The Greeks had a wide pantheon of gods and demigods, but after polling our Facebook followers and brainstorming fragrances, we settled on a collection featuring six Olympian inspired candles. Here are the candles we've created, plus a little about the gods and goddess they represent.
Zeus
The god of the sky and thunder, Zeus is the king of the gods--and the father to many of them. Infamous for "playing the field," stories involving him often revolve around his many lovers and wives. He was also the one who conquered his own cannibalistic father, Cronus, who had a habit of eating his children to stop them from overthrowing him.
Zeus's symbols are the thunderbolt, eagles, bulls, and oak trees.
The Scent:
Because of his association with lightning, we chose a rain and ozone fragrance for Zeus. It'll make you feel like you're standing in the middle of a thunderstorm.
Athena
The goddess of wisdom was said to have sprung full grown from Zeus's head after he swallowed her pregnant mother when she was in the form of a fly. The famous Parthenon temple is dedicated to her, and she was the patron goddess of Athens, one of the great cultural centers of ancient Greece. She was known to aid many great heroes.
Athena's symbols include owls, olive trees, snakes, and the Gorgon head she carries upon a shield.
The Scent:
Athena's symbol of the olive tree features prominently in her scent of olive branches, matured with bergamot and brightened by lemon.
Hades
Zeus's brother and the lord of the underworld has become a fan favorite in modern times due to portrayals in properties such as Disney's Hercules and the web comic Lore Olympus. He dwells in a dark, subterranean land among the dead.
Hade's symbols include the pomegranate, his three headed dog, mint plants, and screech owls.
The Scent:
For Hades we chose a dark, smoky fragrance, in this case warm patchouli, smoke, and black pepper.
Poseidon
Another brother of Zeus, the mercurial Poseidon is the god of the sea, earthquakes and horses. Known to carry a trident and ride a chariot pulled by fish-tailed steeds, he is often called the "Earth-Shaker," and he is known to be temperamental and easily angered.
Among his symbols are his trident, fish, dolphins, and horses.
The Scent:
We wanted a scent to capture a storm at sea and so we have included notes of driftwood, cypress, and black sea salt.
Aphrodite
The goddess of love is said in some stories to be the daughter of Zeus and in others to have risen, fully-grown, out of the sea on a shell. She is usually said to be both the wife of Hephaestus, the blacksmith of the gods, and the lover of Ares, the god of war. She is often called the most lovely of the Olympians.
Doves, roses, sparrows, and swans are her symbols.
The Scent:
For Aphrodite the scent needed to be decadent and tantalizing. We couldn't think of anything more seductive than chocolate and pomegranate, further heightened by a swirl of chai spices.
Artemis
The wild and free goddess of the hunt, nature, the moon, and childbirth was said to have never married. She was the protector of maidens and loved to go with her handmaidens and her hounds to hunt beneath the moon. She was also a master of the bow.
Among the symbols for Artemis are her bow and arrows, the moon, the lyre, and amaranth.
The Scent:
Artemis dwells in nature, and her scent needed to reflect this. We have chosen lavender and herbs, oaken branches, and vanilla blossoms.
Those are the scents and their inspirations. Which are YOU the most excited about?
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