What would Athena smell like? Which aromatic notes could express Poseidon’s mystery, Aphrodite’s attraction or Zeus’s authority? At Ancient Symposium, these questions become the starting point for a hands-on perfume workshop inspired by the twelve Olympian gods.
The experience brings together mythology, personality and scent. Each visitor chooses a deity, prepares a solid perfume and carries it away in a small vessel—a personal object connected with both the chosen god and the memory of Athens.
How the Idea Began
Fragrance was present in ancient Greek religious and everyday life. Aromatic substances were offered, worn and applied to objects and statues. That relationship between scent, the body and the divine inspired Manos Roussis to imagine a different fragrance for each Olympian deity.
The concept required more than attaching familiar names to pleasant aromas. The personality, symbols and stories of each god had to be considered alongside aromatic materials used or found in Greece today. The result is a carefully designed selection that gives guests a meaningful way to choose.
Choosing Your God
Participants use a guide that introduces every deity through three elements: name and symbolism, personality traits and the aromatic notes associated with them. Some people begin with a god they already admire. Others read the personality descriptions first, while some trust their sense of smell.
There is no incorrect result. A guest may discover that the fragrance they enjoy belongs to a deity they had not expected. When a scent works beautifully on the skin and feels connected to the person wearing it, the surprise becomes part of the experience.
Three Examples from Olympus
Zeus represents confidence, authority and natural leadership. His fragrance moves toward deep, woody and resinous notes, including sandalwood, pine and frankincense.
Athena suggests intelligence, analysis and calm strength. Mastic, sage and lavender create a thoughtful aromatic profile associated with clarity and composure.
Poseidon is passionate, emotional and mysterious. Sea-salt accords, eucalyptus and mint evoke freshness, movement and the unpredictable character of the sea.
Other gods bring their own symbolic connections: pomegranate and floral notes can recall Aphrodite; pepper and warmer spices can express the force of Ares. These associations are interpretive rather than rigid reconstructions, allowing mythology to guide a modern sensory experience.
A Contemporary Experience Inspired by Ancient Practice
Ancient perfume-making used oils, aromatic plants, waxes, heat and time in different combinations. The workshop draws inspiration from this material tradition while adapting it into a safe and accessible contemporary activity.
The solid perfume base includes beeswax and almond oil, with only a very small amount of olive oil. Olive oil has a strong weight and character, so using too much could cover the delicate aromatic notes. Heat supports the blending process, while measured additions allow each perfume to retain its intended balance.
The complete formula and the studio’s preparation method remain part of the workshop’s own expertise. Participants, however, experience every meaningful stage: choosing, smelling, blending, observing the transformation and placing the finished perfume in its vessel.
Why Every Step Matters
There is no single moment that carries the whole activity. Selection creates curiosity. Combining the materials encourages attention. Watching the wax and oils change creates anticipation. The final scent brings all the stages together.
Because fragrance reacts differently on each person, the result also feels individual. The chosen deity provides a story, but the wearer gives the perfume its final character.
A Souvenir with a Personal Meaning
The small vessel is not simply a product purchased in Athens. It represents the god the visitor selected, the decisions made during the workshop and the memory of creating something by hand.
Long after the journey, opening the vessel can recall the room, the aromas and the conversation around the table. Scent has a powerful relationship with memory, which makes the perfume a particularly intimate souvenir.
The perfume-making activity is designed for adults because the process involves heat and melted wax. It can be combined with the wine experience, connecting fragrance, taste, mythology and the atmosphere of the ancient symposium.