Delta of Venus Eris Parfums 2023

Delta of Venus is built around guava, and here’s a confession: I have never smelled or tasted guava, so it’s not for me to say how realistic it is, but here’s another confession: I don’t come to fragrance for realism, so who cares! What I do experience is a fragrance ravenously lush and rosy-glowing with exuberance, a thronging pulse of velvety sunset mango, the tart-tinglingly bright shiver of pineapple, and the bittersweet toe-curling juicy astringency and vaguely funky musk of pink grapefruit. There’s nothing dark about this scent, but there’s an underlying luxe, shadowy floral that I can’t help but associate with black velvet in a way, in gorgeous contrast to those invitingly vibrant tropical fruits. In my mind’s eye, this is a brooding black velvet vanitas painting with a prismatic profusion of soft fruits tumbling lusciously off the canvas.

Having spent a significant part of my younger years in East Asia, the scent of guava -or any tropical fruit for that matter- instantly takes me back to those unbearably humid summer days without aircon. Of those tropical fruits guava may have a less pronounced taste and scent but its refreshing effect is incredible. Generally fresh-juicy, sometimes a bit mealy and with just enough sweetness to it.

In Delta of Venus, Antoine Lie has rendered a photorealisitic guava that lingers on for quite a long time. Refreshing not just scentwise, but also because of his choice for this less common note. It has been done before in Paradisi and even before that in Paradis Perdu, but the difference is that Delta of Venus really puts the fruit -and only the fruit- on a pedestal.

The transition into a greenish jasmin-vetiver-musk drydown feels natural and keeps the memory of the guava note alive, so to speak, even after it has faded. It is a pity that summer has already past; now I have to wait till next year to try it out in an aircon-less humidity in order to get the full East Asian flashback experience. Anyway, I would not mind if this release triggers a little guava hype in perfumery.

I've tested Delta of Venus twice on different days. The first time, I sprayed it on the heel of my hand halfway through a (very fun and overwhelming and) very hot day of sniffing and admittedly didn't get to pay as much attention to it as I would have liked. However, I noted that it started off with a bright explosion of guava but the juicy fruit part only lasted about 10 minutes. Later, I was startled by a beautiful lush white floral shadowed by some wonderful dark, woody, slightly smoky/powdery green - galbanum or vetiver if I had to guess (and I am now gratified to see both in the notes). I was intrigued and I decided I had to get a sample to test it again.

The second time, it was a much cooler and less overwhelming day. Delta of Venus opens again with a bright, juicy guava. This time, the guava doesn't go away though, and remains throughout the life of the perfume though it becomes less juicy over time. It's supported by all the other things, a creamy white floral and woody green base notes, but they're buried in the backdrop while the guava is center stage. It easily lasted 9hrs whereupon it fades to slightly sweet woody musk.

I half expected my husband's skin to burn off the guava quickly as he runs a lot hotter than I do, but, the progression is similar and in fact the guava is even more pronounced and sweeter, with less creamy floralcy on his skin. The sillage is stronger on him than it is on me, but not overpowering. Neither of us got the citrus or violet.

I have to admit I'm a bit bummed! I loved the lush jungle floral I got the first time, I suppose I'll have to try it again on a hotter day. Also, while I did find the jasmine/galbanum/vetiver combination to be beautifully alluring, I wouldn't say that Delta of Venus smells particularly sexy or overripe. My skin doesn't tend to amp skank but my husband's generally dramatically maximizes anything in the funky/ripe/bodily fluids and odors category and we didn't get any of that off his skin. Sample from ZGO Perfumery. Worn about 10hrs at time of writing.

For those who haven't ever had guava, I suppose I would describe it as very sweet, and one of the creamiest of tropical fruits, without much citric acidity, if at all, and a bit of watery greenness like watermelon rind. My husband disagreed with my description of between mango and coconut saying they weren't really on a spectrum together, but then agreed that guava is similar to custard apple which is closer to coconut, though we both expect the comparison to custard apple is probably useless for most people who have never encountered guava. So: coconut --> custard apple --> guava --> papaya --> mango --> pineapple.

Delta of Venus starts with a citrus opening. It then quickly dries down with the jasmine appearing mixed with the guava - a lot of guava. I've smelled guava shampoo and don't like the scent. Same here with Delta of Venus. At times, it almost takes on a buttery type of scent. Really not good. Overall, scent struck me as unisex, perhaps leaning feminine.

Based on the descriptions here and at Fragrantica, I decided to only apply it to the back of my hand. I'm glad I did. I washed it off after 2 hours, so can't comment on the longevity. Projection was moderate for those 2 hours.

So deep it feels like a low bass note you feel in your stomach.
Guava is such a unique choice and together with the white flowers it becomes addictive.
There's definitely an aquatic note but it's not ocean breeze, more like salt residues on skin.
Not a "tropical holiday eating fruits on the beach scent". It's a "sexy morning with my girlfriend" kinda of scent.