“The difference between niche perfumery and designer perfumery is that the former is rooted in the world of art and places quality at the center of every creation.”
— Alessandro Bianchi, founder of Agatho Parfum
Essential Information
- Founded: 2018
- Founder: Alessandro Bianchi, who also serves as the current CEO
- Headquarters: Cassino, Frosinone, Lazio, Italy
- Company name: Caminus Capodimonte S.r.l.
- Official website: https://agathoparfum.com/
The Founder and the Brand’s Origins
The Legendary Perfumer Agathon at the Beginning of the Story
On August 24 (or 25), AD 79, the great eruption of Mount Vesuvius buried Pompeii beneath volcanic ash, lapilli, and other erupted material. Yet that thick layer of ash brought not only destruction but also preservation. Excavations that advanced from the modern era onward would bring Pompeii back to the world as a remarkable heritage site revealing the intricacy of everyday life in Roman civilization.
The excavations revealed that Pompeii was not merely a city, but also a “city of fragrance.” Many artisans of scent produced balms and ointments, or unguenta, for the aristocracy. Particularly renowned among them was a perfumer named Agathon. The name Agathon derives from the Greek αγαθό, or agatho, meaning “the good” or “a good thing.” His fragrances were said to be so divinely inspired that they were described as “the work of the gods.”
His workshop really existed in Pompeii and has been archaeologically identified as the building known as the House of the Garden of Hercules, or House of the Perfumer. Analysis of excavated vessels and pollen has even made it possible to identify materials used in perfumery at the time.
The memory of this legendary place and figure forms the foundation of Agatho Parfum.
Founded by Alessandro Bianchi in 2018
The brand was founded in 2018 by the Italian entrepreneur Alessandro Bianchi. Deeply interested in the ancient culture of perfumery that flourished in Pompeii, he launched a project to reinterpret it as contemporary luxury perfumery.
The company name, Caminus Capodimonte S.r.l., can be interpreted as combining a word that evokes camino, Italian for “fireplace,” with a tribute to the Capodimonte porcelain manufactory discussed below. Its headquarters are in Cassino, southeast of Rome, where the porcelain caps are also made.
The core of the brand as Bianchi conceived it can be summed up in three words: Ambition, Rediscovery, and Mastery. Unearthing the exceptional fragrance culture of the past and bringing it new life through a contemporary sensibility and the finest materials is the essence of the “olfactory project” that is Agatho Parfum.
Working with Perfumer Maurizio Cerizza
The brand’s fragrances are created by perfumer Maurizio Cerizza.
Cerizza comes from a family immersed in the world of perfumery. In 1946, his father, Aurelio Cerizza, founded the essential-oil extraction company EMA (Essenze e Materie Aromatiche) in Milan. He later established another base in Imperia, Liguria, distilling and extracting natural materials including jasmine, rose, iris, and ylang-ylang. The young Maurizio reportedly grew up familiar with stills and essential-oil storerooms, absorbing the language of essential oils through experience.
He trained as a perfumer at France’s prestigious Roure Perfumery School. His mentor was René Ricord, who had been an assistant to the great perfumer Jean Carles (in Japanese). From Ricord, Cerizza inherited the method established by Carles: completing a formula on paper before combining the ingredients.
“A perfumer is essentially an artist who must control raw materials as a painter uses colors and a musician uses notes, first imagining a combination and then bringing it into being.”
Over a career of thirty years or more, he has created one hundred or more fragrances, achieving his first major success with the women’s fragrance for ROCCOBARROCO in 1986. He is also known for his work with Cale Fragranze d’Autore and is a member of the French Society of Perfumers (SFP, Société Française des Parfumeurs).
What Defines the Brand
A Philosophy of Fragrance Creation
Bianchi describes the essence of niche perfumery as follows.
“Our core values of authenticity, craftsmanship, and storytelling are also highly valued abroad. Our strength lies in the value of handcraft. That is the only true way to distinguish ourselves in an increasingly homogenized global market.”
— Alessandro Bianchi, CEO, Agatho Parfum
Each fragrance draws inspiration from Pompeii’s ruins, archaeological discoveries, and figures or events from Greek and Roman mythology, going beyond merely offering a “pleasant scent.” The brand aims to offer the experience of wearing a story. All its products are also designed to be vegan and cruelty-free.
A Commitment to Bottles and Packaging
The first thing that captures the attention of anyone holding an Agatho Parfum bottle is its Capodimonte porcelain cap.
Capodimonte porcelain traces its origins to the Real Fabbrica di Capodimonte, founded in 1743 in Capodimonte, on the outskirts of Naples, by the Bourbon King Charles III, King of Naples and Sicily. This same Charles III was also the figure who substantially advanced the excavation of Pompeii. Here, Agatho Parfum’s two spiritual sources, ancient Pompeii and Capodimonte porcelain, intersect. Every cap is handmade and hand-painted using traditional techniques, so no two patterns are identical.
“Every fragrance is an exclusive, one-of-a-kind piece.”
— Alessandro Bianchi
The bottles are housed in beautiful wooden boxes made from sustainable, locally sourced materials. By maintaining handcraft throughout every product, the brand distinguishes itself from the industrialized perfume market.
The Perfume Lineup
Agatho Parfum currently offers three main collections: the Pompei Collection, the Mytho Collection, and the Olympia Collection.
Pompei Collection
Each fragrance is based on a historical or mythological theme associated with Pompeii.
- ROSSOPOMPEIANO: Inspired by the vivid red wall paintings that symbolize Pompeii. Top notes of mandarin, galbanum, and bitter almond lead to a rich floral heart of Damask rose, ylang-ylang, orange blossom, and jasmine sambac. Patchouli, labdanum, sandalwood, and vanilla form a deep base.
- GIARDINODIERCOLE: Modeled on the archaeologically excavated House of the Garden of Hercules, also called the House of the Perfumer. A spicy, smoky composition leading from lavender, rhubarb, and juniper berry top notes into frankincense, black pepper, and clary sage.
- FAUNO: A distinctive opening of grapefruit, tobacco, and artemisia. A heart of tuberose, juniper, and sage leads to a base of cedar, frankincense, suede, amber, and patchouli.
- CASTIAMANTI: A spicy opening of saffron, bay, and myrtle gives way to a heart of rose and honey. Labdanum, oud, and vanilla leave a sensual trail.
- ADONE: Inspired by the love between Adonis, or Adone in Italian, and Aphrodite in Greek mythology. A sharp beginning of blackcurrant, grapefruit, and pink pepper develops into florals of Damask rose, wisteria, and white lily.
- 195 a.C.: Commemorates the repeal in 195 BC of the Lex Oppia, which restricted women’s freedom and wealth. Fig leaf, lemon, and bergamot open the fragrance, followed by a heart of fig, cardamom, and jasmine and a complex base of black tea, oud, and leather.
- SILENO: A fresh opening of orange blossom and blackcurrant, with a heart of ylang-ylang, Mediterranean undergrowth, and Sichuan pepper. Cedar and seaweed absolute create a striking base.
- PORTAMARINA: A scene of the Pompeian coast at dawn. Apple, orange, and bergamot blend with aromatic plants and powdery iris to evoke the morning air of the Mediterranean. It was also selected among Fragrantica’s “Best Perfumes of 2025.”
- VETTII: A meeting point between the East and the Mediterranean. Fig and strawberry tree mingle with saffron, myrrh, and oud, celebrating the beauty of cultural exchange.
Mytho Collection
A line inspired by Pompeii under Greek rule and by Greek mythology. Offered as 50 ml extraits de parfum, it places greater emphasis on “myth and spirituality” than the Pompei Collection, with divine archetypes at the center of each fragrance.
- TERRAVIVA: An ode to orange blossom dedicated to Hera, the earth goddess. Rose, jasmine, bergamot, vetiver, and creamy sandalwood come together in harmony.
- SEIGIORNI: The Mytho Collection’s bestseller. An olfactory interpretation of the spirit of Dionysus, the god of wine and ecstasy. Light woods, musk, and amber create a mysterious trail beneath the sweetness of grape must, white peach, and candied lemon.
- OLIMPOVERDE: Dedicated to the wisdom and virtues of the goddess Athena. Calamondin, sweet orange, red thyme, and tonka bean meet jasmine and transparent musk.
- SENZARAGIONE: A new release from 2025. A fragrance of instinct and desire born from the enchantment of Eros. A cherry top leads to a heart of marine notes and sandalwood, over a base of amber, benzoin, and musk.
Olympia Collection
A line celebrating the nobility, spirituality, and ritual nature of sport in ancient Greece. Offered as 50 ml eaux de parfum, it has a more modern, dynamic character than the Mytho Collection.
- CINISCA: Released in 2025. A tribute to Cynisca, the daughter of a Spartan king, who is said to have been the first to win at the ancient Olympic Games. A dynamic opening of neroli, tuberose, and juniper is joined by lily and pink pepper. A base of vetiver and leather evokes the powerful rush of her chariot.
- BRONZEO: A spicy woody fragrance that dresses the wearer in the beauty of ancient Greek sculpture and athletic competition.
- VERDESETA: Inspired by the pre-competition ritual of preparing the body by applying olive oil. A Mediterranean creation with a striking tartness of freshly pressed olives.
- FORZAPURA: Released in 2024. Top notes of grapefruit, lemon, and spices lead to a heart of labdanum, elemi resin, and black tea, followed by a powerful base of vetiver, cedar, and sandalwood.
A Few More Details…
In 2025, Portamarina was selected among Fragrantica’s “Best Perfumes of 2025.”
References
- Agatho Parfum – Excellence in Innovative Perfumery – https://www.izabelacorina.com/post/agatho-parfum-excellence-in-innovative-perfumery
- Agatho – The fragrant seduction of the ancient world – https://www.izabelacorina.com/post/agatho-the-fragrant-seduction-of-the-ancient-world
- Smellstories.be – Agatho brand page (quotes Alessandro Bianchi) – https://www.smellstories.be/en/brands/agatho/
- Lusso 360 Podcast S2 E4 – Alessandro Bianchi interview overview – https://www.brandtherapy.mc/podcast/s2-e4-alessandro-bianchi/
- Lusso 360 / Everand – Profumeria artistica con Alessandro Bianchi (founder interview, Italian-language podcast) – https://www.everand.com/podcast/739127357/Profumeria-artistica-con-Alessandro-Bianchi-fondatore-Agatho-Parfum
- Per Fumus Chicago – A Closer Look at Agatho (fragrance reviews and brand overview) – https://perfumuschicago.wordpress.com/2024/04/11/a-closer-look-at-agatho/
- Agatho Parfum official website – https://agathoparfum.com/
- LinkedIn – Agatho Parfum (CEO’s comments and Forbes SmallGiants coverage) – https://www.linkedin.com/posts/agatho-parfum_agathoparfum-globalbusiness-forbes-activity-7417580957492314114-pfi-
- Fragrance Russia – Agatho brand overview – https://fragrancerussia.com/en-us/agatho
- Luckyscent – Maurizio Cerizza perfumer profile – https://www.luckyscent.com/perfumers/maurizio-cerizza
- Agoratopia – Maurizio Cerizza perfumer profile – https://www.agoratopia.ro/perfumers/maurizio-cerizza
- Accademia del Profumo – Maurizio Cerizza e CFF (Italian) – https://www.accademiadelprofumo.it/storie-di-nasi/maurizio-cerizzae-creative-flavours-and-fragrances/
- Agatho Parfum Olympia Collection official page – https://agathoparfum.com/18-olympia-collection
- Fragrance Vault – Agatho CINISCA eau de parfum – https://fragrancevault.net/products/agatho-cinisca-eau-de-parfum
- AOL/Fox News – Ancient Roman ‘perfume garden’ blooms again (excavation of Pompeii’s House of the Perfumer) – https://www.aol.com/news/ancient-roman-perfume-garden-blooms-080023650.html
- Wikipedia – Capodimonte porcelain – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capodimonte_porcelain
- Fragrantica Best Perfumes 2025 (Portamarina selected) – Polish-language report https://blog.missala.pl/ciekawostki/portamarina-agatho-parfum-w-zestawieniu-fragrantica-best-perfumes-2025/
- Agatho Parfum Facebook – Announcement of participation in Esxence 2025 – https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1108302997974845&id=100063854653836&set=a.461995145938970
