Article: Agatho Parfum: Pompeii in a bottle, porcelain on top
Agatho Parfum: Pompeii in a bottle, porcelain on top
In the year 79, Vesuvius stopped an entire city mid-sentence. Pompeii lay buried under ash with its frescoes, gardens, shops and, as the brand tells it, the workshop of a perfumer called Agatho. Almost two thousand years later, a Roman painter and architect dedicated a perfume house to him. We introduce Agatho Parfum, explain why every bottle wears a hand-painted porcelain stopper and show which of the nine Pompei fragrances in our shop suits you.
- Founder: Alessandro Bianchi, painter and architect. According to the brand, Agatho was born in 2018 in his studio in Rome, as a sketch on paper.
- The name honours Agatho, a perfumer in ancient Pompeii.
- The signature: porcelain stoppers in the Capodimonte tradition, shaped and painted by hand, no two alike.
- In our shop: all nine Extraits de Parfum of the Pompei collection in 100 ml.
- For autumn: Castiamanti, Rossopompeiano, Vettii and Fauno. Fresher: Adone, Sileno and Portamarina.
Who is behind Agatho Parfum?
An artist, not a chemist. According to the brand, Alessandro Bianchi is a painter and architect, so at Agatho every fragrance begins with a drawing. The brand says it was born in 2018 in Bianchi’s studio in Rome as a sketch on paper. You can see it in the bottles: they look like small sculptures, built from glass, metal and a round porcelain head.
Alessandro Bianchi
Founded Agatho Parfum in Rome in 2018. His drawings are the starting point for the brand’s bottles and stoppers.
The brand’s website does not name a perfumer. For several Pompei fragrances, the fragrance database Parfumo lists the Italian perfumer Maurizio Cerizza.
Who was Agatho?
According to the brand, a perfumer in ancient Pompeii whose workshop can still be visited at the archaeological site today. The trade fair Pitti Fragranze describes him as a master who made precious ointments for the Roman upper class. That is not far-fetched: scented oils and ointments were part of everyday life for the wealthy in Pompeii, and one of the nine fragrances bears the name of a garden where, according to the brand, flowers were grown for garlands and scented oils, the Giardino di Ercole.
Each fragrance of the Pompei collection is dedicated to a place or figure of the city. Rossopompeiano to the famous red of the frescoes, Castiamanti to the House of the Chaste Lovers, Vettii to one of the most magnificent houses, Portamarina to the sea gate through which people walked to the coast.
Why do Agatho bottles have a porcelain stopper?
Because a second Italian craft comes into play. According to the brand, the stoppers are made using the Capodimonte technique, the porcelain tradition that began in the 18th century with the royal manufactory of Charles of Bourbon near Naples. They are cast in the brand’s own atelier, shaped by hand and painted by hand. That is why no two stoppers are identical. If you place two bottles of the same fragrance side by side in our boutique, you can check for yourself.
The design has made a name for itself: in 2026 the Pompei collection was selected by the jury of the packaging fair Packaging Première in Milan in the design category. According to the brand, Agatho is available in more than 30 countries and has partnered with the Toronto International Film Festival and the Torino Film Festival.
Which Agatho fragrances do we carry?
All nine fragrances of the Pompei collection, each as an Extrait de Parfum in 100 ml. What the high concentration means for longevity and projection is explained in our article Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum or Extrait. The notes are those given by the brand.
CastiamantiSaffron, honey, oud€320
RossopompeianoMandarin, rose, sandalwood€300
VettiiQuince, saffron, oud€290
FaunoTobacco leaf, mugwort, suede€290
Giardino di ErcoleLavender, incense, cedar€290
195 A.C.Fig, cardamom, black tea€320
AdoneBlackcurrant, lily, Ambroxan€290
SilenoBlackcurrant, maquis, seaweed€320
PortamarinaApple, iris, sea breeze€290
Live prices from our shop, as of 24 Oct 2026. You will find all the brand’s fragrances in the Agatho Parfum collection.
Castiamanti: the lovers’ banquet
Named after the Casa dei Casti Amanti, whose frescoes show couples at a feast. Saffron, laurel and myrtle open, honey, rose and jasmine form the heart, and oud, incense, labdanum, amber and vanilla lie underneath. Rich, warm and made for long autumn evenings. If you want to know what the vanilla in the base does, read our article Vanilla in perfume.
Rossopompeiano: the red of the frescoes
Yellow mandarin, galbanum and a hint of almond, then a large bouquet of Damask rose, sambac jasmine, ylang-ylang and orange blossom, carried by sandalwood, patchouli, labdanum and vanilla. Classically built, modern in the drydown. A fragrance for people who love flowers, but not dainty little ones.
Vettii and Fauno: spice and smoke
Vettii tells of multilingual Pompeii: fig, strawberry tree and quince meet saffron, coriander and myrrh, with oud, sandalwood and tolu balsam below. Fauno is dedicated to the faun whose bronze statue gave the House of the Faun its name. Mugwort, tobacco leaves and citrus open, juniper and clary sage follow, suede and woods remain. How leather gets into a bottle without ever having been in it is explained in Leather in perfume.
Giardino di Ercole and 195 A.C.: garden and freedom
Giardino di Ercole is aromatic and dry, with lavender, rhubarb and cistus on top and incense, saffron and black pepper in the heart. According to the brand, 195 A.C. celebrates the year in which Rome repealed the Lex Oppia, a law that had restricted women’s luxury. At its centre is fig, accompanied by cardamom, jasmine, black tea and cashmere wood.
Adone, Sileno, Portamarina: the fresh ones
Adone tells of Adonis and Aphrodite, bright and floral with blackcurrant, pink pepper, lily and Ambroxan. Learn more about this molecule in Iso E Super, Ambroxan, Hedione. Sileno brings Mediterranean maquis, Sichuan pepper and seaweed absolute. Portamarina is the lightest of the nine: apple, orange, sage, iris and a hint of sea breeze.
Which Agatho suits you?
Our recommendation from the boutique, without guarantee but with good chances:
| You like … | Then try | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| honey, saffron and oud | Castiamanti | autumn and winter evenings |
| big flowers with a warm base | Rossopompeiano | dinners, dates, cool days |
| fruit and spice | Vettii | special occasions in autumn |
| tobacco, herbs and leather | Fauno | cold evenings |
| lavender and incense | Giardino di Ercole | autumn, also at the office |
| green fig and tea | 195 A.C. | from spring into autumn |
| bright flowers and citrus | Adone | spring and summer |
| sea, herbs and salt | Sileno or Portamarina | warm days, the office |
How an extrait changes over the hours is shown in our fragrance pyramid. A good reason to wear each fragrance on your skin for at least half a day before you decide.
Agatho curiosities
Of volcanoes, porcelain and a law on gold
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A perfumer as namesake
According to the brand, Agatho was a perfumer in Pompeii. His city perished in the year 79; today his name is worn in more than 30 countries.
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No two stoppers alike
Every porcelain head is shaped and painted by hand. Your bottle is therefore one of a kind.
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A fragrance for a repealed law
The Lex Oppia of 215 BC allowed Roman women no more than half an ounce of gold. It was repealed in 195 BC, the very year the fragrance carries in its name.
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An Olympic champion in the range
In the brand’s Olympia collection, one fragrance is called Cinisca. Cynisca of Sparta is considered the first woman to win at the ancient Olympic Games, in chariot racing.
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A painter instead of a chemist
The founder is a painter and architect. At Agatho, the bottles begin as drawings.
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Award-winning packaging
In 2026 the jury of the Milan fair Packaging Première selected the Pompei collection in the design category.
- Founded: 2018 in Rome by Alessandro Bianchi.
- Collections: Pompei (9 extraits, 100 ml), Mytho (4 extraits, 50 ml), Olympia (4 eaux de parfum, 50 ml, a homage to vetiver).
- Perfumer: not named by the brand; Parfumo lists Maurizio Cerizza for several Pompei fragrances, including 195 A.C.
- Stoppers: porcelain in the Capodimonte tradition, shaped and painted by hand in the brand’s own atelier.
- Distribution: in German-speaking countries via Classic Parfums since July 2026.
Frequently asked questions about Agatho Parfum
Where is Agatho Parfum from?
From Italy. The brand was founded in Rome in 2018 and draws on ancient Pompeii near Naples.
Who founded Agatho Parfum?
Alessandro Bianchi, a painter and architect. According to the brand, it began as a sketch in his studio.
What does the name Agatho mean?
According to the brand, Agatho was a perfumer in ancient Pompeii who made precious ointments and scented oils.
Are Agatho fragrances extraits?
According to the brand, the nine fragrances of the Pompei collection are Extraits de Parfum. We carry them in 100 ml.
Which Agatho fragrance suits autumn?
Castiamanti, Rossopompeiano, Vettii and Fauno. All four are warm, spicy or smoky and made for cool evenings.
Can I try Agatho first?
Yes. With every bottle of 30 ml or more we include a 2 ml sample of the same fragrance. In our boutique in Bregenz you can try all nine directly on your skin.
Smell first, then fall in love
Pompeii is best smelled for yourself. With every bottle of 30 ml or more we include a 2 ml sample of the same fragrance; from an order value of € 90, four more 2 ml samples of your choice, subject to availability (note your wishes in the order comment). From an order value of € 200, standard shipping to Austria and Germany is free.
Or visit our boutique in Bregenz, hold one of the porcelain stoppers in your hand and choose your own one-of-a-kind piece.
Your 4D Outfitters team, Bregenz
Sources: Agatho Parfum: La Maison · Agatho Parfum: Mytho · Agatho Parfum: Olympia · Pitti Fragranze: Agatho · m-w.de: Classic Parfums and Agatho · Packaging Première · Parfumo: Agatho · Wikipedia: Lex Oppia · Wikipedia: Cynisca
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