ATKINSONS
PIRATE’S GRAND RESERVE

2017

Rum
Vanilla
Cacao
Heliotrope
Jasmine

Cedarwood
Cardamom
Broom
Clary Sage
Geranium
Base Notes

Cashmeran
Patchouli
Musk
Moss

Pirate’s Grand Reserve is one of the first Atkinsons that I’ve tried (alongside Oud Save the Queen and Oud Save The King, which are both great on first impression).

Pirate’s Grand Reserve doesn’t exactly smell like the most natural scent, but it’s beautiful and the opening packs a punch. It has this, almost varnish like booziness, mixed with cacao and a lot of heliotrope.

It’s sweet, boozy and woody. The opening minutes are awesome; when it’s also watery and transparent; kind of like the styling of Dolce & Gabbana The One. As far as boozy scents goes; this is what I’d hope for. However, after just a few minutes, any of the liquid and brighter touches of the booziness fade and you’re left with a dusty, chocolate powder covered suede.

There’s an interesting juxtaposition with cleanliness from the heliotrope, mixed with a leathery touch. I’ve read reviews mentioning burning tires and I can definitely see that, although it’s just a tinge in the background.

I’m not sure how I feel about the drydown; barely any rum left (which seems to be an issue with this style; same thing happens with The One, but also with the often compared Lubin Korrigan). Instead it’s a dry leathery wood with a huge dose of milky almond vanilla. It’s ever so slightly muddy (probably cashmeran’s fault) when smelled up close, but in the air it smells pretty nice.

Still a solid darker gourmand scent, but it has something unsettling about the muddy milkiness at times when I focus on it and I keep wishing the boozy opening would come back to life. I would enjoy wearing this in colder weather, but it’s not as grand as I hoped after the initial impression.