50ml
50ml
50ml
MARISSA ZAPPAS
CHING SHIH
Eau De Parfum
Unisex
Sizes
Starting
$190
Description
Ching Shih by Marissa Zappas is an intriguing fragrance that paints an olfactive portrait of the legendary pirate queen. It opens with a distinctive blend of spices and a unique gunpowder accord, setting a bold and unconventional tone. As it develops, the scent reveals a watery, elusive quality, with the delicate sweetness of osmanthus intertwining with the earthy depth of orris and the resinous warmth of myrrh. The incense note provides a smoky, contemplative backdrop, making it a scent that feels both powerful and subtly mysterious. Perfumer: Marissa Zappas
Scent Profile
Smoky
Spicy
Woody
Floral
Incense
Resinous
Notes
Middle Notes
Spicy Notes
Osmanthus
OrrisIncense
Gunpowder
MyrrhAbout 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
Community Insights
Reviewers often find Ching Shih to be a subtle yet compelling fragrance that cleverly interprets its pirate inspiration without being overtly aggressive. Many appreciate its high quality and unique blend of notes, noting its wearable nature despite the intriguing concept. It's seen as a scent that evolves on the skin, offering different facets throughout its wear.
Pros
Quality composition: Reviewers consistently praise the high quality of the ingredients and the thoughtful blending, noting it smells expensive and well-crafted.
Unique interpretation: The fragrance is lauded for its creative and subtle take on the 'pirate' theme, incorporating notes like gunpowder in an unexpected, non-metallic way.
Wearable complexity: Despite its complex profile, many find it surprisingly wearable for various occasions, not being overly challenging or 'weird'.
Cons
Moderate longevity and projection: Some reviewers mention that the fragrance has low-ish longevity and projection, suggesting it sits closer to the skin.
Situational wearability: One review suggests it might be too warm or 'cloying' for hot summer weather, implying it's better suited for cooler temperatures.
Comparisons
Similar to Amouage Sunshine: Reviewers note a similarity to Amouage Sunshine, particularly in the sweet, apricot-like quality of the osmanthus note.
Vibe & Emotions
Intriguing and Elusive: The scent evokes a sense of mystery and elusiveness, fitting the legendary pirate theme with its watery and shadowy facets.
Powerful and Masterful: It embodies a feeling of power and being in control of one's destiny, reflecting the strength of its namesake.
Nostalgic and Cool: Some find it evokes a sense of nostalgia for youth or a 'cool girl' vibe, particularly with its clean yet edgy character.
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