The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Taurus arrived in 2024 as part of BY SHAMS PERFUMES' zodiac collection, a line that translates each celestial sign into a distinct olfactory character. The brand, founded by Arab singer Shams, moves between music, fragrance, and energy stones with the same creative instinct. Taurus, the second sign of the zodiac, was composed by perfumer Margherita Carini, who reportedly drew inspiration from her own mother, to whom she is very close. That bond shapes the composition from start to finish, lending it a personal warmth rather than an abstract one. The result is a fragrance that aims for grounded sensuality rather than cosmic abstraction, a scent less about stargazing and more about standing firm.
What sets Taurus apart is the deliberate tension between its floral heart and its base. Egyptian jasmine and ylang-ylang could easily drift into tropical sweetness, a route many feminine launches take without thinking. Carini threads iris through the center to anchor the bloom with a dry, rooty powder, then drops apricot and cinnamon at the top to add warmth without tipping into gourmand territory. The real move happens underneath, where animalic notes and leather meet cedarwood and skin-close musk.
The evolution
The opening belongs to apricot, sun-warmed and slightly fuzzy, with cinnamon threading through like a slow ember. Ylang-ylang arrives before the fruit finishes, heavy and golden, then iris pulls the whole opening downward into something cooler and more rooted. As the composition settles, the jasmine comes forward, creamy and indolic, riding alongside the powder of iris without ever becoming soapy. The leather surfaces gradually, not sharp or chemical but suede-soft, something you'd find in a vintage glove. The animalic notes live in the base, subtle but undeniable, the scent of warm skin at the end of a long day. Cedarwood and musk carry the later hours, quiet, close, and unmistakably human. On fabric the leather lingers well into the evening; on skin it softens earlier but leaves a faint trail of musk that returns each time you catch your own wrist.
Cultural impact
Taurus holds a distinctive place within the 2024 zodiac-themed fragrance landscape, treating scent as something more layered than simple adornment. The animalic undertone and suede leather give it a hook beyond the usual floral-leather template, lending it a depth and warmth that sets it apart. Its blend of jasmine, ylang-ylang, and iris with a base of leather, animalic notes, cedarwood, and musk creates a composition that rewards slow attention rather than first-spray impressions. Wearers tend to be people who already use fragrance as identity-building, not finishing touch.
