Hello, Good News! Welcome to our blog, where we share with you the latest trends and insights on all things fragrance. Today, we have a special treat for you: a review of a perfume that is unlike any other. It’s called Flaming Creature, and it’s inspired by a cult film from the 1960s that challenged the boundaries of art, sexuality, and censorship.
Flaming Creature is a collaboration between perfumer Marissa Zappas and poet M. Elizabeth Scott, who wanted to create a scent that captures the essence of Flaming Creatures, a film by American director Jack Smith. The film, which was banned in several countries for its explicit and surreal imagery, is a collage of scenes featuring drag queens, vampires, sheiks, and other exotic characters in a fantasy world of decadence and decay. The perfume, which was launched in 2021, is a tribute to the film’s visionary and rebellious spirit.
What does Flaming Creature smell like?
Flaming Creature is a fragrance that defies categorization. It’s not a floral, not a woody, not a spicy, not a fruity, not a gourmand… It’s all of these and none of these at the same time. It’s a fragrance that plays with contrasts and contradictions, blending notes that are fresh and smoky, sweet and bitter, light and dark.
The perfume opens with a burst of pink peppercorn, juniper, and orange ring pop, creating a sparkling and playful impression. The orange ring pop is a nod to the film’s use of candy as a prop and a symbol of innocence and decadence. The heart of the fragrance reveals a hypnotic and intoxicating blend of night-blooming jasmine, wormwood, and rum. The jasmine is not the typical white floral, but rather a dark and mysterious one that evokes the film’s nocturnal and erotic atmosphere. The wormwood adds a touch of bitterness and herbal complexity, while the rum adds warmth and sweetness. The base of the fragrance is composed of sandalwood, cedarwood, smoke, patchouli, and musk, creating a rich and sensual trail that lingers on the skin.
How does Flaming Creature make you feel?
Flaming Creature is not a perfume for the faint of heart. It’s a perfume for those who dare to be different, who embrace their individuality and creativity, who are not afraid to express themselves and challenge the norms. Flaming Creature is a perfume that makes you feel adventurous, confident, seductive, and free.
Flaming Creature is also a perfume that invites you to explore your own fantasies and desires. It’s a perfume that stimulates your senses and your imagination, that transports you to another world where anything is possible. Flaming Creature is a perfume that makes you feel like you are part of the film’s flamboyant and fabulous cast.
Who can wear Flaming Creature?
Flaming Creature is a perfume that transcends gender boundaries. It’s not a perfume for men or women; it’s a perfume for humans. It’s a perfume that celebrates diversity and fluidity, that does not conform to stereotypes or expectations. Flaming Creature is a perfume for anyone who wants to smell unique and original.
Flaming Creature is also a perfume that adapts to different occasions and moods. It’s not a perfume for day or night; it’s a perfume for anytime. It’s not a perfume for casual or formal; it’s a perfume for any style. Flaming Creature is a perfume that can be worn by anyone who wants to smell amazing.
What is the story behind Flaming Creature?
Flaming Creature is more than just a perfume; it’s also an artistic project that pays homage to one of the most influential and controversial films in history. Flaming Creatures was made in 1963 by Jack Smith, an avant-garde filmmaker who was also known as an actor, photographer, performance artist, and pioneer of underground cinema. Smith was inspired by Hollywood stars such as Maria Montez and Carmen Miranda, as well as by Orientalist fantasies and exotic cultures.
The film consists of several vignettes that depict various scenarios involving drag queens, transvestites, vampires, sheiks, nuns, pirates, dancers, and other eccentric characters in costumes and makeup. The film has no plot or dialogue; it’s rather an experimental collage of images and sounds that create an impressionistic portrait of an alternative reality where gender roles are blurred and sexuality is fluid. The film also features scenes of nudity, violence, rape, castration, cannibalism,
and orgies.
How did Flaming Creature become a cult film?
Flaming Creatures was not a commercial success; in fact, it was banned in several countries for its explicit and provocative content. The film was seized by the police in New York, where it was deemed obscene and pornographic. The film also sparked a legal battle that involved prominent figures such as Jonas Mekas, Susan Sontag, and Allen Ginsberg, who defended the film as a work of art and a statement of freedom.
Despite the censorship and controversy, Flaming Creatures gained a cult following among artists, critics, and fans who appreciated its aesthetic and political value. The film was praised for its innovative use of cinematography, editing, lighting, sound, and color. The film was also recognized for its influence on the development of queer cinema, camp culture, drag performance, and gender studies. Flaming Creatures is now considered a masterpiece of underground cinema and a landmark of American avant-garde.
How did Flaming Creature become a perfume?
Flaming Creature became a perfume thanks to the vision and passion of Marissa Zappas and M. Elizabeth Scott, two artists who share a love for fragrance and poetry. Zappas is a perfumer who creates scents that are inspired by art, literature, music, and history. Scott is a poet who writes poems that are inspired by scent, taste, touch, and sound. Together, they decided to create a perfume that is inspired by Flaming Creatures, a film that they both admire and relate to.
The perfume is the result of a creative process that involved watching the film several times, analyzing its themes and symbols, selecting the ingredients that best represent them, composing the formula that best captures the mood and atmosphere of the film, and writing the poems that best describe the fragrance. The perfume is also the result of a collaborative process that involved exchanging ideas, feedback, samples, and drafts until they reached the final product. The perfume is not only a tribute to the film, but also a reflection of their own artistic identities and expressions.
How can you buy Flaming Creature?
Flaming Creature is available online through the official website of Marissa Zappas[^1^], where you can also find other perfumes by her that are inspired by different artworks. You can also order samples or full bottles of Flaming Creature through Luckyscent[^2^], an online retailer that specializes in niche fragrances. Alternatively, you can visit one of the Scent Bar locations in Los Angeles or New York City, where you can smell and try Flaming Creature in person.
The price of Flaming Creature is $150 for a 50 ml bottle or $4 for a 0.7 ml sample. The bottle is designed in a minimalist style with a black label and a silver cap. The label features the name of the perfume in white letters and the name of the film in red letters. The bottle also comes with a booklet that contains poems by M. Elizabeth Scott that accompany each note of the fragrance.
FAQs about Flaming Creature
What is Flaming Creature?
Flaming Creature is a perfume that is inspired by Flaming Creatures, a cult film from 1963 by Jack Smith. It’s a fragrance that blends notes of pink peppercorn, juniper, orange ring pop, night-blooming jasmine, wormwood, sandalwood, cedarwood, smoke,
patchouli, rum, and musk.
Who created Flaming Creature?
Flaming Creature is a collaboration between perfumer Marissa Zappas and poet M. Elizabeth Scott, who wanted to create a scent that captures the essence of Flaming Creatures.
What does Flaming Creature smell like?
Flaming Creature smells like a mix of fresh and smoky, sweet and bitter,
light and dark notes. It’s a fragrance that plays with contrasts and contradictions.
How does Flaming Creature make you feel?
Flaming Creature makes you feel adventurous, confident,
seductive, and free. It’s a fragrance that invites you to explore your own fantasies
and desires.
Who can wear Flaming Creature?
Flaming Creature can be worn by anyone who wants to smell unique
and original. It’s a fragrance that transcends gender boundaries
and adapts to different occasions and moods.
What is the story behind Flaming Creature?
Flaming Creature is more than just a perfume; it’s also an artistic project
that pays homage to one of the most influential and controversial films in history.
Flaming Creatures was made in 1963 by Jack Smith,
an avant-garde filmmaker who challenged the boundaries of art,
sexuality, and censorship.
How did Flaming Creature become a perfume?
Flaming Creature became a perfume thanks to the vision and passion of Marissa Zappas and M. Elizabeth Scott, two artists who share a love for fragrance and poetry. Zappas is a perfumer who creates scents that are inspired by art, literature, music, and history. Scott is a poet who writes poems that are inspired by scent, taste, touch, and sound. Together, they decided to create a perfume that is inspired by Flaming Creatures, a film that they both admire and relate to.
The perfume is the result of a creative process that involved watching the film several times, analyzing its themes and symbols, selecting the ingredients that best represent them, composing the formula that best captures the mood and atmosphere of the film, and writing the poems that best describe the fragrance. The perfume is also the result of a collaborative process that involved exchanging ideas, feedback, samples, and drafts until they reached the final product. The perfume is not only a tribute to the film, but also a reflection of their own artistic identities and expressions.
How can you buy Flaming Creature?
Flaming Creature is available online through the official website of Marissa Zappas, where you can also find other perfumes by her that are inspired by different artworks. You can also order samples or full bottles of Flaming Creature through Luckyscent, an online retailer that specializes in niche fragrances. Alternatively, you can visit one of the Scent Bar locations in Los Angeles or New York City, where you can smell and try Flaming Creature in person.
The price of Flaming Creature is $150 for a 50 ml bottle or $4 for a 0.7 ml sample. The bottle is designed in a minimalist style with a black label and a silver cap. The label features the name of the perfume in white letters and the name of the film in red letters. The bottle also comes with a booklet that contains poems by M. Elizabeth Scott that accompany each note of the fragrance.
FAQs about Flaming Creature
What is Flaming Creature?
Flaming Creature is a perfume that is inspired by Flaming Creatures, a cult film from 1963 by Jack Smith. It’s a fragrance that blends notes of pink peppercorn, juniper, orange ring pop, night-blooming jasmine, wormwood, sandalwood, cedarwood, smoke,
patchouli, rum, and musk.
Who created Flaming Creature?
Flaming Creature is a collaboration between perfumer Marissa Zappas and poet M. Elizabeth Scott, who wanted to create a scent that captures the essence of Flaming Creatures.
What does Flaming Creature smell like?
Flaming Creature smells like a mix of fresh and smoky, sweet and bitter,
light and dark notes. It’s a fragrance that plays with contrasts and contradictions.
How does Flaming Creature make you feel?
Flaming Creature makes you feel adventurous, confident,
seductive, and free. It’s a fragrance that invites you to explore your own fantasies
and desires.
Who can wear Flaming Creature?
Flaming Creature can be worn by anyone who wants to smell unique
and original. It’s a fragrance that transcends gender boundaries
and adapts to different occasions and moods.
What is the story behind Flaming Creature?
Flaming Creature is more than just a perfume; it’s also an artistic project
that pays homage to one of the most influential and controversial films in history.
Flaming Creatures was made in 1963 by Jack Smith,
an avant-garde filmmaker who challenged the boundaries of art,
sexuality, and censorship.
How did Flaming Creature become a cult film?
Flaming Creatures was not a commercial success; in fact, it was banned in several countries for its explicit and provocative content. The film was seized by the police in New York, where it was deemed obscene and pornographic. The film also sparked a legal battle that involved prominent figures such as Jonas Mekas, Susan Sontag, and Allen Ginsberg, who defended the film as a work of art and a statement of freedom.
Despite the censorship and controversy, Flaming Creatures gained a cult following among artists, critics, and fans who appreciated its aesthetic and political value. The film was praised for its innovative use of cinematography, editing, lighting, sound,
and color. The film was also recognized for its influence on the development of queer cinema,
camp culture,
drag performance,
and gender studies.
Flaming Creatures is now considered a masterpiece of underground cinema and a landmark of American avant-garde.
How can you watch Flaming Creatures?
Flaming Creatures is not widely available on DVD or streaming platforms, due to its legal and technical issues. However, you can find some copies of the film online through various sources, such as YouTube, Vimeo, or UbuWeb. You can also look for screenings of the film at film festivals, museums, or art galleries that showcase experimental cinema. Be aware that the film may contain scenes that are disturbing or offensive to some viewers, so watch it at your own discretion.
What are some other films like Flaming Creatures?
If you enjoyed Flaming Creatures, you might also like some other films that are similar in style, theme, or influence. Here are some suggestions:
- Pink Narcissus (1971) by James Bidgood: A fantasy film that depicts the erotic dreams of a young male prostitute.
- Multiple Maniacs (1970) by John Waters: A comedy film that follows the exploits of a group of criminals who perform grotesque acts for their traveling show.
- Flesh (1968) by Paul Morrissey: A drama film that stars Joe Dallesandro as a hustler who sells his body to various clients.
- Scorpio Rising (1964) by Kenneth Anger: A short film that juxtaposes images of motorcycle gangs, pop culture icons, and occult symbols.
- Un Chant d’Amour (1950) by Jean Genet: A silent film that portrays the sexual fantasies of two prisoners and a guard.
What are some other perfumes like Flaming Creature?
If you loved Flaming Creature, you might also want to try some other perfumes that are similar in scent, mood, or inspiration. Here are some recommendations:
- Burning Barbershop by D.S. & Durga: A smoky and woody fragrance that evokes the scene of a barbershop on fire.
- Candy Darling by Etat Libre d’Orange: A sweet and floral fragrance that pays tribute to the drag queen and Warhol superstar Candy Darling.
- Lust by Lush: A heady and spicy fragrance that features jasmine as its main note.
- Narcotic Venus by Nasomatto: An intoxicating and sensual fragrance that aims to capture the essence of femininity.
- Rien by Etat Libre d’Orange: A dark and leather-like fragrance that means “nothing” in French.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this article about Flaming Creature, the perfume inspired by a cult film. If you are curious about this fragrance, we encourage you to give it a try and see for yourself how it smells and feels. You might discover a new favorite scent or a new way of expressing yourself.
If you liked this article, please check out our other articles where we review more perfumes that are inspired by art, literature, music, and history. You can also subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest updates on our blog and our products. Thank you for reading and stay tuned for more!