Puente Perfumes Medusa and Arrnold Blocklin Medusa, c. 1878, Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg, Germany apped by Michelyn

Medusa once had charms; to gain her love
A rival crowd of envious lovers strove.
They, who have seen her, own, they ne’er did trace
More moving features in a sweeter face.
Yet above all, her length of hair, they own,

In golden ringlets wav’d, and graceful shone.
Her Neptune saw, and with such beauties fir’d,
Resolv’d to compass, what his soul desir’d.
In chaste Minerva’s fane, he, lustful, stay’d,
And seiz’d, and rifled the young, blushing maid. ~ from Ovid’s Metamorphoses

 

Jacek Malczewski, Medusa 1900 via Wiki

Let us feel compassion for poor Medusa, aka Gorgo – she who was once a beautiful maiden in ancient times, violated by the mighty Poseidon within the sanctity of Athena’s temple. Of course, Athena was outraged; she turned Medusa’s enviable locks into a terrifying mass of slithering snakes. Whosoever gazed upon her frightful visage would be turned to stone. The Gods were vengeful, jealous, lust-filled and indeed bloodthirsty as a rule: what had Medusa done to deserve such punishment?

Perseus With Head of Medusa by Antonio Canova via wiki

When King Polydectes held a banquet under the proviso that each guest bring a horse, Perseus (son of Danaë) had none, and promised to deliver whatever the king wished – which happened to be the head of the only mortal Gorgon (of the three extant Gorgons), Medusa. The gods rushed to Perseus’ aid, bestowing upon him the following gifts: from the Hesperides, a knapsack for her head; from Zeus, an adamantine sword; Hades gave him a helm of darkness. Hermes lent him winged sandals – and Athena, a polished reflective shield. Medusa never stood a chance.

Natural Perfumer Eliam Puente of Puente Perfumes courtesy of the perfumer

Puente Perfumes Medusa is the first (in what I hope to be many more perfumes!) fragrance created by Spain-based, Cuban-born and USA-raised natural perfumer and gifted painter Eliam Puente. Eliam has long been passionate about perfume, which is how we became acquainted years ago on the fragrance boards. He is a creative spirit who expresses himself visually via whimsical drawings and paintings – often of headless nude figures in arresting poses: full of voluptuousness, humor and elegant composition. When Eliam contacted me some months ago and revealed that he was busy at work creating a perfume, he asked if I would be interested in sampling it; of course, I said YES. My sample took awhile to arrive and was worth the wait – yet another brilliant natural perfume of 2022. It was the perfumer’s desire to express both the beauty and monstrosity of Gorgon Medusa – which he has achieved in the first part through floralcy, and in the latter, via mystery and an animalic underbelly.

From Medusa’s Tale Medusa and young Perseus “Medusa’s Tale” by Carol Lashof — Photo by Kade Mendelowitz, Theatre UAF

Puente Perfumes Medusa is one of the headiest, most éblouissant scents: a potent elixir bathed in indolic waves of secretive blossoms, underscored by a plethora of vetiver racinettes, inky oakmoss and beguiling civet. The perfumer (much like myself) is besotted with exquisite raw materials and only employs the finest which come to hand. By necessity, these components are costly – but they take you on a journey which can’t be imitated and develop in a manner that makes your head swim. Medusa is so sensual that it must be smelt to be believed.

As the perfume commences, my nostrils are assailed by stunning floral absolutes of jasmine, a deeply honeyed orange blossom and Moroccan rose – which produce endorphins resembling the first flush of erotic love. Their effect intoxicates. I perceive orris as a bridge note, present at the very heart and capable of extending longevity in the base. Puente Perfumes Medusa possesses a classically refined and impressive base comprised of few materials – vetiver, oakmoss and civet – and these perform with aplomb, imbuing the fragrance with colorful, shadowy aspects. There is a luminous quality to vetiver which accompanies its earthiness; oakmoss, on the other hand imparts a numinous, otherworldly aspect. The civet utilized in Medusa is a tincture, and it occupies a full 30% of the formula (per the perfumer): civet maintains its animalic nature while melding into an extravagant bouquet where only the rose bears no fangs or sequestered claws.

1912 the Kiss Clarence Underwood Waltz common use

Medusa, in toto – achieves the sensation of being held in the clasp of a masterly ballroom dancing partner who waltzes you across the room so swiftly and suavely that you feel faint, dizzy with pleasure. You can hear your pulse resound in your ears; feel the heat rising from the hand around your waist; your feet barely touch the floor. It brings back memories of my first waltz at fifteen with a shockingly handsome older Slavic gentleman: I never wished the music to stop. I was breathless and befuddled and ecstatic all at once.

Notes: jasmine sambac and grandiflorum, Moroccan rose, orange blossom, orris root, benzoin, vetiver, oakmoss, civet

Sample provided by the perfumer – many thanks! I rushed out and purchased a flacon soon after.  My nose is my own…

~ Ida Meister, Deputy and Natural Perfumery Editor

Art Direction: Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief

Puente Perfumes Medusa

Thanks to the largesse of perfumer Eliam Puente we have a of 12.5 bottle of Puente Perfumes Medusa for one registered reader in the EU, USA, UK or Canada. To be eligible, please leave a comment regarding what appealed to you in Ida’s review or Puente Perfumes Medusa and where you live. What other god or goddess would be a great inspiration for a fragrance. Draw closes 11/219/2022 and the winner will be announced within10 days later

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