Tanwi Nandini Islam
Tanaïs | |
|---|---|
| Born | Tanwi Nandini Islam Illinois, United States |
| Occupation(s) | Author, perfumer |
| Known for | Founder of TANAÏS beauty and fragrance brand |
| Notable work | Bright Lines (2015), In Sensorium (2022) |
Tanaïs (born Tanwi Nandini Islam) is an American author and perfumer, recognized as the founder of TANAÏS, a beauty and fragrance brand based in Brooklyn. They have roots in Bangladeshi heritage.
Originally from Illinois, their life journey included residences in Houston, Columbia, Missouri, and St. Louis before making Brooklyn, New York their home. They obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in women's studies, concentrating on performance art and Asian American studies at Vassar College, followed by an MFA in creative writing from Brooklyn College.
Career
Tanaïs launched their professional path as a community organizer with Make the Road New York, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting working-class populations in Bushwick, Brooklyn. In 2006, they participated in the William J. Clinton Fellowship for Service in New Delhi, India, during which they composed their first novel, Bright Lines. This work was shortlisted for several honors including the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, Brooklyn Eagles Literary Prize, and the Edmund White Award for debut fiction.
At this stage, Tanaïs cultivated a passion for scent creation and introduced a line of botanical perfumes and candles initially named Hi Wildflower Botanica, which has since evolved into Studio Tanaïs.
Their 2022 memoir titled In Sensorium received the distinguished Kirkus Prize in the nonfiction category.
Publications
- 2015: Bright Lines, Penguin Books, ISBN 978-0143123132
- 2022: In Sensorium: Notes For My People, Harper Books, ISBN 978-0358381709