What is a 'Sensorium Aphrodisiac'?

Last year at this time we introduced a gorgeous, sultry new blend called Erotica. This year, we’re re-releasing an updated formulation with red grapes and Egyptian hibiscus called EROS. We’re head over heels, and we think you’re going to fall in love, too.

But perhaps you are curious what a sensorium aphrodisiac is and does. The ‘sensorium’ refers to the entirety of our sensory perception—taste, feel, scent, sight, and sound, and thus refers to all of the places and ways the body receives and processes sensorial information.

An ‘aphrodisiac’ refers to a class of substances that stimulate desire, whether that be physical, emotional, or spiritual. At their best, aphrodisiacs possess a certain je ne sais quoi — a quality, as a whole, not easily named or defined — that can simultaneously trigger the pleasure centers of our brains, as well as stoke the embers of yearning for something beyond, reminding us that there are experiences of wholeness, connection, and beauty beyond our daily grind that are worth yearning for, striving for, and connecting with.

Aphrodisiacs can connect with us in deeply intimate ways, cracking open doors of awareness, and helping us feel, think, and sense in ways that are more consciously meaningful. They are a direct invitation to open our hearts and minds a little bit more to the wisdom, energy, and medicine of plants.

Our Eros blend is composed of several types of aphrodisiacs used since ancient times to arouse and build desire: pomegranate, clove, schisandra berry, red lotus, almond, fig—all of these plants in some way boost sexual hormones, and bring us into a deeper awareness of our bodies by appealing to a variety of our senses in subtle but powerfully suggestive ways. They possess a slowness, a lingering quality, a soft trail of something lush and beautiful we wish to keep reaching for . . .

We suggest a long, slow steep for Erotica—let its flavors and medicine build anywhere from 12 to even 30 minutes if you like. The more it builds, the heavier its weight becomes on the tongue — similar to a velvety red wine with notes of elderberry, pomegranate, and a lingering hint of clove.