More about Atkinsons 1799
In the spring of 1799, James Atkinson, an enterprising young man from the rural wilderness of Cumberland, set off by coach for glorious London. In his waistcoat pocket he carried recipes for fine fragrances and toiletries that he had invented himself. He also had a sizeable supply of bear fat balm perfumed with rose scent. And next to the balm was a real bear, humming away to himself. The grumpy bear, who was completely devoted to James, proved to be a lucky charm and future trademark. Within a few days, London's high society was so enthusiastic about the extraordinary balm that long queues formed at 44 Gerrard Street to stock up on ‘Master Petz’ for the coming social season.
Truly extraordinary fragrances
Just one year later, in the year 1800, James Atkinson achieved his most ingenious coup to date: a daring, thoroughly British eau de cologne that was radically different from the Italian eau de colognes that were very popular at the time. Surprisingly fresh yet spicy and warm, the new eau de cologne was more powerful and captivating than all its ‘namesakes from the continent’. It captivated with a distinctive and long-lasting finish, a scent that embodied the unshakeable self-confidence of the British Empire like no other.
These and many other creations from the House of Atkinson caused such a stir among the nobility that even King George IV heard about them at Buckingham Palace and appointed Atkinson's as the official perfumer to the English royal family in 1826. From that day on, the sweet scent of Atkinson's success wafted through the kingdom, and soon, in 1832, the company moved to spectacular new premises at 24 Old Bond Street...
For Your Nose Only – On a fragrant mission
Dazzling figures such as Napoleon, the Duke of Wellington, Admiral Nelson, Lady Hamilton, Prince Tomasi di Lampedusa, Queen Margaret of Italy and the Russian Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna were ‘thirsty’ for Atkinson's tailor-made bouquets. High society was literally consumed by the unmistakably idiosyncratic creations. To meet the growing demand, Atkinson opened shops all over the world. Then as now, these fragrances are experienced as completely unconventional, even unexpected, powerful, strong and extremely long-lasting – quite unlike anything else you might get under your nose, if we may say so. Our fragrances are, if you'll forgive us for being a little presumptuous, ‘the very essence of English fragrance’.
Atkinsons' resurrection
After a pleasant, if somewhat lengthy, hibernation, Atkinsons and his grumpy bear are now awake again – rested and full of energy. Drawing on 200 years of English eccentricity, impeccable style and truly perfect manners, not to mention that incomparable heritage, history and tireless endeavour to make the lives of the pillars of society as pleasant as possible with delightful fragrances, we are now heralding a new era of ‘perfume snobbery’ for the pillars of society.
How, you ask? With new collections that are more daring and irresistible than anything they have ever created. Because, as Beau Brummell used to say, ‘True style never goes out of fashion. You simply cannot keep a good bear down.’