Atkinsons Perfumes

How Did Atkinsons Start with a Bear?

London, 1799.  James Atkinson came to London to open a perfume business.

Legend has it that he brought a bear with him, which became part of his story when opening his business and remains a symbol today. It’s not your typical perfume house start. But James Atkinson wasn’t your typical perfume maker either.

When most perfume houses were creating light fragrances with a European feel, he created fragrances with a more English feel.

His perfumes quickly caught the attention of King George IV, and in 1826, he was appointed perfumer to the royal family.

We see this history today in many of the perfumes sold under the Atkinsons name. Some are named after old London addresses, while others pay homage to royalty, society and love stories.

Some just smell good.

What Does an Old London Address Smell Like?

Atkinsons 24 Old Bond Street Eau de Cologne is one of those perfumes that has a strange name. It’s named after the address of Atkinsons’ original shop in Mayfair. However, it’s not meant to smell like a street in London.

It’s made up of many ingredients that we think of as very British. Starting off with juniper berry and cardamom.

Turkish rose, black tea and cade follow, and then a peated whisky accord. Think of the smell of juniper, black tea and a hint of whisky.

Of course, not all at once.

These are all notes that play into one another to create a fresh, spicy and slightly smoky scent. It’s definitely not what you would expect from an Eau de Cologne.

But that’s what makes it so unique.

Another Old London Address but with Eucalyptus & Ginger

Atkinsons also creates 44 Gerrard Street Eau de Cologne. This is named after its first shop in London.

You may think that because it shares a similar name to 24 Old Bond Street, it will smell similar.

But it’s nothing like it. Eucalyptus, lemon and ginger open up this fragrance. Eucalyptus has that cool, refreshing smell to it, and ginger gives it that spicy kick.

Jasmine, rose and orchid round it off, with amber, cashmere wood and musk. So, although they both have old London addresses as their names, they don’t have the same scent story.

One has black tea, juniper and whisky, while the other has eucalyptus, ginger, flowers and warm woods.

So, when choosing between the two, don’t let the address fool you. It’s all about the notes.

Save the King with Earl Grey & Suede

There is a story behind Atkinsons Oud Save the King. It’s inspired by the love story of Egyptian Crown Prince Mohammed Ali Ibrahim and American actress Mabel Normand.

Atkinsons took this story and created a fragrance that mixes British and Middle Eastern scents. Earl Grey bergamot opens this fragrance. Iris and suede leather follow, and sandalwood and oud close it off.

It’s an interesting mix of notes.

Earl Grey has that fresh, aromatic scent from bergamot. Suede has that smooth, soft leather feel to it, with sandalwood and oud giving it a warm, woody scent. It’s not your typical oud fragrance.

Save the Queen Smells Different

You may think that Oud Save the Queen will smell similar to Oud Save the King, but just a bit more floral. Well, it’s similar but not the same. Again, it starts off with an Earl Grey bergamot accord.

But jasmine and orange blossom take over from there, with guaiac wood and oud finishing it off. This gives Oud Save the Queen a more floral feel than Oud Save the King.

Both fragrances are inspired by the same love story but take it in different directions. So, if you’re buying one as a gift, look at the notes. If they like leather and woods, go for Oud Save the King. If they prefer more white florals, then go for Oud Save the Queen.

Inspired by a Wedding Bouquet

Not all Atkinsons fragrances are spicy or woody. The Nuptial Bouquet Eau de Toilette is inspired by Queen Victoria’s wedding to Prince Albert in 1840.

She had myrtle in her wedding bouquet, which became a popular flower in British royal weddings.

Atkinsons used this as inspiration for its fragrance.

Lily of the valley, myrtle flower, freesia and violet leaf are all used in this perfume, with white musk and sandalwood at the bottom.

It’s a much lighter scent compared to 24 Old Bond Street or Oud Save the King. Flowers rule this fragrance.

So, if you think Atkinsons only makes traditional-smelling perfumes, think again.

Mint & Tonic Smells Like Lime & Mint

Picture yourself squeezing a lime into a glass of mint. That fresh citrus scent combined with the freshness of mint. That’s what Atkinsons Mint & Tonic Eau de Parfum smells like.

Lime, grapefruit and mint open this fragrance.

Ginger and geranium give it that aromatic feel, and cedarwood, vetiver and musk close it off. It’s not what you would think a 200-year-old British perfume house would create.

But it’s a great option if you like fresh citrus fragrances.

Roses but Not Your Typical Rose Scent

Roses can be hard to describe when it comes to fragrances. Some are very sweet, and others have a fresh, green feel to them.

Atkinsons Rose in Wonderland Eau de Parfum is inspired by roses with dew on them. A rose dew accord and blackcurrant buds open this fragrance.

Rose centifolia and geranium follow, and vetiver and crystal amber finish it off. Blackcurrant buds give it that green, fresh scent, with vetiver adding an earthy, woody scent to it.

So, although it has roses in it, it’s not your average rose fragrance.

Atkinsons Can Be Fresh or Traditional Depending on the Perfume

As you can see, there are many different types of fragrances from Atkinsons. From 24 Old Bond Street, which has tea, juniper and whisky, to 44 Gerrard Street, which has eucalyptus, ginger and flowers.

• Or Oud Save the King, which has Earl Grey, suede and oud.
• And The Nuptial Bouquet, which has beautiful floral notes.
• Or even Mint & Tonic, which has that fresh citrus scent.
• All are perfumes by Atkinsons, but none smell the same.

So, make sure you look at the notes when buying an Atkinsons perfume.

You may like the fact that the brand has been around for 200 years, but it’s the notes that will determine if you like it or not.

Buy Atkinsons Perfume Online in South Africa

Find all Atkinsons perfumes at Scent Republic. We have a range of perfumes from the Eau de Cologne, Eau de Parfum and Oud ranges.

Make sure you check the notes to see which one suits you best. Also, check the name of the perfume and its size when purchasing, especially if you are buying a replacement or gift.

Buy Atkinsons perfume online in South Africa at ScentRepublic. You can also browse our range of women’s perfume and men’s perfume.

Frequently Asked Questions About Atkinsons

Did James Atkinson bring a bear to London?

According to the Atkinsons story, James Atkinson did bring a bear with him to London. It became a symbol of the company and is still used today.

Why are some Atkinsons perfumes named after addresses?

These perfumes are named after the addresses of the original Atkinsons shops. 44 Gerrard Street was the first shop, and 24 Old Bond Street was the second. They are not meant to smell like these streets but are inspired by the locations.

Did Atkinsons sell perfume to royalty?

Yes. Atkinsons became the official perfumer to the royal family in 1826. The company has also sold perfume to other members of royalty throughout the years.

What is the whisky note in 24 Old Bond Street?

The whisky note is a fragrance accord that smells like whisky. It’s not actual whisky in the perfume but a scent that resembles it.

Why do Oud Save the King and Oud Save the Queen both have Earl Grey?

Both perfumes are inspired by the love story of the Egyptian Crown Prince and Mabel Normand. Earl Grey represents the British side of the fragrance.

Is The Nuptial Bouquet inspired by a real wedding?

Yes. It’s inspired by Queen Victoria’s wedding to Prince Albert. She had myrtle in her bouquet, which is why Atkinsons included it in the fragrance.

What does Triple Extract mean?

Triple Extract means that the fragrance has been extracted three times. It gives the perfume a stronger scent than the normal version. It also has different notes from the regular 24 Old Bond Street.

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