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!!

I am obsessed with this! Who knew wormwood could impart something so magical onto the jasmine. Warm/spicy/sweet/sexy/... Like a New Orleans nightclub singer sucking on hard candy and sipping a sazerac in a smoky vinyl booth between sets. Fun bad girl scent....Knowing and naughty.

A smokey, floral scent that combines a synthetic sweetness with an organic spice, this absolutely reflects the titular film's own balance of camp fantasia and dangerous carnality. It makes me feel glamorous and cheap all at once, in all the right ways.

"hard candy" in the suggestive way...sweet kisses from a lover who slips an orange lozenge under your tongue; sweet smoky scent on her jacket as the two of you speed through the night ... and dirty jasmine, just the way i like it.

She's mysterious, she's sexy, she's alluring. Glass of moscato on a nice spring day and when you light a stick of incense the candied smoke kisses you on the lips. The drydown is simply irresistible. Def worth a full bottle

Really lovely, elegant jasmine-heavy scent with just a bit of sweetness. I imagine walking around on a warm summer night and running into friends at every turn

This is the kind of smokiness I crave in a fragrance. It feels luxurious and full bodied, and the jasmine sits so well in that bubble. So hot, so gorg. Love.

Personally, this fragrance evokes memories of warm, smoky bonfires on a crisp night at the beach in the PNW, where the forest meets the sea.

The equivalent of sitting several feet away upwind from a bonfire in an evergreen forest while eating Mike & Ikes. Love.

This is probably what Maria smells like in Silent Hill 2

Applies harmonious warm amber and fresh watery green. Faint white musk makes you feel at home. Sun warmed wood and papyrus builds. Spice is so slight, but only makes it more cozy. Evolves a lot until airy moss contrasts caramel warmth and pleasantly burnt sugar. I thought I didn't care for gourmand, but this is irresistibly yummy in a classy way. Reading the elements, I do get orange, juniper, rum, and faint smoke. All of which blend well and are uniquely likable. It's good and worth trying. Even though the sweetness isn't too much, it is too safe for me. 1ST REVIEW: Deeply pungent jasmine is NOT light or feminine. Instead; rich and masculine like gently smoked sandalwood. Exactly what I imagine when picturing the perfect flower note for men. Heady with incense spice. Applying a good amount projects lightly and stays closer to skin than preferred. Sexy, cool, and intimate. After an hour, a spiced vanilla comes and goes in place of the jasmine and green/floral. Through the dry down it bounces between good and generic. Warm spice lingers in a cozy way. Worth trying, but not perfect. Still a safe blind buy.

I tried this on a test strip at Scent Bar and I was bewitched. It was orange candy with a little bite of pepper (like a Sicilian citrus salad) that dried down to reveal a mysterious, entrancing smoke scent. Not like a campfire but more of a fresh, outdoor smoke, like smelling a controlled burn from miles away. I thought about it Flaming Creature for months and finally got it, and ended up disappointed with its scent on my skin. It's mostly a dusty, dry jasmine on me. No orange ring pop, no pink pepper, no incense, no smoke. It's redeemed by the complex dry down: I think I'm getting the sandalwood, and the wormwood lends it a sweet medicinal/boozy flavor. This is growing on me, but it's not what I expected. It's a Southern cemetery at midnight, humid but chilly. Still mist hangs around jasmine vines, obscuring someone just out of your view.

She is a vision from another time, a vintage femme fatale under the golden embrace of the sun, reflections dancing like fractured light in a Fernand Léger painting, all movement and allure. a film noir heroine caught in the sunlight for the first time. a Marlène Dietrich gesture in a Joan Crawford silhouette. deliberate brushstrokes of a Tamara de Lempicka painting, bold and utterly feminine. Everyone watches her, drawn by the magnetic pull of her presence. She doesn’t need to acknowledge the stares; she knows they’re there, just as she knows this moment will linger in memory like the final chord of a timeless symphony. This is more than a day at the beach. It’s a tableau of femininity and power, sunlit yet shadowed

I could imagine Daisy Jones wearing this. The flowers wear quite light, and I only get minimal sweetness. No hairspray headache white florals here. After opening up on the skin I get an attractive patchouli and more of an incense quality than a true smokiness. Overall it comes off a bit soapy, but in an atmospheric way, like there is a french milled bar sitting on the counter. This creates something both sultry and old-fashioned, clean yet dirty. Comfortable and pretty in a way that makes me think of well-loved lace undergarments. This isn't normally the type of scent I gravitate towards, but I like it. I'm not getting much throw, which almost makes it more addictive, as it leaves you to come in for another whiff.

Captivating at first sniff! Intoxicating, enchanting jasmine! This fragrance exudes an aura of mystery and magic. I envision myself meandering through a jasmine garden, adorned in a flowing white satin gown, under the canvas of a perfectly clear evening sky. This is the perfect choice for those special evenings when you want to captivate and make an indelible impression. To all fellow jasmine enthusiasts, this is an absolute must-have!

This is a better quality version of Commodity’s Velvet, or a more wearable MMM By the Fireplace (with a jasmine twist). Woody, Smokey, incensey, a touch sweet. Intriguing and sexy evening scent. It's unisex but I'd say if you want a more feminine version of a scent with some smokiness, this is a good option.

Beautiful scent. I get a sweet creamy sandalwood with florals, juniper, cedar & slight rum. Different to anything i own in my large collection. Unfortunately i just don’t reach for it. I have a bottle for sale in Australia. Please message me if you are interested.

a humid and intimate jasmine that veers slightly skanky. a disorienting fever dream of walking through a jasmine garden with a fistful of orange hard candies in one hand and a pack of cigarettes in the other.

This reminds me of obsession from the 90s or maybe it just reminds me of that eras seductress perfumes. it’s a gorgeous white floral with a Smokey exotic background, it would likely stand out on a night out

dark green. kind of thick and paste-y

Dank patchouli with spidery tendrils of smoke and heady rum. To my mind’s nose this is what Calypso’s hideaway in Pirates of the Caribbean smells like. A cavort-naked-in-the-woods and seduce-the-local-magistrate scent, for any gender. It’s atmospheric af. One of the most beautiful (and frustrating) aspects of fragrance is the way some notes will be invisible to some wearers but dominating to others. I think I lucked out with Flaming Creature, as I get none of the dusty or soapy notes others found. While the jasmine lasted me only an hour, the smoky rum lingered and the patchouli haunted my jacket through the following day. My lifestyle lends little opportunity for cavorting or seduction (and I'm not a big patchouli gal) so I’ll be passing on the full bottle, but look forward to costume parties with this sampler. Mental Snapshot: A wooden network of taverns and apothecaries lofted in a mangrove forest. The haven of an Everglades Baba Yaga. Revellers twine under curtains of rainwater-glazed jasmine, spirits kindled by fiery moonshine and occult tinctures. tl;dr: tonight’s hot new aesthetic is *rolls dice* sexy pirate swamp witch 🐊🥃

Sample 5/2024 - first one I tried the collection. I liked it a lot on the initial spray kind of green earthy patchouli. Theres a lightness that gives it a ethereal feel. Thing is it really doesn’t project too much at all on my skin. It just is super close. I have to really dig my nose in to get anything out of it. On the dry down, I love the wet, musty characteristic that develops. Reminds me of an old basement with some old books that have been there for years. The pages are bit damp and have this smell it’s cool but would love a lot more if it projected a bit better.

I only used a small amount of a sample I got, but I was unimpressed considering the love this fragrance has received. I got the orange in the opening which I don't typically go for, but I was here for the middle and base notes. The jasmine entered briefly and weakly and it settled into a slightly soapy/sterile sandalwood. Perhaps that was the rum? The smoke and patchouli did not make their presence known, which was disappointing. Perhaps I need to test it more but I honestly don't have much interest in doing so. I suspect it just doesn't wear well on my skin.

Things not listed in the notes that I'm getting: something licorice, anise-like, maybe truffle like. It reminds me of Tom Ford's Black Orchid quite a bit, which also has the jasmine notes. The vague hints of fruitiness don't read well to me with the other scents--almost rotten--but disappear in the dry down. At that point a bit of the smoke emerges but it's very subtle, especially compared to something like By the Fireplace from Maison Margiela. Interesting, if not for me. Sillage is very mild, especially compared to Tom Ford Black Orchid however.

This smells weak to me. I get the different wood notes over everything else. I get the pink pepper next and faint juniper berry. This smells more masculine. Nothing special about this.

The opening is citrus, pine, and pink pepper in equal parts. An herbal, resiny and sweet opening. Then, bitter herbs and jasmine follows, still accompanied by the resiny notes. The drydown is resinous woods and touches of smoke and rum. Bitter herbs and resiny woods, with a lemony touch. Patchouli and smoky woods. This is very light and lackluster. It's likeable but light. It's just too weak.

Starts wonderful. Smoky sweetness. Mystery. About 30 minutes in though, my skin began turning this beautiful opening into something flatter. Sweet, but with a slight tinge of burning rubber. Just for another 30 minutes or so. Drydown has a brightness to it, with an underscent of smoky woods. Enchanted. Love @byrehoe’s review.

This little number disappeared in no time flat, except for a hint of something peppery. Not worth wearing the rest of the sample

Jelly candy, smoke, tangy orange and jasmine. For the first 10 minutes a sweet, spicy candy-like concoction unfurls on your skin with a smoke that lightly resembles burnt rubber tires (which I initially took as oud or leather before I read the notes). The smoke then settles down after 10 minutes and you get the zingy/tangy jelly candy and the Jasmine blooms. It is the pretty jasmine that is in Lush's Lust perfume. If you want a rough mental idea of how this may smell, imagine you mixed Lush's Lust with the candy-like sweetness of Lord of Misrule and then added some burn-out smoke. I can definitely see why this one is so hyped. It gives feral feminine energy. Both cutesy and punk. Unusual but playful. EDIT to add: longevity is unfortunately very poor, couldn't smell this at all on me after a few hours and I sprayed about 8 sprays all over before I went to work

Grandma dancing at a bar? Your ex? Witches around a cauldron? Okay, I HAD to try this for myself! As a "flaming creature" it's rather sharp and cool, at first, but becomes warm in a subtle way later. It does not have a floral character, even if there are certainly floral notes. Immediately I felt a cool fall fragrance, but the orange was throwing me. That goes away with the dry down and the jasmin, woods, and patch are apparent. I know everyone says this these days, but this is absolutely, truly 100% unisex. There's something calming and contemplative about this, in an interesting, adult, but not too somber way. The impression is that you've stepped inside a cool, dark mahogany laden bar in a dusty, sun blasted cowboy town and drank a gin and tonic that spreads a tiny bit of warm drunkeness all around.

I wore this perfume every day last fall. It has been one of the perfumes I've gotten the most compliments for, even from people who say they don't like perfume. It's friendly enough that you can wear it daily, but interesting and layered so that it doesn't become boring. It was a blind buy and at first I wasn't sure if it was for me... it was my first true jasmine scent and I had to familiarize myself with this powerful flower. I'm glad I bought it without testing, because had I smelled a sample I might have been intimidated to commit to buying it. It's so wonderfully unique and now every time I smell it it takes me back to the dreamy experiences I had last fall when I wore it.