Like you, I was intrigued by the recent reissue of Philip Mond's classic 1990's porn "Zazel - The Scent of Love" because I wanted to see what vaginas looked like the year my cat was born. And when I saw the scene with the tiger I felt singularly validated in my curiosity.

Fragrance designer Zazel (the gorgeous Sasha Vinni) sits sketching by her koi pond when she gets The Call: She has been approved to create her own eponymous perfume! Awesome!

We soon see why Zazel is right for the job. "The scent of love?" she thinks. "What can it be? Where can it be found?"

The rest of the movie follows Zazel through her own journey of discovery in the realms of sex and scent. Painted nymphs appear as her muses. She realizes her perfume must have "the breath of heaven; the taste of sin."

Don't get me wrong: "Zazel" shares with today's tolerated trophy porn auteurs the tendency to talk out its ass:

"Does the scent of love come from the heavens? The Earth? The wild orchid? The water lilly?"

"Angels from heaven descend into Pluto's realm and divulge their secrets with intoxicating rapture."

"Shiva: Goddess of Creation" (Luckily Hindus don't undertake jihads.)

But it is also beautifully shot and staged. No performer involved in realizing Mond's (and Zazel's) vision is anything short of beautiful—most are fleshy and toned Penthouse models of its pre-bankruptcy period—and each set piece is so creatively erotic that calling it porn, by today's standards, seems insufficient.

One example finds Zazel examining the vulva-like qualities of the picture of a flower in a book. Another does for tiger paint what the "Rio" video never could.

It is safe to play this movie with the sound off as long as you keep in mind that "Zazel is doing work-related research." We never see the fruits of her R&D on the shelves, but then again, Hell-derived intoxicating rapture in a bottle is probably wicked expensive.

Review by Gram Ponante

Zazel - The Scent of Love
Director: Philip Mond
Cast: Sasha Vinni, Gina Lamarca, Anna Romero, Grace Harlowe, Brooke Lane, Lene Hefner, Helena, Nikie St. Giles, Antonio Valentino, Kevin James, Drew Reese, Devin, and Jon

· Metro Interactive (metrointeractive.com)
· Buy "Zazel - The Scent of Love" (gamelink.com)

* * * * *

Previously: Fleshbot PSI: Another Case Closed!

We told you recently that Tommy Gunn, who directed this movie, likes building things. Here Naudia Nyce is serviced by a woman named Sophia with some Gunn-modified pneumatic tools.

What happened to Sophia? No idea. But lost in current pornography is the scene where women take off their jumpsuits and have nothing on underneath. Jumpsuits. No one wears jumpsuits anymore.

That's Rita Faltoyano working on Shy Love. And Shy Love has indeed had some work done since 2005. No judgment implied - we like all building projects.

· Assassin Pictures (assassinpictures.com)
· Buy "Strapon-Toyz" (gamelink.com)

You know how many scenes are shot in Porn Valley every day? 10 million scenes. That documentation of this particular pairing has been around for (now almost) four years, compiled and recompiled from its original appearance in "Ass Slaves 2" to releases like "X Rated" and now "Anal Bandits 5" is a testament to the enduring legacy of 2004. In fact, this scene has outlived the house with the mirrored floor it was shot in (as well it should have).

This is probably the best picture ever.

I guess this wasn't really necessary, or ever a nice touch, but - well, yeah. That about sums it up: it wasn't really necessary.

Vespoli puts her hand on her ass so you don't have to. But we want to.

· Metro (metrointeractive.com)
· Buy "X Rated" (gamelink.com)

* * * * *

Previously: Photoplay Archive