Northern Cardinal / Cardinal
Perfumer: Rosendo Mateu
Votes lean masculine
82 ratings
From your scent profile
Zoologist Northern Cardinal / Cardinal is a unisex scent that pairs fresh citrus with green and earthy tones, and most voters place it in spring and fall.
Skunky's take: Like opening a window: the room feels lighter at once.
How does it perform?
From 67 community ratings, all out of 10.
Holds up through the day and fades gently toward evening.
Leaves a light trail and stays polite in a crowd.
Talks even from the shelf.
The price makes you think, so a small size is a smart start.
Blind buy risk
60% of votes are positive, the rest are more reserved.
Notes
They open one after another, from the first spray into the evening.
Top notesfirst 15 minutes
Heart notesfirst few hours
Accords
From most dominant to most subtle.
- Fresh
- Citrus
- Floral
- Green
- Spicy
- Woody
- Earthy
- Leathery
What does Northern Cardinal / Cardinal smell like?
The top opens with bergamot, mandarin orange and lemon, while green leaves add a leafy edge to that brightness. In the heart sit clary sage, leather and rose, so the floral side is balanced by a leathery, spicy backdrop. The base of patchouli, oakmoss, musk and vanilla settles it into a woody, earthy finish, with vanilla softening the dryness.
Longevity is rated good and sillage moderate. Voters tie it to leisure, daily wear and the office. Most voters read it as masculine, though a fair share call it feminine. Les Parfums de Rosine Rose d'Homme and Lacoste Eau de Sport have a close profile.
How it changes through the day
First minutes
- Bergamot
- Green leaves
- Mandarin orange
First hours
- Clary sage
- Leather
- Rose
Towards evening
- Patchouli
- Musk
- Vanilla
When to wear it?
Seasons and occasions, by user votes.
- 33%Spring
- 30%Autumn
- 20%Winter
- 17%Summer
- Casual28%
- Daytime22%
- Office22%
- Evening15%
- Nighttime12%
Least picked for nights out.
Smells like this
The closest scents by notes and accords.
63% matchRose d'Homme
Les Parfums de Rosine · 2005
63% matchLacoste Eau de Sport
Lacoste · 1994
60% matchCardinal Limited Edition
Zoologist · 2022
57% matchSafari for Men (Eau de Toilette)
Ralph Lauren · 1992
56% matchDiavolo for Men (Eau de Toilette)
Banderas · 1997
53% matchGucci pour Homme (1976) (Eau de Toilette)
Gucci · 1976
53% match1881 Riviera
Cerruti · 2019
51% matchRocabar (Eau de Toilette)
Hermès · 1998
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Last updated: October 26, 2026

















