’s memorable and lovely when given a light sniff.
My friends had mixed reactions as well… most disliked it , only a few smelled the “farm” quality that I did (and still do when I take a deep breath of it) but my best friend loved it. She said it smelled woody and green and spicy and beautiful.
To each their own I guess.
Xeroxhhqsq – :
I understand the art form of creating perfume, and don’t get me wrong I love something different. But at what point do you cross the line from being “unique” to just absolutely disgusting and unwearable.
Sure, an olfactory “thrill ride”, i get it. But in order to stay marketable as a company you have to think about the practicality of your product. What am I suppose to do, smell it on a test strip and go “wow thats horrible” and then never buy a bottle? Im just not sure I understand the approach here. I’m not bashing Zoologist or anyone who genuinely does appreciate this enough to buy a full bottle, and thats fine more power to you. Zoologist does have a pretty solid line-up of products that many people praise as far as “artful” perfumes are concerned. But I find myself more times than not, thinking of a situation in which I would feel comfortable wearing MOST of their perfumes. I just think they may have gone overboard a little with this one.
rasist – :
The Zoologist line is made up of remarkable olfactory journeys some wearable, some not but all worthwhile to experience ….except for Hyrax. If an anus could physically chain smoke,you’d have Hyrax. Buyer beware on this one…don’t do a blind buy without benefit of a sample.
vlad333 – :
Definitely, the most challenging fragrance to come from Zoologist. It’s hard to find the words for it.
Where Zoologist have played with animalic notes before Catoreum in Beaver paired with an aqueous feeling and kept light, and Civet in Civet, with it being a backdrop and paired with lots of amber, florals and coffee.
Hyrax is a WHACK! unapologetic animalic. The animalic is right at the forefront. Dry, arid and fecal! When I smell this I feel like I have stepped into a place humans shouldn’t be. A place where rodent like animals have left their mark on their territory. DO NOT ENTER. Zoologist have managed to capture the feeling of “hot” in this one. It’s a bit scratchy, and there is an accord in the heart that is actually quite beautiful, like a resinous almost incense like tone.
“Bat” was challenging in a totally different way to this one. This one doesn’t even have that vintage like animalic of perfumes gone by that had civet and the like in them. It’s just an entirely different beast. Don’t let the cute picture fool you.
So diffusive, this stuff travels. It was made with the purpose of being daring, and…it is!
🙂
Neislibiowl – :
To be honest, this fragrance is definitely not one for the faint hearted. Very dirty animalic and a little rough for my liking (urine smell anyone?), no disrespect to the perfumer of this scent. The dry down is actually more intense and I can’t detect any floral or woody notes at all. Definitely not a safe blind buy and even buying the complete sample set, this was definitely my least liked of the lot. Only for the bravest.
Update: I tested this again and this time it wasn’t as funky as I originally said. I detected more woody notes but still quite dirty animatic. I had a friend sniff test this and he said that it smelt like freshly laid tar or bitumen. So it smells differently to everyone.
KrinPP – :
Sven has this clinical sharpness in his creations and Hyrax opening is no different. The whisky, styrax, mint patchouli features pungently pitch this very shrill in the opening and gives one a olfactory opening unique to hyrax. The synthetic animalics start to seep out of the opening and this whole composition leans decidedly masculine. If you can survive the opening Hyrax begins to settle from it’s sharp tone and the animalics start to warm the composition (but still very pungent and sharp!)
The dusty mountain landscape that the press copy states is definitely within the fragrance and so much more than just hyrax. I wish the base warmer tones held Hyrax in a warmer smoother cradle but to each their own. One thing is for sure you will never forget Hyrax. Use it to clear a room full of your enemies or to be the most Euro trendy avant guarde perfumista..Hyrax is one of a kind, difficult wear. Niche to it’s strictest definition. Its a media darling, and I like Victor too but some reviewers on utube arent being honest how hard hitting this scent really is. If your in the not for me camp and washings cant get rid of it..layer Tom Ford’s Velvet Orchid ontop of it. It makes it bearable.
pcv187speagoessenda – :
I hated this at first, but it kept drawing me back. Now, I absolutely love it. It provokes a naughty smile or laugh every time I spray the bottle. It opens downright sour and skanky in the most sublime way but turns into something absolutely gorgeoues. I can’t really describe it in words, it has to be experienced. Thank you Zoologist.
pavelste – :
This is my least favorite from Zoologist, but it’s still quite good.
The initial impression was a blast of motor oil rose, quite like Montale’s stuff. Then the sweetness comes out, making me smell like I spilled whiskey on myself while mixing a drink. There’s a sweaty quality, coming from the animalic notes… and then the benzoin gives it a drool/morning breath sort of quality.
It had potential to be incredible, but the notes just don’t come together for me. I smell like my Uncle Ralph, which is NOT a good thing. Sweat, whiskey, and a whiff of the “science lab” he had out back in a trailer…. Ahh, Childhood in Appalachia.
In this case, the nostalgia from the fragrance is not a good one.
81duka – :
Hyrax is all about hyraceum*, with a beautifully blended, faint floral background and a well constructed base that includes notes like benzoin, tonka and sandalwood. Don’t let the flowers or base fool you though: they are essential with an animalistic note of this magnitude and Hyrax remains an unapologetic, balls-to-the-wall, even profane animalic perfume worthy of its name. This is niche to the nth. For people into animalics (like me), it’s heaven.
I know a lot of you fumeheads will be sampling this. I recommend you start with a VERY SMALL spray on top of one hand and let it work its magic that way. You will catch sublime whiffs of animalistic warmth and sensuality as the perfume dries down. I plan on wearing Hyrax sparingly, not necessarily around my neck (it’s also good as a wrist or musky chest afterthought due to how feral it can be), certainly on it’s own but also to add some animalic oomph to any other perfume. And if you really enjoy hyraceum as a note, then you are probably familiar with Masque’s Montecristo. Well, this is way better and not as dry. Take my money Victor…
*A warning about hyraceum for the uninitiated. You will read stuff about people hating it and that is smells like pee and poo (well, it is pee and poo actually, of the little hyrax critter) but pay them no mind and tell them to go develop their nose.
vova78 – :
When Zoologist came out with Civet, people feared that it will smell horrible, like a urinal stall. However, it came out quite tame and sophisticated. However, Hyrax is the one that should have been feared. This is the true animalic Zoologist fragrance. I do like the opening, I get this image of the furry Hyrax, as it does smell like musky fur. I do enjoy that, since I have a few pet rodents as a kid. However, in about 10 minutes it disappears, and all I get is African Stone, also known as hyraceum. Hyraceum is a solidified block of both feces and urine of the little Hyrax. So it is very fecal, and to me, absolutely revolting. I just cannot picture someone wearing this, that sort of person must be very daring. I had two, about three hour wearings out of this, after witch, I had to wash it off. Thing is, the Hyrax is very persistant and is super hard to wash off. So I imagine this lasts a long time with a strong presence. I do suggest trying this out, but at the comfort of your own home. Hyrax is difficult to wear. You have been warned.
tomek700 – :
Starts off with an acidic, pickled note that’s super unique. Then it starts to smell rough and rubbery, like dirty truck tires that are on fire. It smells like brand new denim that still has the indigo and chemical smell on it. It’s for a man who drives a truck, no one else.
uxi915speagoessenda – :
I had my doubts when I first sprayed this on a scent stripe. It’s just so off-putting, and the opening reminded me of burning tires. After it kinda settled down, the hidden notes started to emerge. Behind the acidic scent of animality were the pink pepper, Turkish rose, patchouli, sandalwood, and tonka beans. However, I have to say that this is one of the most challenging fragrance to wear from the house. One has to defeat the strong and pungent opening to enjoy the heart of the Hyrax.
Cryss – :
A few years ago Zoologist made its first attempt to deliver that primal/animalic touch in the form of a fragance called Beaver…unfortunately Beaver wasn’t fully accepted and then it was completely reformulated. Probably it was too early for the original Beaver to be born…Zoologist was a young brand and maybe it wasn’t just the time for Beaver.
Years have passed and Zoologist has managed to carve a place in many of our hearts with Bat, Hummingbird, Rhinoceros, Civet…and more…but the heart and brain behind Zoologist (Victor Wong) had probably that gut feeling about Zoologist delivering a real animalic fragance and together with Sven Pritzkoleit the have created Hyrax.
I think Hyrax represents the experience, seniority and savoir faire reached by Zoologist in these years, first category materials (including Hyraceum google it and find out 🙂 ) and knowledge that bring us a fragance that takes no prisoners it’s a hate or love it stuff that nobody will remain indifferent towards it…and all I can say is try it, enjoy it and tell the people your feelings.
I feel glad for Victor and Sven because I think Hyrax has been born at the right time and represents the compendium of a small big Niche House that has something special for all of us.
Siama – :
I hate to know that I’m swayed by marketing but it smells exactly how I expected.
Animalic and funky at first, warm and brightly spicy after a bit of “dry down” and rich and almost buttery and “sultry” after a few hours.
Definitely a funky scent in both uses of the word. Reminds me of the African street vendors with thier bottles of scents, in a very good way, but far more complex and sophisticated.
Very high quality ingredients for sure.
A ting of old-fashioned “grandma” scent, I assume from the combo of rose/ saffron and classic animal you don’t get in many new fragrances, but I wear this one for me; and I really like. Unique and robust.
Can’t wait until it hits the market for bottles and travel sprays. Will definitely be purchasing more than the samples we’re stuck with until apparently June 2018.