You have to hand it to Atkinsons for a remarkable re-invention. The brand was founded in 1799 and while it’s a long way from the original (thankfully, as one of the first products created by James Atkinson right back in the day was a rose-scented balm made from bear fat) it’s certainly thrown off any fusty notion of a heritage brand. Heritage brands are all very well, and it’s tempting to cling to the past as a way into the future, but it doesn’t work for many brands. Perhaps this is because we have such a barrage of ‘new’ that old seems, well, just too old.
The presentation is beautiful – you really feel as though you have something special in your hands when you open the box – and the new Scilly Neroli fragrance is so many summer things at once that it’s just a pleasure on the nose. You do get rather a lot of alcohol as an opener, but a moment’s patience and this fragrance blooms into the scent of the sea followed by a sun burst of citrus. It’s just delicious! The dry down takes it to a more rounded, soft but zesty floral with notes of neroli and orange blossom (which explains why I like it so much – orange blossom is a favourite of mine) with a base of ambergris and patchouli (light on that, thankfully). It’s available as a Harrods exclusive in May for £120.
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