The Legend: After being chided by Apollo to “leave the bow and arrows to the grown ups”, Eros (Roman: Cupid) shot Apollo with a golden dart of burning love…but pierced the heart of Daphne (nymph and daughter of the river god Achelous) with a bolt of lead causing unrequited love. Apollo pursued Daphne, but she was not interested in the least, preferring to hunt with Artemis and roam the hills and valleys of Greece. When the golden god could no longer suppress his lust, he gave chase to the young lady, whispering sweet words in her ears and promising to make her his Queen. She fled from him aghast, yet he pursued her…and just as he was about to overtake her, she called out to her father to save her. Immediately, she was stopped in her tracks, her feet became roots, her skin bark and her hair the leaves of the Laurel tree. Apollo, still madly in love with her, plucked the leaves of the tree and fashioned a crown. Laurel became his most sacred tree. Oracles chewed these leaves to receive visions from the god and foretell the future.
The Fragrance: An opening of dry flowers, spiciness and sharp greens echo the bewitching beauty that first captured Apollo’s attention. Here is grace, elegance and vigor; all blended seamlessly. As the heart of this scent beats, it warms (as the god’s did) with a melange of flowers ranging from sensual and seductive, to warm and sweet. As enchanting as it is serious, Daphne develops slowly, in typical chypre fashion, as it ranges from bright to floral and full, before it becomes earthy and haunting. A woody warm resinous sweetness lingers on the skin, hinting at the transformation of the poor nymph’s form from skin to bark. Dark woods coated in sweet saps blended with warm vanilla and amber combine with dry airy moss to create something altogether majestic and alluring. A scent for someone who love the feel of fresh earth beneath their feet, and is in touch with its beauty.
0.4 oz.
0.5 oz.
1 oz.
