Signs that a Kuntilanak is nearby include the sound of an infant crying and the smell of a decaying corpse or the plumeria flower.
Being one of the most famous pieces of Indonesian folklore, it inspired the name of a capital city in the Western Kalimantan region, called Pontianak.
[2] The Kuntilanak (Pontianak) is often depicted as a beautiful woman with pale skin, red eyes, and long black hair.
Pontianak only appears under the full moon and typically announces her presence with the cries of infants or feminine laughter.
Its presence is also said to be heralded by a floral fragrance, identifiable as that of the Plumeria flower, followed by a stench similar to that of a decaying corpse.
The Pontianak is said to locate her prey by the scent of their clean laundry; because of this, some Malaysians refuse to leave any piece of clothing outside their house overnight.
The Indonesian Kuntilanak is similar to the Pontianak in Malaysia, but commonly takes the form of a bird and sucks the blood of virgins and young women.