Argos: a guide to the house and its perfumes
Argos is an American house, founded in 2014 by Christian Petrovich, that builds every fragrance on a Greek or Roman myth. This guide covers the ten Argos perfumes we list, with their notes and the myth or painting behind each.
Argos Fragrances was founded in 2014 by Christian Petrovich, whom the brand describes as a self-trained perfumer and whom its About page places in Dallas, Texas. The name has two sources in Greek myth: Argus Panoptes, the all-seeing giant, and Argos, the faithful dog of Odysseus who recognised his master by scent. The tagline is Be remembered. The ten perfumes we list are in the Argos collection.
What the house stands for
Every Argos fragrance is built on a Greek or Roman myth, and the Artist Series pairs the myth with a painting: Gustav Klimt for Danaë and Pallas Athene, John William Waterhouse for Adonis Awakens, Johann Michael Rottmayr for Neptune's Trident. The bottles of that series are thick, hand-polished Italian glass with a custom metal cap and a flush-mounted metal artwork plate designed by Petrovich. The brand says blending and maceration take place in its own laboratory in France, and its About page names both Grasse and Nice. It also states that its fragrances are cruelty-free.
What the perfumes have in common
Nine of our ten are Eau de Parfum and Neptune's Trident is an Extrait de Parfum, all in 100 ml. The pyramids are generous, and two materials run through the range: bergamot opens nine of the ten, and Mysore sandalwood is in the base of seven. The brand names Christian Petrovich as perfumer on some pages and no one on others, so we mention him where the brand does. If the long note lists look daunting, how to read a fragrance pyramid helps.
The perfumes we list
Fragrantica reviews decide the order, counted in early October 2026, from most to fewest.
Triumph of Bacchus
Bacchus, the Roman god of wine and revelry, presented as the liberator who frees mortals from self-consciousness through wine, music and dance. Created in 2019 by Christian Petrovich. Saffron, rum, white peach and green apple open it, patchouli, jasmine, tonka bean and vetiver form the heart, and tobacco, amber, Mysore sandalwood, musk and vanilla are the base. With 433 reviews it is far ahead of the rest of the list.
Adonis Awakens
From the Artist Series, after The Awakening of Adonis by John William Waterhouse. The legend of Adonis and Aphrodite, in which the goddess's blood turns a white rose crimson, puts rose at the centre. Bergamot, grapefruit and pink peppercorn open it, Bulgarian rose, sambac jasmine, vanilla, raspberry and chestnut fill the heart, and Mysore sandalwood, cashmere wood and rose absolute close it.
Fall of Phaeton
After Peter Paul Rubens' painting of Phaeton, the son of the sun god who lost control of his father's chariot. The brand builds it as bold and dramatic: bergamot, lemon, cardamom, pink peppercorn and ginger at the start, labdanum, lavender and agarwood in the middle, and musk, leather, tonka bean and vanilla underneath.
Danaë
From the first Artist Series and created in 2021 by Christian Petrovich, after Gustav Klimt's 1907 painting of the princess visited by Zeus as golden rain. Bergamot and Sicilian lemon open it, pink peppercorn, guaiac wood, cedar wood and cashmere wood form a spicy, woody middle, and cistus, patchouli, Mysore sandalwood and musk are the base.
Birth of Venus
Sandro Botticelli's Venus rising from the sea, as a luminous floral-fruity composition that the brand calls feminine and unisex-leaning. Citrus, peach and lavender lead, a heart of narcissus, jasmine sambac and rose is sweetened with raspberry and a hint of chocolate, and amber, vetiver and Mysore sandalwood form the base.
Sacred Flame
Dedicated to Prometheus, the Titan who stole fire from Olympus, and described as warm, radiant and always changing on the skin. Citrus, ginger and clove spark the opening, rose, tuberose, violet and cinnamon bark follow, and a resinous base of amber, benzoin, opoponax, sandalwood and vanilla glows underneath.
Neptune's Trident
From Artist Series VIII, after Johann Michael Rottmayr's paintings of Neptune, with the sea god's two sides, calm water and rising storm, as its theme. Bergamot, mandarin orange, lavender and cardamom open it, geranium, green tea, orange blossom and jasmine sambac form a calm heart, and vetiver, musk, labdanum, ambergris, iris and sandalwood are the base.
Bacio Immortale
The name means immortal kiss and refers to Eros and Psyche, whose love survived trials as far as the underworld. Created in 2019 by Christian Petrovich. Bergamot, lemon, pepper and raspberry open it, violet, jasmine, leather and pink peppercorn follow, and musk, leather, oud, birch and vanilla form the base.
Pallas Athene
One of the first perfumes of Artist Series I, created in 2022 by Christian Petrovich after Gustav Klimt's 1898 painting of the Greek goddess of wisdom, art and courage. Bergamot, grapefruit, pink peppercorn and red berry open it, peony, hyacinth, violet and rose petals form the heart, and iris, Mysore sandalwood, amber, vetiver, patchouli and vanilla settle underneath. The brand describes it as feminine.
Love Triumphs Over War
After Peter Paul Rubens' painting of Venus disarming Mars, read by the brand as love prevailing over conflict. It opens with citrus, orange blossom, rose petals and raspberry, moves into a floral, spicy heart of violet, clove, cinnamon, geranium, gardenia, iris and ylang-ylang, and rests on amber, white musk, Mysore sandalwood, cashmere wood, patchouli and vanilla.
Where to start
- Warm, boozy and sweet: Triumph of Bacchus.
- Rose: Adonis Awakens.
- Spice, resin and leather: Fall of Phaeton, Sacred Flame and Bacio Immortale.
- Citrus and woods: Danaë.
- Fresh, with green tea and lavender: Neptune's Trident.
- Big florals: Birth of Venus, Pallas Athene and Love Triumphs Over War.
Every house we list has its place on the brands page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Argos Artist Series?
A series in which Argos pairs a myth with a painting, such as Gustav Klimt for Danaë and Pallas Athene or John William Waterhouse for Adonis Awakens. The bottles carry a metal artwork plate that shows the painting.
Where does the name Argos come from?
From Greek myth: Argus Panoptes, the all-seeing giant, and Argos, the dog of Odysseus who recognised his master by scent. The logo is an eye inside a Greek-key circle.
Which concentrations does Argos use?
Most Argos perfumes are Eau de Parfum, and the brand says newer releases such as Neptune's Trident are Extrait de Parfum. Nine of the ten we list are Eau de Parfum.
