Zeta - delicate and tender and luxurious

Andy Tauer has to be one of the most creative perfumers in the niche realm. And I have been a devotee since I smelled my first Tauer fragrance: No 02 L'Air du Désert Marocain.

A Swiss chemist and self-taught perfumer, Tauer launched Tauer Perfumes in 2005. His original fragrances, made by him from high-quality ingredients, made him the darling of perfumistas everywhere.

Over the years, he has surprised, delighted, and sometimes disappointed me. And if I’m honest, I would say that those disappointments were often due to my not being ready for what he offered rather than his not offering up something that wasn’t up to standard – which is often the way it is with art.

All of this brings me to Zeta.

The Tauer Perfumes website describes Zeta as “…a charming ode to summer.” I like the sound of that.

It opens with lemon and bergamot sweetened with orange. The citrus notes here are soft and seductive, not sharp or bracing, and they ease to a floral heart of subtle, jasmine-nuanced ylang-ylang, supported by sweet floral orange blossom absolute, which echoes the scent of jasmine, tempered with a fresh green note from neroli. Zeta is citrus laden for sure, but what holds it back from being citrus dominated is the addition of honey-like, green, powdery linden.

Linden trees are in bloom right now, and their early summer fragrance wafts through my neighbourhood. The linden note in Zeta is delicate and true, without the harshness that a synthetic linden note has. And that whiff of honey I get now and again draws my nose back to my wrist, like a bee to a flower. Mr. Tauer loves a rose note, and there’s a lush, gorgeous one here that perfectly rounds out the floral heart. At the base, fragrant, slightly bitter orris root grounds the florals, giving them a more natural dimension. Vanilla extends the sweetness to the base, where sandalwood gives it a soft woodiness that keeps the sweetness in check.

The drydown is delicate and tender, like a day in early summer, while having the feel of luxury. Mr. Tauer nailed it – Zeta is a gorgeous scent ode to summer.

Full summer, hot, muggy and sweaty, will be here soon enough. For now, I’m going to slow down those clocks, drag my feet, drag time and hold on to these halcyon days of June, and I’ll do it by wearing Zeta.

Check out Zeta in our Shop.