Nathalie Feisthauer interview on Zoologist Perfumes Lovebird

Zoologist Perfumes Lovebird Image via the brand

Fragrances by Victor Wong’s cult brand Zoologist Perfumes are devoted to a wide range of animals, each fragrance developed in collaboration with perfumers around a web of associations linked to the creature. Devotees of the brand await each new release with palpable anticipation – some are drawn to its bold and unconventional compositions, others to those rarer, unexpectedly approachable scents that still retain the brand’s signature complexity.

Achieving approachability in perfumery is no simple task, yet award-winning Master Perfumer Nathalie Feisthauer of Labscent does so with remarkable ease, consistently pairing it with refinement and sophistication. We spoke with Nathalie about her second creation for Zoologist Perfumes, following Cow, and her 2026 release for the brand, Lovebird.

Nathalie Feisthauer courtesy of the Perfumer

Tamara Gezerdava: What was the initial brief from Victor Wong for Zoologist Lovebird? How did working with him shape the direction of the fragrance – did you feel a great deal of creative freedom, or was the process more guided? And how did the idea for Lovebird come about – was the animal proposed by Victor, or did it come from you?

Nathalie Feisthauer: The brief came from Victor, who chooses both the animal and the perfumer. For Lovebird, the central idea was eternal love. These birds live in a kind of paradise, surrounded by an abundance of colorful, exotic fruits. And for me, it was really about color: bright leafy greens, sunlit yellows, juicy orange tones, flashes of berry pink and deep violet, all blending into a lush, tropical palette. It was about translating this visual richness into something olfactive. In terms of creative direction, it is never entirely me or entirely Victor, it’s always a dialogue. We build the fragrance together. If an idea doesn’t feel right for the animal, we immediately sense it. For example, if he had suggested an exotic fruity direction for Cow, I might have resisted. But in this case, I felt it was perfectly aligned with the image of the lovebird and its world. So the idea really emerged through this shared vision – Victor proposing the animal, and then both of us shaping the olfactive direction together.

Image by Tamara AI

The fragrance has a very distinctive fruity character, with a pronounced berry facet. What drew you to this particular profile? When I smell it, I personally get a strong sense of nostalgia, which I find very appealing. Was that something you intended, or is it just my own interpretation?

Nathalie Feisthauer: The fruity character came quite naturally from the concept. These birds live in a lush, tropical environment, surrounded by ripe, colorful fruits, so working with exotic fruits and berries felt like an obvious and coherent direction. We explored a palette of vivid, almost luminous fruit notes – kiwi, mango, berries – something that would evoke not just taste, but color and abundance. As for nostalgia, I personally don’t perceive it that way. It’s not something I intentionally tried to create. But that’s the beauty of fragrance – it always leaves space for personal interpretation, and if it evokes that feeling for you, then it’s absolutely valid.

Nathalie Feisthauer courtesy of the Perfumer

Another aspect I find particularly interesting is the structure. Despite its soft, tender, and slightly playful character, there is a subtle fougère backbone, especially in the base. What led you to introduce this fougère element?

Nathalie Feisthauer: The fougère aspect was actually more Victor’s idea. He was thinking about the natural environment of the lovebird – tropical landscapes where the ground is often covered with ferns. So, the fougère element comes from that image of the habitat rather than from a traditional structural intention. It’s not dominant, but it adds a certain depth and contrast. And yes, it may feel unexpected, especially in a fragrance that leans quite feminine and playful, since fougère is traditionally associated with more masculine compositions. But there are no strict rules in perfumery, and in this case, it brings a subtle backbone and gives the fragrance more character.

Zoologist Perfumes Lovebird Image via the brand

 When working on Lovebird, what aspect of the animal did you want to capture through the fragrance? Was it more about its habitat, its visual presence, or something in its character and behavior? And more broadly, what kind of mood or emotional atmosphere were you hoping the fragrance would convey?

Nathalie Feisthauer: When working on an animal with Victor, it’s never just about the animal itself. It’s about its entire world – where it lives, what it eats, the atmosphere around it. For Lovebird, it was really a combination of elements: the lush, abundant tropical habitat, the fruits they feed on, and also this symbolic idea of a pair of birds that love each other forever. So, the fragrance is not just a portrait of the bird, but of its environment and its emotional resonance. The mood we wanted to create was something joyful and full of light, a sense of happiness.

Could you tell us a bit about how the composition of Zoologist Perfumes Lovebird came together? What were the key materials or ideas you began with, and how did the fragrance take shape from there?

Nathalie Feisthauer: The composition was built around the idea of exotic fruits from the very beginning – that was the core direction. The opening is very bright and multifaceted, with notes of kiwi, bergamot, orange, and blackcurrant, supported by aromatic touches of mint, clary sage, lavender, and even a hint of clove and wormwood, which add contrast and prevent the fruit from becoming too simple or overly sweet. In the heart, passionfruit extends the fruity theme, while ylang-ylang, geranium, lily of the valley, and heliotrope introduce a soft floral dimension. The base brings structure and depth, with amyris, cedarwood, and oakmoss creating a subtle woody-green framework, enriched by amber, vanilla, and tonka for a bit of warmth, and soft musks and ambrette that give a smooth finish..

Zoologist Perfumes Lovebird Image via the brand

Zoologist fragrances often walk a fine line between concept and wearability. How did you approach this balance in Lovebird?

Nathalie Feisthauer: Victor often speaks about “nice animals” versus more challenging ones. Some fragrances in the collection are deliberately more conceptual, more animalic, and not necessarily easy to wear. Lovebird, like Cow, belongs to what he calls the “nice animals” – fragrances that are more approachable, more immediately pleasing. That said, even if it is more accessible, it is still very far from mainstream perfumery. It’s not designed to fit into the kind of commercial framework you would find in large-scale brands. It remains distinctive, with its own character.

Who did you have in mind while creating Lovebird? Did you imagine a specific wearer, or a certain personality?

Nathalie Feisthauer: I didn’t have a very precise individual in mind, but rather a state of mind. For me, it’s a fragrance that is worn with joy. It might initially feel suited to a younger audience, because of its brightness and playfulness, but I don’t think it is limited by age at all. Anyone can enjoy wearing something joyful, radiant, and full of positive energy

What would you like people to feel when they wear Lovebird?

Nathalie Feisthauer: I would like them to feel joy, above all. A sense of lightness and happiness – something that feels vivid and alive. Perhaps also a touch of tenderness, and this idea of love as something warm and enduring.

Top Notes: Kiwi, Bergamot, Orange, Blackcurrant, Mint, Clary Sage, Clove, Wormwood, Lavender; Heart Notes: Passionfruit, Ylang Ylang, Geranium, Lily of the Valley, Heliotrope; Base Notes: Amyris, Amber, Virginia Cedar, Oak Moss, Vanilla, Tonka, Ambrette, Musk

Tamara Gezerdava, Contributor

Thanks to the generosity of Zoologist Perfumes, we have a 10 ml travel size bottle of Lovebird, for one registered reader from Canada or US. You must register or your entry will not count. To be eligible, please leave a comment with what you found fascinating about Tamara’s Interview with the creator and where you live. Draw closes

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