The first impression of Dionysus is that it has a fermented quality about it, composed of resins, honey and grains. I would have to say, it reminds me of blond ale on draft infused with the sweetness of benzoin and ambergris.
The perfumer Adam Gottschalk has developed this fragrance very close to the true nature of ancient wines. It has a flowery bouquet of jonquil, jasmine, and honeysuckle and although rosewood, petit grain and pepper sit at the head; upon first whiff the nose lands directly at the core and deepens into the base.
Into the dry down Dionysus really gives way to the smell of beer that has seeped down into the oak planks of an old European pub. I would imagine this delight being made possible in the base accord by combining cognac and costus root. They absolutely intermingle with the pungent musk of ambrette seeds threading back through to spikenard sitting at the heart of the fragrance.
I am always amazed at what ambrette can bring to any blend. It adds the prefect muskiness and sexual tension to Dionysus. Even though the perfume is filled with flower power, I would not describe it as a pretty fragrance. However, it is smooth and sexy in its subtlety with a really nice staying power. It lingers on the skin like the afterglow of a night filled with passion.
– Rodney F. Hughes, Contributing Editor
Editor's note: I am familiar with many of Adam's fragrances, at least I smelled them perhaps as a work in progress six months ago. CaFleureBon reviewed Demeter,https://cafleurebon.com//demeter-by-adam-gottschalk/
I chose the work of Pablo Piccsso for Adam. Here's why. Picasso went through many stages in his artwork, as I believe Adam does with his fragrances and secondly for Picasso the man, the rebel, the Artist who challenged notions of what constitutes ART.
Reminder: Temple of Musk is the bottle we are giving away at Cafleurebon. We will draw from among all comments on The Mystery of Musk articles on Cafleurebon at the end of the project.