Smell like Neil Gaiman
Inspiration comes from all places. Shadow and light. Dreams and literature. Sights, sounds, tastes, touches. Smells. For a Gothic perfumery in California, Neil Gaiman has inspired an entire line of scents. Characters from American Gods, Stardust, Anansi Boys and Good Omens are invoked in their own special perfumes. All proceeds go to supporting the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.
When I think of the Danse Macabre and Gaiman’s gothic persona, I think of grave dirt, burial shrouds and cemetery tea parties. Or maybe that’s because I just listened to him read The GRAVEYARD BOOK. Fellow book-lover Shannon, who turned me onto the Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, has only good things to say about their scents. She owns and recommends Mama Ji.
MAMA-JI
Shadow saw the old woman, her dark face pinched with age and disapproval, but behind her he saw something huge, a naked woman with skin as black as a new leather jacket, and lips and tongue the bright red of arterial blood. Around her neck were skulls, and her many hands held knives, and swords, and severed heads.Spices, cardamom, nutmeg, and flowers.
I am also quite intrigued by the company’s other lines, including Phoenix Steamworks, Dragon, and Alice in Wonderland. Just reading the descriptions of the perfumes makes my brain begin to weave and plot.
PHOENIX STEAMWORKS
Glowing liquid passes through the fogged retorts of ancient alembics, sparks fly from behind a massive workbench, and a cloud of thick incense smoke hangs low, all casting strange and surreal flashes of light and shadow on tall bolted-steel walls. The chug and hum of gargantuan machines echo through the chamber.Burnished gold and oiled bronze notes with Abramelin incense and sage.
Where do you go for inspiration? What senses do you rely on most when writing? Do you dream about the books you read? Do your characters scurry into your brain at night, clutching at your soul, crying “write me! write me! write me!”?
What’s your favorite Neil Gaiman book/movie?
Tags: Black Phoenix Labs, literary inspiration, Neil Gaiman, Perfume
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October 6, 2008 at 3:31 am
I just love this company. I swear they have a scent for evey mood. It is so much fun to order imp’s ears (a pack of 6 sample vials) and try out some new-to-you smellies. Some scents will surprise you, while others will break your heart (oh, pumpkin, how I wish you worked on my skin!)
As for inspiration, I tend to go with music. It can help me to focus or give me the energy I need to get going. I have not yet discovered specific music for my characters. Mostly I need soothing music that won’t distract me.
October 6, 2008 at 8:57 am
Good Omens, definitely. Oh wait…I’ve only read that one. Still, I read it cover to cover, laughing a lot.
October 6, 2008 at 10:28 am
I need a scratch and sniff screen on my laptop. I don’t think I could order a fragrance without sniffing it first. But I have to admit that Spices, cardamom, nutmeg, and flowers. are some of my favorite fragrances.
p.s. I’m totally jealous of Mark Henry’s quilt square. How’d he get such a cool one and I got this boring little green one?
October 6, 2008 at 10:29 am
Okay, one more email address.
October 6, 2008 at 10:31 am
Oops. Forgot to switch it.
Sorry, Ciara. I’ve just been shopping for bathroom tile and I’m a little color and shape obsessed lately.
October 6, 2008 at 10:56 am
Shannon- thanks for the rec! I used to listen only to music without words when I wrote or studied, but these days I’m listening to the cranberries, the decemberists, the wild Colonials, the Killers. I have some songs picked out that remind me of certain scenes in my book.
Mark – are you going to read the graveyard book?
christine- I have no idea how one picks a quilt square. Sorry I can’t be of more help!
October 6, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Wow this is awesome, I had no idea that there was a line of scents inspired by Neil Gaiman! I’m a huge fan of his work (duh) :p My favorite…mmm…American Gods or The Sandman vol. 6. Probably the Sandman comics win out just because they are so epic.
Oh and I’m a fan of music as well. And…call me crazy, but having a good game going on in the background (baseball is best) totally gets me going too :)
October 7, 2008 at 12:25 am
Thea – you can write with the tv on? that *is* crazy. I thought of you as soon as Shannon mentioned the Gaiman-inspired perfume.
October 7, 2008 at 1:18 pm
LOL Ciara, when I was in uni, the only way I could study for exams or write papers was with the tv on in front of me. I’m a firm believer that dead silence (like the dread atmosphere in the school library) saps away all your energy :p
October 7, 2008 at 6:19 pm
I wore Mama Ji yesterday in honor of your post. I adore that scent. One of my co-workers gave me an unsolicited compliment about it. The sign of a really good scent. Mmmm… cardamom. Today I smell like gingerbread. (Can you tell I like spicy scents?)
A baseball game can be a good TV program for writing. Well, unless it is a Cubs game during the playoffs. Since my boys completely fell apart (we really are cursed!) I no longer have the problem of distracting games.