50ml
50ml
MARISSA ZAPPAS
CARNIVAL OF SOULS
Eau De Parfum
Unisex
Sizes
Starting
$190
Description
Carnival of Souls is a haunting olfactory portrait of the 1962 cult classic horror film, capturing the ethereal tension between beauty and darkness, life and death. Opening with creamy mimosa and amber that evoke powdery softness reminiscent of luxe body cream, the fragrance gradually reveals its darker side through incense, patchouli, and melancholic hints of decaying florals—creating an intoxicating interplay of tenderness and uncanniness. Reviewers describe it as simultaneously "a comforting kiss" and "a dance with the devil," a morbid beauty that feels like stepping into a vintage 1950s-60s reverie. The creamy coconut character adds an unsettling yet seductive dimension that lingers like a ghostly embrace. This artistic creation masterfully translates cinematic atmosphere into scent, blending fantasy with gothic elegance. Created by Marissa Zappas for unisex wear.
Scent Profile
Powdery
Creamy
Incense
Amber
Dark Floral
Vintage
Melancholic
Gothic
Notes
Top Notes
Mimosa Cream
AmberMiddle Notes
Violet
Saffron
Coconut
VanillaIncense
Base Notes
Patchouli
MuskAmberAbout MARISSA ZAPPAS
Marissa Zappas is a perfumer, scent designer, and poet based in New York City, whose ethereal and nostalgic fragrances blend fantasy, reality, the gothic, and the modern, drawing from her anthropology background and admiration for early 20th-century avant-garde perfumes. Her signature Redamance collection, launched in 2022, features olfactive portraits of overlooked historical women like Imperia La Divina, Ching Shih, and Queen Nzinga, using notes that reflect their eras, personalities, and environments to connect past and present through perfumery. What makes her unique is this poetic, anthropological approach, creating personal and collaborative scents that evoke history, death, and sensory transport.
Perfumer
Marissa Zappas
Marissa Zappas is a New York City-based independent perfumer, writer, and poet whose approach merges her anthropology background with admiration for early 20th-century avant-garde perfumes. She trained at Givaudan, starting as a receptionist and apprenticing under master perfumer Olivier Gillotin for two years before freelancing in 2017, and holds an M.A. exploring perfume's history, death attitudes, and cemetery construction. Her ethereal, nostalgic fragrances like Annabel’s Birthday Cake blend fantasy and reality, gothic and modern, often through collaborations with NYC artists and projects like co-founding Gumamina with Courtney Rafuse.
Reviews
4.8
Excellent5 reviews
Luckyscent
5.0/5 • 1 reviews
Ministry of Scent
4.8/5 • 4 reviews
Community Insights
Fragrance enthusiasts and film fans praise Carnival of Souls as an exceptional artistic achievement that beautifully captures the essence of the 1962 horror film through olfactory language. The consensus celebrates its unique ability to balance softness with an eerie, ghostly quality—simultaneously comforting and unsettling. However, some reviewers note the scent's subtlety may not deliver the impact expected, with longevity and projection being points of consideration.
Pros
Artistic excellence: Successfully translates cinematic atmosphere into fragrance with sophisticated complexity that appeals to both fragrance enthusiasts and film fans
Captivating paradox: The creamy mimosa opening beautifully contrasts with darker incense and patchouli notes, creating a memorable 'creepy coconut' character that feels both intimate and off-putting
Vintage aesthetic: Evokes a luxe 1950s-60s perfume sensibility that feels nostalgic and elegant, with the creaminess reminiscent of high-quality body products
Cons
Subtlety concerns: Some wearers find the fragrance too delicate and fleeting, questioning whether it delivers sufficient longevity and projection for the price point
Polarizing character: The dark floral notes and ghostly decay elements may not appeal to those seeking purely beautiful or conventionally pleasant fragrances
Comparisons
Similar to Marissa Zappas' other conceptual fragrances: Maintains her signature ability to blend modern and ancient olfactory influences with artistic vision
Reminds reviewers of vintage luxury fragrances: The creamy lactonic opening and incense base echo classic mid-century perfumery, though with a distinctly contemporary artistic twist
Vibe & Emotions
Feminine ghostliness: Evokes the sensation of existing between two worlds—simultaneously ethereal, vulnerable, and mysteriously powerful
Morbid beauty: Creates a contemplative, slightly unsettling mood that celebrates survival and transcendence of human experience
Cinematic escapism: Transports wearers into the psychological landscape of the film, blending reality with haunted fantasy
Similar Products
Fragrance marketplace for the scent-obsessed.