Marissa Zappas, perfumer for Marissa Zappas Paradise Edition and Rachel Rabbit White, poet © Julia Comita

Porn Carnival and Tinkerbell seems like an impossible phrase until you read the one and remember the other. In Paradise Edition perfumer Marissa Zappas collaborated with poet Rachel Rabbit White to create a fragrance inspired by  Rachel Rabbit White’s book of poetry, Porn Carnival: Paradise Edition. Marissa Zappas Paradise Edition is a beautiful fragrance in its own right, but as a companion to Rabbit White’s book, it is inspired.

Rachel Rabbit White and the perfume she created with Marissa Zappas (l-r: © Jen Senn, @ Julia Comita)

I wore Marissa Zappas Paradise Edition before reading the book. At first spray it felt exciting. Bright and sparkly. Optimistic and a little glamorous. That glamor came from the sense of a salt mist that jumps around on top of the sparkle. If you’ve ever been sailing in full sail, you’ll know that thrilling feeling of quick sea mist on your face. I was sad when the glittery open started to disappear, but it had to so I’d recognize the beautiful floral perfume underneath.

A stream of white florals pours over the wearer. (Left © Jen Senn)

 

I couldn’t separate the individual notes; it was a compact, but not heavy, ball of white white florals. After some time though, the tight bouquet loosened and I teased out different notes, orange flower poking out farthest. As the florals became airier and more lightened, something gently tugged on my mind.

Memories of innocence

Then a memory floated into view: daintily dabbing on a cologne from Tinkerbell. If you were a little girl in the 1970s, you’ll remember those products. I can’t conjure up what it really smelled like, but my grown-up mind has projected a beautiful watery, orange blossom scent. My memory also saw myself buying a Tinkerbell trio set for myself with First Holy Communion money. That’s the sort of innocence I’ve attached to it. The airy floral phase didn’t last forever, but the dry down did stay with me for a long time. For hours the powdery, white-musky jasmine smelled like skin – warm, moist skin. When I woke up the next morning it definitely had that “morning after” feel.

Precious gifts of poetry and perfume © Julia Comita

I put on Marissa Zappas Paradise Edition” to read Rachel Rabbit White’s book, Porn Carnival. As the pages followed one after another I noticed themes in both the perfume and the poems – water, air, want, sparkle, innocence. I came upon words and phrases that Marissa had written into her perfume.

Swarovski liquid dust

Citrus and salt top notes

 

If there is anything more hedonistic

than a poem

I’ve yet to feel it

like the view through a satin peephole

like a bath too good to drain

                Dense white floral arrangement

 

we of soft bodies

enclosed by petals

                The heart notes unfolding

 

who’s to say what’s to become

a memory

and what’s

just gravitational

the moon pulls water toward it

how delicate

Innocent orange blossom

 

how perverse

how optimistic

white sheets were

                Last hours of the dry down

 

 

Certainly, you could wear Marissa Zappas Paradise Edition without reading Porn Carnival, or the other way around, but the pleasure wouldn’t be as intense.

Notes: bergamot, jasmine, lily of the valley, musk,  olibanum, tea,  orange flower, orris,  saltwater

Disclaimer: Many thanks to Marissa Zappas for the sample of Paradise Edition” and to Rachel Rabbit White for the copy of Porn Carnival: Paradise Edition.

– Marianne Butler, Sr. Contributor

Each 50 mL eau de parfum bottle contains five authentic freshwater pearls and comes with its own satin pouch featuring a phrase of Rachel Rabbit White’s poetry. © Julia Comita

Thanks to the generosity of Marissa Zappas, we have a draw for a 50ml bottle of Paradise Edition in its satin pouch (value: $80) for one registered reader in North America. You must register here or your comment will not count. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying with what you enjoyed about Marianne’s review  and where you live. Draw closes May 24, 2021

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Paradise Edition” available for purchase at www.MarissaZappas.com

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