Atomica

It is such a shame that this is a Selfridges exclusive, only because this is such a great scent that does not deserve to be missed out on. I had received a Selfridges gift card for my birthday with a generous balance, and thought that I may as well purchase a fourth bottle of Robert Piguet's Oud, my absolute favourite fragrance, in case it is discontinued one day. I tried Atomica while I waited, and had been advised by the representative that it was a long lasting, powerful "oud" fragrance that the masses had not yet caught onto. Being immersed in so many scents, I could not decipher it too well but left with it on a blotter and on my arm along with my purchase. Throughout my journey home, I could not stop sniffing my arm. There was something extremely familiar and nostalgic about Atomica, but I could not immediately work out what it was. The top notes must have long dissipated at the store, but what I was smelling on my arm was an intensely dark and woody incense. It was dry and smoky - pencil shavings and Orthodox Christian churches - with the cedar and the olibanum at the forefront and a vintage 70s feel. Then it hit me. Atomica reminded me of my beloved Gucci Pour Homme, which I used to own and wear indiscriminately fifteen years ago before it was devastatingly discontinued. I have been on the hunt for a similarly dark and dry church scent for years. I did purchase Piguet's Bois Noir a few years back, which bore a very vague semblance to GPH, but was considerably more warm, velvety, and resinous. I also went and bought myself a bottle of Jovoy's Private Label, which I am also a fan of, but that one is more damp and dark with vetiver and leather than the dry, green woodiness of frankincense. To cut a long story short, I went back to Selfridges to swap my purchase. Testing Atomica at home I was able to discern the ginger in the opening. I am not usually a fan of ginger as I find it too sharp, but here it is balanced by the mellow citrussy notes of elemi resin. This phase does not seem to last too long before the rest of the notes come together for a lasting linear experience. I am not complaining at any lack of complexity here, though. I personally find this to be the perfect autumn/winter scent complete with a smart turtleneck - just as I used to wear Gucci Pour Homme back in the day. Stunning!

Yes it's a Selfridge"s exclusive. It smells really good if you like dry woodsy spicy incense. Hotter and spicier but less smoky than Casbah while more forest alike and less resinous than bois noir. If you tried PR Arso, it has the similar scent profile (almost cumin alike dry spicy woodsy note + olibanum) minus the green pine facet

too much of a good thing! it’s a *lot* of cedar and vetiver, dialed up into headache-inducing, floor-polish territory. Incense is sort of there but rather than being warm and resinous it’s a bitter sort of burnt note. escentric 03 is a very similar composition but blended with a much more even hand and at a more reasonable price point to this luxury scrubber.

This one smells exactly like a small, old, catholic church. None other smells come even close to that. I haven't heard anyone talking about this one in this context, it's VERY churchy. Very addictive

I hate when they do that. I just got my bottle of Douglas Hannant today and it's fabulous.