A Closer Look at Agatho

Image agathoparfum.com

I tend to get exposure to newer brands by way of complimentary samples included in a purchase. My favorite online stores seem to be on a quest to entice my interests. Unfortunately for me, this usually works. I received one sample of Giardino di Ercole by Agatho in a recent order. I thought I’d take a closer look at the brand’s entire collection, since it was only seven perfumes. I purchased a sample set, which contained the complete collection. That certainly made it easy.

I was curious to what others thought of each of the seven perfumes. In this example, I thought it would be fun to see where my impressions landed in comparison to public opinion. The result was completely upside down. For many, Rossopompeiano and Giardino di Ercole ran neck and neck, with Rossopompeiano slightly ahead. Next up was Sileno, followed by another tie between 195 a.C. and Castiamanti, then Adone and finally Fauno at the bottom of the popularity scale.

With that being said, I figured that Rossopompeiano and Giardino di Ercole would probably interest me most. Interestingly enough, I preferred Giardino di Ercole over Rossopompeiano. Why? I felt that the honey and bitter almond accord, layered with rose and a group of white flowers, followed by labdanum and vanilla had been played out before. I really didn’t experience anything new here. Don’t get me wrong, Rossopompeiano was lovely, just not something I would consciously purchase, since I have other things in my collection that fill that gap. Giardino di Ercole was very nice as well, but while the top and heart notes were a wonderful green accord, the dry-down for me evolved into a slight green Sahara by Tom Ford. Again, I already have that, so Giardino di Ercole would be a bit redundant, with the exception of a slightly less dry, and more green effect.

Sileno started off interesting, with a burst of orange blossom and blackcurrant, a peppery ylang-ylang heart and a nice cedar and ginger base. But Sileno turned into a very pleasing skin scent after about two hours, and virtually undetectable at four. This was unfortunate, since the beginning had much promise. Such is the case with many perfumes.

195 a.C. and Castiamanti were an easy choice. 195 a.C. caught my attention immediately, with a heavy-handed, bright, fresh fig presence, both dry and juicy. Cardamom supplied camphoric and balsamic connotations, which blended nicely with the fig. The base here is black tea and frankincense-heavy, but still pleasing to my personal tastes. 195 a.C. seems to play as a fig trapped in a leathery, oud-ridden house that drinks a great deal of black tea. I liked 195 a.C. As far as longevity, this one was second best. Castiamanti was a lovely, fresh, watery rose, but my biggest complaint was that it virtually disappeared within an hour. There were moments of saffron, laurel, and myrtle, layered over a honeyed rose and a warm smoky base. It was very pleasing but just too short-lived. You might have better results.

Adone was a giant yawn. There were pleasant moments, but for the most part, you’ve experienced this one before.

Last but not least is Fauno. You might remember that I said that this one came in at the bottom of the popularity polls. Not for me. I found Fauno to be the most interesting of the seven perfumes. The opening was this perplexing combination of grapefruit, tobacco and artemisia. The heart was spicy, resinous, herbaceous and crowned with pillowy white florals. The finish was aromatic, with smoky, suede-like facets. And guess what? Fauno lingered on my skin for more than 10 hours. You know how us perfume fanatics can be. I had all seven perfumes on at once, both arms. In the end, I could only detect Fauno rising up, and keeping my interest. Fauno is both modern and mysterious, yet familiar.

The famous ancient Pompeiian perfumer, Agatho, created ointments for the Roman aristocracy. Agatho Parfum, the brand, rediscovers and celebrates his artistry, providing a more contemporary interpretation. The bottles themselves are works of art. The brand boasts its manufacturing techniques have been handed down since 1740 by The Real Fabbrica di Capodimonte, founded by the philanthropic king Charles III of Bourbon, under whom the excavations of Pompeii began. Agatho Parfum rightfully celebrates this unusual, and significant, regional history. If you havent’t had the chance to experience these perfumes, you should.

---

FAUNO
Top: Grapefruit, Tobacco, Artemisia, Orange, Smoky Notes, Bergamot
Heart: Clary Sage, Juniper Berry, Pimento, Jasmine, Petigrain, Tuberose
Base: Cedarwood, Frankincense, Suede, Amber, Patchouli

The wild, indomitable and mysterious Fauno is just one of the seven luxurious fragrances that make up the magnificent Pompei line.

This balsamic yet playful Agatho Parfum fragrance is further enriched with fresh citrus notes and subtle leather accords that recall the fully unbridled exuberance of nature and its magical inhabitants, such as the faun.

The Agatho Fauno fragrance – which epitomises the unstoppable power of instinct – is an invitation to leave reality behind and enter a dreamlike dimension in which one’s best-hidden instincts and most taboo passions are awakened.

---

195 a.C.
Top: Fig Leaf, Mint, Lemon, Pomegranate, Bergamot
Heart: Fig, Cardamom, Jasmine
Base: Black Tea, Cedarwood, Frankincense, Styrax, Cashmere Wood, Oud, Patchouli, Leather

Besides being one of the seven iconic essences in the Pompei line, 195.a.C. is also one of Agatho Parfum’s best-loved fragrances.

The Maison pays homage to the historically symbolic year in which the Lex Oppia – a law aimed at restricting female prosperity and wealth – was abolished.

The year 195 BC – marked by an irrepressible awakening of the senses and a renewed celebration of the luxuries and pleasures of life – is epitomised by the emergence of a sage harmony of citrus, herbaceous and woody notes, in which all the joy and vibrance of fig is released: a symbol of humanity eager to fully experience its rebirth.

---

GIARDINo DI ERCOLE
Top: Superessence syst, Lavender, Phubarb, Juniper Berries
Heart: Frankincense, Black Pepper, Clary Sage, Pimento, Saffron
Base: Amber, Casmeran, Labdanum, Musk, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Styrax, Virginia Cedar

Nestled in a symbolic corner of the mythical Vesuvian city lies The Garden of Hercules and it is from this very location that this fragrance gets its name; one of Agatho Parfum’s most popular fragrances and the crowning glory of the new and refined Pompei Collection.

In this invigorating essence, set apart by an expert combination of spicy and smoky notes, the high-end ingredients once used in the fine creations of legendary Perfumer Agatho are brought to life once more as an immortal symbol of an indissoluble bond between charm-filled tradition and bold innovation.

---

ROSSOPOMPEIANO
Top: Yellow Mandarin, Galban, Bitter Almond
Heart: Heliotrope, Damask Rose, Ylang-Ylang, Orange Blossom, Jasmine Sambac
Base: Patchouli, Labdanum, Sandalwood, Cashmere Wood, Musk, Vanilla, White Amber

Pompei’s soul is tinged with the bright hues of its symbolic frescoes, in which vivid red, obtained from cinnabar – a mineral famed for its vermillion shades – serves as the backdrop to fragile, almost trembling graphics.

Rossopompeiano is the refined combination that arose from the ashes. Agatho Parfum’s authentic olfactory work of art boasts an opulent bouquet of Damask rose, ylang-ylang, Sambac jasmine and orange blossom that invites you to delve into the floral heart of a city whose mysterious charm is gradually revealed.

---

CASTIAMANTI
Top: Saffron, Laurel, Myrtle
Heart: Rose, Honey, Jasmine
Base: Labdanum, Oud, Amber, Vanilla, White Musk, Frankincense

The intense, warm and mysterious Agatho Castiamanti is just one of the exclusive fragrances in the Pompei line.

It authentically combines tradition and innovation with a timeless charm.

Laurel, myrtle, saffron, jasmine, rose and vanilla come together in this lush waltz of sense-enveloping sweet, balsamic and spicy notes, which evoke an eternal promise of love whilst revealing precious oriental-feel contaminations.

Castiamanti is Agatho Parfum’s contemporary olfactory project par excellence; it was created from only the best raw materials and by paying homage to the expert craftsmanship of the Maison’s home country.

---

ADONE
Top: Blackcurrant, Grapefruit, Pink Pepper, Rosewood
Heart: Damask Rose, Wisteria, Geranium, Jasmine, White Lily
Base: Ambrette Seed, White Musk, Ambroxan, Precious Woods

Agatho Parfum bolsters its exclusive Pompei line with Adone: a fresh, luminous and passionatefragrance that encapsulates the legendary brilliance of a young man – Adonis (Adone in Italian) – once loved by Aphrodite, which is destined to fleetingly blossom before fading away, just like a rare gem of ephemeral beauty.

Citrus, floral and woody notes are released in an unbreakable embrace, in which the impetus of an overwhelming passion gives way to the eternal memory of an unconditional love marked by a fatal epilogue.

With its Adone fragrance, Agatho Parfum reaffirms itself as an absolute excellence when it comes to luxury Italian perfumery.

---

SILENO
Top: Orange Blossom, Blackcurrant, Green Notes, Citrus Notes
Heart: Ylang-Ylang, Mediterranean Undergrowth, Sichuan Pepper
Base: Cedar, Algae Absolute, Ginger, Precious Woods

Ancient distant lands and lush Mediterranean gardens are awakened with Sileno: one of the seven bewitching fragrances in the Pompei line and an extraordinary masterpiece as far as Agatho Parfum’s niche perfumery is concerned.

Wild woodland scents are bathed in fresh marine accents, lulled by Silenus’ enchanting music and awakened by the inescapable call of nature.

With its Sileno fragrance, Agatho Parfum invites you to try your hand at the noble art of otium and depart for the types of unspoilt places only ever described in poetry. 

Fragrance images and descriptions agathoparfum.com