Flaming Creature

A stunningly gorgeous composition that will 100% knock you off balance the first time you smell it. This and a sample size of Annabel's Birthday Cake are my first foray into Marissa Zappas' fragrances, and I can't wait to try more, because Flaming Creature was an instant favorite for me. The jasmine and pink pepper sing at full voice in the opening, and they're so seductively confident that they might trick you into thinking they are the only star notes here, but don't be fooled. They are only the lure, the hook, the lead-in, the siren-song; after fifteen or so minutes of wear, a host of other characters emerge from the shadows: Smoke creeps in and floats in the foreground, the way it does in scenes in certain old films. You know the ones - the femme fatale, rendered in black and white, is wreathed by cigarette smoke, incense, or artificial smoke from a fog machine, the halo of it around her like the wispy, ephemeral embrace of the night itself. She sips her drink while staring off into the middle distance, otherworldly in the dim light, and you can almost imagine that it is her soul itself that is smoldering; that if she pinned you with her stare, her eyes would burn you like hot coals. And yet, you want nothing more than for her to look your way. In the background, sticky-saccharine bits of orange candy, tempered by the sharpness of wormwood, mingle with sturdy, mature cedar and santal, like a cherished memory from childhood rendered bittersweet by nostalgia and retrospect. It is the sense that there is still magic in the world, much harder to find as an adult, but worth looking for. Flaming Creature is an enthralling, compelling blend of natural and manufactured scent notes, a juxtaposition of tawdriness and elegance, the perfect balance of all its elements creating a dangerously intoxicating scent that will sink its claws into you and never let go. Like the immortal beauty and mystique of a famous film scene, a moment in time captured forever in celluloid, you will never forget where you were the first time you smelled it. Strength and sillage start out very intense, and gradually mellow to a skin scent over a period of 5-7 hours. Likely more of a nighttime fragrance but I will be wearing it in the day too because I love it. Unisex leaning ever so slightly feminine. Likely too intense to wear in any kind of heat.

Lord. Where do I begin? I’ve been on the fence about this fragrance for three years. There was a time when the sweet and rum notes just went ballistic and came off as a generic perfume-y dry down. Not sure what happened, but I don’t get them as much anymore. Thank god because I’m a total sucker for the jasmine/patchouli/citrus combo. Flaming Creature is a toxic relationship in a bottle. It holds you hostage like a heart-racing liquid spell, which explains why I was hooked even though I tried to convince myself that I didn’t like it. This isn’t like anything else in Marissa Zappas’ coquettish, powder-forward collection. It’s passionate and sexy, reminiscent of that scary kind of love that borders on obsession. Absolutely wear this to meet your ex. UPDATE 9/24: I think I should mention that you need to douse yourself in Flaming Creature for it to stick around long enough to be detected by others. Become flammable, lol, like actually risk being a flaming creature. 😆 I think I used almost 8-10 sprays all over my neck, wrists, hair, and clothes last night and everyone in our friend group complimented me on it. It doesn’t have much projection unfortunately, but I think that’s why it draws people in. Wear it ONLY in cold weather (below 60°). Lasts about 3-4 hours. Heat does nothing for this fragrance and makes it disappear within 1-2 hours.

A truly romantic woody jasmine scent. I appreciate a woody/sandlewood/genderless scent as much as the next person, and it definitely has a time and place but this is what I crave when seeking out a woody scent. The fluffy soft white florals cradles the sandalwood and patchouli, creating a fuzzy, fluffy and out of focus effect. It's like looking out at a forest through a screen door while your night blooming jasmine opens up during dusk and taking a slow deep breathe. I find this perfume to be extremely grounding. I also don't really pick up on the orange but I do think something gives it a slight effervescent quality that I usually don't notice in a traditionally woody scent, maybe it's that? Totally agree with BewitchingJasmine below who said that it's a wearable witchy scent for summertime! While it has punch and presence it isn't overwhelming or headache inducing.

That’s it, I can stop collecting fragrances. Flaming Creature is the sensual, witchy, woody jasmine I’ve been searching for since my fragrance journey began many years ago. My heart started racing as soon as I smelled the sample on my skin - I couldn’t believe how perfectly it met my loftiest expectations. The burst of rich, humid jasmine quiets down (but doesn’t disappear) after the first 15 minutes giving way to the wormwood, then the spicy sandalwood and patchouli take a front seat. A little later I get the incense and the dark witchy quality of the fragrance becomes clear. I don’t pick up on as much smoke as others describe, in fact I only detect any smoke when I smell the perfume in my hair, but it’s lovely both ways. Ideal for a fall day, but I’m sure I’ll be wearing this year round. Thank you, Marissa Zappas for sharing your brilliant creation with us all.

I got a sample of Flaming Creature from Marissa Zappas’ website, and at first I thought, “I love this, but it’s not for me.” On my skin, the orange ring pop came through loud and clear on a hot summer day, and I personally prefer to smell like an Alpine food co-op. But I tried it again a week later and saw it in a whole new light. Underneath the orange lies a smoky woodiness that’s unlike anything I’ve ever smelled before. To me, it smells like a very cool, creative, witchy woman. That said: it is very much a unisex fragrance. I’m not a woman and neither is my partner, but Flaming Creature smelled wonderful on both of us in very different ways. On his skin, it’s rather smoky, while on mine it smells like a blend of smoky orange, incense, and a touch of jasmine.