In my last post, I already shared the interview with Jean-David Jacoby; today we’re kicking off the fragrance reviews. The collection from this French niche fragrance brand—which has a penchant for Greece—includes five fragrances: Les Bras de Morphée, Le Chant d’Achille, À l’Ombre d’Artémis, Les Dieux aux Bains, and La Nuit des 300 are the evocative names of these creations, all of which are inspired by the eastern Mediterranean region. Today, I’d like to start by introducing Les Bras de Morphée and Le Chant d’Achille, before we turn our attention to the remaining fragrances tomorrow.
Les Bras de Morphée – In Morpheus’ Arms
With our first fragrance of the day, we journey into the land of dreams. For the Greek god Morpheus is by no means the god of sleep, as some might assume, but rather the god of the world of dreams. He is able to change his appearance and can thus appear in dreams in human form. In this way, he delivers divine messages to the sleeper or brings back memories of loved ones. His appearance is deceptively real.
His destiny as the god of dreams seems almost predestined. His grandmother is Nyx, the goddess of the night. His father is Hypnos, the god of sleep, and his mother is Pasithea, who is associated with relaxation, tranquility, and altered states of consciousness. His brothers, too, dwell in the world of dreams: Phobetor appears as an animal or fantastical creature in nightmares, while Phantasos reveals himself in landscapes and nature.
Top notes: violet leaves, peach, heliotrope
Middle notes: iris, violet, hazelnut wood
Base notes: vanilla, tonka bean, cashmeran
I’m hoping for a wonderful introduction to the olfactory world of Les Bras de Morphée. The Eau de Parfum effortlessly lives up to these expectations. Earthy, creamy iris blends with herbaceous, peppery violet leaves, velvety peach, and warm woody notes to create a deep, comforting, and enveloping fragrance—and it’s no coincidence that it’s bathed in warm brown tones. A hint of nutty powder drifts over the composition, beautifully underscoring the smooth, soft, and milky notes of the iris. Heliotrope, vanilla, and tonka bean provide spicy-sweet moments and delicate, vanilla-like accents that wonderfully round out the creation.
Les Bras de Morphée by Hellenist Paris is a gentle, calm – yes, almost comforting – fragrance centered around a beautiful iris note, combined with nutty-powdery and spicy-creamy nuances. Perfect for anyone who prefers relaxed and cozy-soft compositions with moderate sillage and good longevity. Ideal for cooler days and suitable for any occasion. We highly recommend giving it a try!
Le Chant d’Achille – The Song of Achilles
Our second fragrance, Le Chant d’Achille, is dedicated to another figure from Greek mythology: Achilles, a demigod, son of the sea goddess Thetis and a king of central Greece, who was famous for his beauty and martial prowess. Mentioned in numerous ancient sources, his fate is described in many different and multifaceted ways. To make him immortal, his mother dipped him in the Styx, the river of the underworld. Only the spot where his mother held him – his heel – remained untouched by the water, leaving him vulnerable precisely there.
This vulnerability and his deep bond with his companion Patroclus stand in stark contrast to the Greek demigod’s martial prowess and his repeatedly flaring anger. This contrast was captured and translated into a scent by perfumer Alexandra Carlin in the fragrance Le Chant d’Achille.
Top notes: Neroli, lemon, black pepper
Middle notes: Geranium, orange blossom, ylang-ylang
Base notes: Immortelle (Italian strawflower), vetiver, musk
Fresh, citrusy notes meet zesty, sharp pepper and the aromatic, floral accents of neroli and orange blossom, resulting in an airy, almost fragile, summery composition. Geranium imparts a cool, minty freshness reminiscent of dew-kissed roses in the morning, while the milky nuances of ylang-ylang gradually unfold within the fragrance. They lend the creation delicate tropical undertones and provide a subtle sunscreen-like effect. Immortelle adds salty, herbaceous accents, rounding out Le Chant d’Achille alongside the earthy, creamy, and crystalline notes of vetiver and musk.
The Eau de Parfum by Hellenist Paris is a sunny, summery, and citrusy-creamy fragrance that feels airy, transparent, and wonderfully Mediterranean. The herbaceous and salty notes of immortelle lend this fragrance—which is primarily characterized by citrus notes—exciting facets and depth, setting this creation apart from other similar compositions. Transparent, minimalist, and with a distinctly clean feel, Le Chant d’Achille is a catchy and pleasant all-around fragrance for the warmer months.
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