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.

Finished my sample. It’s rich gorgeousness, so evocative. The orange! So strange, so vivid! Having watched Flaming Creatures (1963), I’m picturing sitting on some hippy bus (Manson Family imagery too dark for lovely smell), and a heady, greasy, pleasantly scented free lover offers you a wrapped orange candy. It’s the dawn of mass produced soft plastic and it crinkles in your hand. We’ve not even landed on the moon yet and the world already feels so teeming, so heavy, so groovy, so intense... Lipstick on bakelite, Nixon on the tv screen, food stamps spent on artificial-fruit flavoured lollies. Can’t get enough of these movie and art perfumes - I want to smell what other people see, and I want to see what I smell...

I went back to this perfume three times during my recent visit to New York. I just could not get it out of my head despite having smelled so many different things in many different shops. But for some reason each time I went back I couldn't buy it. I was so undecided. On the last day of my trip, mere hours before I was supposed to be at the airport, I rushed back to the nearest place I could purchase and bought it in a rash almost fugue state. I'm happy with the purchase despite it being a manic one - it's a really beautiful Autumn/Winter evening perfume and the dry down is sexy grandma-esque which I love. I understand why someone below likened this scent to a toxic relationship!

The first spray of Flaming Creature is a burst of smoke, cedar, and patchouli; very incensey as previous reviewers have mentioned. After the dry down, the scent truly blossoms into a beautiful and complex jasmine. The addition of the pink pepper and sandalwood makes me feel so mysterious and sexy. I do not get much of the orange ring pop here, but with everything else going on, I am not sad I am missing it! Flaming Creature is witchy and knows it. It is moody and dreamy. It is the feeling of watching the sun set amongst the treetops on a hot summer's day, eagerly awaiting the transition into autumn, as a bright full moon comes bearing through.

I don't think it would be a reach to assume that Jack Smith's work influenced Lynch, which is probably why I cannot help but feel as though there is something gorgeously Mulholland Drive-esque about Flaming Creature. The epitaph on David Lynch's headstone even reads "Night Blooming Jasmine" (in reference to the golden age of Hollywood), which is arguably the most bewitching note in this potion. Maybe Flaming Creature is the Diane to UF Seduction Theory's Camilla - both boozy and sultry with candied elements. Easily one of my favourite fragrances of all time. Exquisite.

I didn't think I would like this. I don't know the film that inspired it (and don't really want to watch it, to be honest). But jasmine and patchouli with citrus/sweetness is a great profile for me. This is a chypre type of profile. But like all the fragrances I've tried from this house, Flaming Creature has an edge. The wormwood is bitter and strange. The night-blooming jasmine isn't loud but makes itself known. The patchouli is well blended. I am left with a sweet and pleasant dry down that lasts for hours. Full bottle worthy!

Silent film stars gleam in soft focus on fainting couches bordered by pillows of cigarette smoke, pearls askew. Whispers of fevered jasmine on rum soaked lips. The rapid ascent of velvety delirium. I've never encountered a composition more hauntingly decadent than Flaming Creature. An otherworldly blend of florals and boozy vapor and fantasy. There are no words to truly capture my reverence for this perfume except to say that were there a fragranced accoutrement to all Giallo films I've ever loved, it would be THIS!

i'm not particularly fond of woody, green scents but this? this is delicious. it's spiced juniper in an apothecary. it's witchy, and subtle rum steers it almost boozy- like a potion. it's not something i would personally wear everyday but if i want to live my alchemist dreams, this is what i would reach for. the smoke in this tells a story, encapsulating narrowly escaping the stake and running for the woods. i wish i could articulate this better, but that sums it up.

y'all this is sooo signature worthy it's not even funny !! oh my days !!! such a stunner of a jasmine. it's a bit skanky but also so beautiful - bewitching, even !! it's got all of my favorite scents in one perfume: INDOLIC yet elegant jasmine, patchouli, woods, a whiff of smoke, and just a touch of sweetness. it brings to mind a witch picnic in the dead of night in the middle of the forest. not nearly as chaotic as the film it's inspired by, but just as iconic 💫

There is something about Flaming Creature that remains a mystery. From the reviews others have written it is clear that Flaming Creature keeps them guessing, or they had to wear it a few times before buying, or that it’s taken them years to figure out. This perfume is elusive yet powerful, delicate but tough. It’s a beautiful blend of contradictions balanced with sweetness and smoke. Another masterpiece by Marissa Zappas.

Holy f****** s***. Inexplicable, heart racing nostalgia. I hardly have words for how tender and dear this scent is. It almost makes me emotional. I could sleep in a cloud of this sweetness every night. Smells like the inside of an old wooden building that still hosts burning incense. Intimate in every sense. Will not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if it is, it REALLY is. Just wish it was stronger.

OMG I am so happy this is finally on Fragrantica. I adore this fragrance. Something about it reminds me of one of my other faves Jasmin Angelique (I think it's the wormwood/galbanum similarities), but both fragrance I adore and this one is a little deeper that JA. It's a moody, sultry jasmine. I think of emerald brooches and velvet. It's the sexiest jasmine in my collection and I love her.

on me, this is a loud and realistic jasmine, with "other stuff" all mixed together and rustling around in the shadows. hint of smoke, hint of sugar, just enough to add depth. mostly it's...ever walk down the sidewalk on a spring night when a brick-dense cloud of star jasmine from an overgrown fence or garden wall wallops you in the face? she's for REAL fans of sweet, sultry, humid jasmine.

Moody, smokey and ethereal I stopped to smell some night-blooming-jasmine and it gave me extra appreciation for this fragrance. It’s so spot on While the jasmine, woods and smoke are the most prominent, there’s also a watercolor wash of wormwood, adding an enchanting herbal facet and the orange ring-pop accord adds a subtle, citrus, sweetness that really rounds things out for me.

intriguing juniper~jasmine combo. herbal & smoky-green, not heavy whatsoever, & definitely draws you in. excited to see how this one develops, but so far my nose is finding @Aveline's review spot on. edit: as time progresses the juniper definitely fades and the sweetness increases. this will pair so well with cigarettes unfortunately ;/

as other people have said, this scent is truly etheral, witchy, mysterious. the fainest bit of smoke with a sexy jasmine/wormwood heart. it almost has a candied/licorice note- i'm thinking black jack gum? it's like a pot of mulled wine meets a walk through a wooded path at nightfall. marissa never misses!!