Scents of Wonder
Karr, Todd
The Miracle Factory
Approach a beautiful woman and write a prediction on a cocktail napkin. Show her a thick stack of small cards with gorgeous pictures of various flowers. She selects one at random.
It's a rose. You turn over the napkin and show your handwritten prediction: "Rose".
Now you twist the napkin into a simple flower as an unforgettable souvenir.
Ask her to inhale its aroma...she smells the fragrance of a rose, her chosen flower!
- Fantastic for close-up or stand up
- Force deck of 24 flower images
- Beautiful original photography
- Perfect for couples and special occasions
- Bonus routines included
- Complete with simple fragrance system
- Stylish drawstring bag
Reviews
(Top ▲)
The basic idea is that you get a stack of small photo cards with different flowers on them, and the spectator apparently has a free choice of flower. You then show your prediction written on a cocktail napkin, and then twist it into the chosen origami flower. When the spectator smells it, it smells just like their chosen flower.
For starters, I’ve done the napkin rose enough times to know that when you hand out the napkin, almost every single person instinctively smells it. Imagine their surprise when they discover it smells like a real rose! While I’m sure this isn’t the most impossible of magic effects, I’m sure it’s surprising and magical, especially in the context of the routine described in the instructions.
The idea for the force is really clever, and deceptive. I could see myself using this in the first section of a ‘one ahead’ routine, or for pre-show work. Normally I don’t see the point with having a small stack of cards to force something other than a playing card, but here it doesn’t bother me as much.
No DVD for instruction, but I really don’t think it’s needed here. Despite having no photos or illustrations, the page of instructions get the job done, and refer you to other (mostly free) resources if anything is unclear to you. I would have preferred at least a photo or two for clarification on the construction of the napkin rose, but I already knew how to make it so it was not an issue.
This is a great strolling effect for cocktail parties, just make sure the lighting is good so the spectator can read the cards! If you already do the napkin rose, it’s worth the money just for the idea and items to make the rose ‘smell’ at the end. The fact you get a devious, and deceptive flower force that you can use in other routine is just icing on the cake!
I give this Four Stars!
(Top ▲)
This is by far The Best smelling trick in magic. As soon as I opened the package I started sneezing thanks to the combination of the gimmick and my allergy to all things floral.
That said, for $30 bucks you're getting a stack of beautifully photographed flowers, the rose scent, a soft drawstring bag and a routine that has the potential to create a true moment of wonder.
Read the effect. That's what you get. The props are well made, and the method is super simple. As I often say, if you like the effect - I do - you'll be very happy with your purchase. The instructions also include a couple of brief ideas on other ways to use the props and how to combine them other paper-rose effects that have gone before.
Although a brief (very brief) overview of how to fold a paper rose is outlined, there are a couple of references listed that show you where to learn it in depth. This is the kind of thing that you could easily find online for free. And sense making paper flowers is not magic, it's not exposure to find that online.
The only slight "issue" is that the cards tend to be a little hard to spread at first. You have to kind of work with 'em until you get the right touch. They're not playing cards, they're more like business cards with a glossy finish on both sides.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go burn my gimmick before my throat swells completely shut.
Final Verdict:
4.5 Stars with a Stone Status of Gem.