inspired by the Greek Goddess Demeter or Ceres in Roman. Often seen only as the archetypal mother and responsible for agriculture, Demeter’s symbolism is far more polyvalant than at first glance (spoiler alert, all gods and goddesses are this way!). She is also the mother of the mysteries and gifted humanity with mystery initiation practices at Eleusis that continued uninterrupted for over a thousand years.

In her most famous myth, that involves the abduction of her daughter, Persephone, by the God of the Underworld, Hades, Demeter is thrown into a grief journey that mirrors the underworld passage of her daughter. In my reading of the myth, it felt as though Persephone was a symbol of Demeter’s own youth, innocence, and agency that was swallowed up by her own shadow.

This perfume is an ode to the symbolism of both Demeter and Persephone as it is at once fresh, bright, and green like the youth of springtime and innocence of Persephone, but also dark, sexy, earthy, and grounded like the maturity of Demeter.

Like the Narcissus flower that Persephone bent over to pluck before the ground opened up to swallow her, Emergence is a perfume that mesmerizes and enchants.

The Orphic Hymn to Demeter

40. Dimítir Ælefsinía, Incense storax.

Of Diô, divine mother of all, divinity with many names, 1

Holy Dîmítîr, nurturer of children, bestower of bliss,

Oh divine one, who cultivates the grain, who apportions all good things,

You who rejoice in peace and our difficult labors,

Presiding over seeds, bequeathing abundant grain, thresher, producing the green fruit, 5

You dwell in the hallowed valley of Ælefsís.

Oh charming, lovely one, you give nourishment to all the mortals;

You were the first to yoke the ploughing oxen,

And you produce a lovely and abundant life for mortals;

You promote growth, familial companion of Vrómios, splendidly honored, 10

Torch-bearing, holy one, you rejoice in the summer's fruit of the sickle.

You are from the earth, you appear, you are gentle to all.

You bless us with progeny, oh lover of children, holy one, maiden who nurtures the young,

You yoke dragons to your chariot with a bridle,

Whirling and circling about your throne as you cry out in ecstasy. 15

Only-begotten, Goddess bearing many children, mighty queen of mortals,

Creator of many things, you bloom with flowers, blooming with holiness;

Come, happy one, pure one, heavy with the fruits of summer,

Bring down peace and lovely order to our world,

With riches and blessings and a life governed by good health. 20

translation courtesy of HellenicGods.org