Eris Parfums Delta of Venus © Luminary Creatives London
“I gathered poets around me and we all wrote beautiful erotica. As we were condemned to focus only on sensuality, we had violent explosions of poetry. Writing erotica became a road to sainthood rather than to debauchery.” ~ Anaïs Nin, quote from Delta of Venus
Barbara Herman and Antoine Lie courtesy of the Eris Parfums
As soon as I learned of Eris Parfums Delta of Venus, I contacted Creative Director Barbara Herman. The magnetic draw of its concept – and its indomitable literary reference – pulled me into the perfume’s orbit without hesitation. Those of us who came into ourselves during the late 1960s-early 1970s had been thoroughly submerged in the prodigious writings of Anaïs Nin, and I felt intimately affiliated with this oeuvre which inspired Barbara.
First Edition Delta of Venus 1977 (although written in the 40s) and Brassaï 1932 photo© of Anais Nin
Why Delta of Venus, you may well inquire? Why not Little Birds (her second book of erotica, and my favorite of the two), or any number of revelations from her voluminous diaries? Barbara Herman, like myself – is deeply appreciative of pioneers and risk-takers – and Anaïs Nin, the legendary diarist, documenter of societal behavior, art and artists extant in her time, was a prolific writer and keen observer of the human condition. Nin was known for her sensual and sexual curiosity, which she explored, as visualized through the veil of her autobiographical writings and erotica. The phrase ‘delta of Venus’ refers to a Victorian euphemism for female genitalia, first. The text is considered groundbreaking, as it was the first of its kind to push the boundaries of human sexuality as written by a woman, and was considered a magnum opus in this regard. Nin’s initial reluctance is well-documented: we now know that a wealthy Oklahoma oilman, Roy M. Johnson – was an avid collector of pornography/erotica, and offered $1.00/page for sexually explicit narrative, at a time when many writers were going hungry. As Johnson’s evolving tastes led him to demand ever more graphic tales, he insisted that the writers he engaged forgo poetry in favor of detailed sexual description – no analysis, no philosophizing, no poetry. Henry Miller had been offered $100.00/month to provide prurient material, but he was revolted by the idea – and Nin, who was intricately involved with Miller for many years (on a variety of levels) saw this as a method to help assure that Henry’s books were financed. So much for reluctance.
Eris Parfums Delta of Venus photo© Luminary Creatives London
Now that you are a bit familiar with the backstory, let’s proceed with the perfume – which is seditiously delicious in its enthralling perversity. My description is intended as high praise: Eris Parfums Delta of Venus is the kaleidoscopic carnality of Paradise reimagined. The Garden possesses more of a jungle-y feel, in which one bite of the juice-dripping guava presages erotic delight as many-hued as Homer’s rosy fingers of the dawn. This perfume is unequivocal in its provocation: limpid, raw, refined, musky – a veritable riot of ripe fruit wed to an intoxicating jasmine sambac, in which we may discern the possibility of the serpent’s sting, augured by the beautiful poison-green galbanum of which both Barbara and I are so fond. An introductory sulfuric blast of fresh grapefruit may be tonic, but there exists subtext as well; doesn’t Satan leave sulfuric sillage in his wake? Is everything as it appears in the Garden, or have we overlooked something? Delta of Venus is both familiar to our collective unconscious and unknowable, a marvelous fragrant contradiction.
“There is a perfection in everything that cannot be owned.” ― Anaïs Nin, quote from Delta of Venus
Eris Parfums Delta of Venus is about that part of us which can neither be possessed nor tamed. The explosive, effusive wild ride that initially appears upon the skin develops into a sensual and soothing drydown, murmuring of undergrowth and greenery which feels mythical. This is a revelation and no mean feat: we set out upon one fierce journey only to discover that the path has led us to a satisfying respite with a meditative twist. I am thoroughly beguiled, and assure you that Delta of Venus will be among this year’s best fragrances.
Notes: Italian bergamot, American grapefruit, Iranian galbanum, Egyptian violet leaf, Egyptian jasmine sambac, Haïtian vetiver, sandalwood, guava accord made exclusively for Eris Parfums by Antoine Lie (after smelling guavas sent by Barbara).
Sample provided by Eris Parfums – many thanks! It is extraordinary. My nose is my own…
~ Ida Meister, Deputy and Natural Perfumery Editor
A note from the brand: Delta Of Venus is Eris Parfums’ and Barbara Herman’s eighth collaboration with world-renowned French perfumer Antoine Lie of aloe (Antoine Lie Olfactive Experience) and its second partnership with Milan based Atelier Fragranze Milano, founded in 2011 by Marco Maffei and (his son), award-winning perfumer Luca Maffei. Atelier Fragranze Milano
Eris Parfums Green Spell won a ÇaFleureBon Best of Scent 2021 from Emmanuelle and Best of Scent 2019 for MXXX from Lauryn.
Enjoy Karl Topham’s November 2022 The Three Eris Parfums You Should Be Wearing: Eris Parfums Ma Bête, Green Spell and Night Flower here
image via Eris Parfums
Thanks to the generosity of ERIS Parfums, we have one 50 ml bottle of Delta of Venus for one registered reader in the USA and a travel spray for a registered reader in the EU. To be eligible, please leave a comment what sparked your interest about ERIS Parfums Delta of Venus based on Ida’s review, where you live and whether you have an ERIS Parfums favorite. Draw closes 7/27/2023
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