Bella Crawford (Gina Torres) is a very elegant woman, so no wonder she wears an “exquisite” and exclusive perfume. Dr. Lecter’s description is a clear reference to its name: it’s “similar to the aroma on the air just after lightning strikes,” an elaborate nod to JAR Bolt of Lightning.
Created by Joel Arthur Rosenthal and launched in 2001, it features tuberose and green notes. JAR perfumes are famous for not containing “the typical top, middle, and base notes,” as explained on the WGSN Insider blog. “Rather, they blend together for an unpredictable release. The Bolt of Lightning fragrance takes 10 minutes to develop on the skin.”
torres and mikkelsen
Great couple.
I just started this show & instantly knew you would have posted this exact scene! It’s interesting because as we know Hannibal can “smell” certain disease or cancers. When he smells her perfume I believe it’s implied he smelled her cancer first, and the Jar was an after thought. Just like when he smells Will and says he hates his aftershave, but after when we see him during his brain scan Hannibal says to the doctor he can smell the encephalitis.
It’s a very interesting comment. I agree with you: the fine line dividing what he can smell (a disease *and* a fragrance) makes the character fascinating and unsettling.