Captivating Inspiration from Brooklyn Botanical Garden‘s Corpse Flower
In late January, crowds in New York lined up at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden to witness the rare bloom of the putrid Amorphophallus gigas, also known as the Corpse Flower. This plant, affectionately named ‘Smelliot’ by the garden staff, emits a stench resembling carrion to attract pollinators and only blooms for a few days. However, its notorious odor, reminiscent of a resurrected fragrance, had a transformative impact on perfumer David Seth Moltz.
Moltz, co-founder of DS & Durga, a celebrated New York fragrance brand, was inspired by this olfactory experience. “I timed my visit perfectly at peak stink,” Moltz recalls. “The aroma was complex with layers of cheese, garbage, and rotten fish.” Remarkably, Moltz, who experiences synesthesia, found this scent to spark vivid visual images, influencing his perfume-making process.
Explore how nature inspires design efforts with Harvest Moon Table crafted from local biomaterials.
The Creation of Moltz’s Unique Fragrance
The result of Moltz’s visionary process is the Resurrected Corpse Flower perfume. This ds & durga fragrance is an intriguing contrast to its odorous inspiration. While Smelliot smells of decay, this creation exudes freshness with notes of bog cedar, lily, and tuberose. “It’s a balance of contrasts,” Moltz explains. Ingredients include green olive, grapefruit, tuberose, and green banana, crafting an aroma reminiscent of a “sexy swamp.”
An Intriguing Invitation for Flower Enthusiasts
With its unique blend, the perfume beckons both plant enthusiasts and those intrigued by unusual scents. While Smelliot’s intriguing bloom occurs only once every few years, Moltz’s creation offers an enduring opportunity to experience the allure of nature’s oddities.
Source: wallpaper.com
Frequently asked questions
What inspired the creation of the Resurrected Corpse Flower perfume?
The rare bloom of the putrid Amorphophallus gigas, known as the Corpse Flower, at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden inspired perfumer David Seth Moltz. Its complex aroma with layers of cheese, garbage, and rotten fish sparked vivid visual images influencing his perfume-making process.
How does the Resurrected Corpse Flower perfume differ from its inspiration?
While the Corpse Flower smells of decay, the Resurrected Corpse Flower perfume exudes freshness with notes of bog cedar, lily, and tuberose. It creates an aroma reminiscent of a ‘sexy swamp’ with ingredients like green olive, grapefruit, tuberose, and green banana.
Who might be drawn to the Resurrected Corpse Flower perfume?
The perfume beckons both plant enthusiasts and those intrigued by unusual scents. It offers an enduring opportunity to experience the allure of nature’s oddities beyond the rare bloom of the Corpse Flower.