Pirates' Grand Reserve

This wasn’t what I was expecting. To be fair, however, I like this more than I’d anticipated I would. The name conjured an imagine in my mind prior to receiving this delivery - one of a thick, heavy, robust, powerful fragrance, one that is dark and boozy. To my nose, that is not what this is. At first spray, the rum was strong, but it was relatively sweet in a manner that didn’t make this a boozy rum scent that would make me question, “should I wear this before driving?” I’ve got a few boozy fragrances that I’m hesitant to wear out if I’m driving just for the notion wearing them makes me paranoid if I got pulled over by the 5-0 that they’d not believe I hadn’t been drinking. I rarely imbibe, when I do it may be a robust hearty beer or two once in a blue moon, but dang, some boozy fragrances are so heavy on the booze notes, they dang near make me feel tipsy just smelling them. The rum in this just feels so well blended with the other notes that it doesn’t overwhelm but falls in the “just right” category for me. I‘ve got to be honest, after about 30 minutes, I’m not quite sure what I’m smelling with respect to the various notes. What I do know - it doesn’t smell like any others in my collection, and it smells luxurious. I do get some powdery, some light floral, and like some others have mentioned a leathery / rubbery sensation. Where I am, roughly an hour drive west of Boston, the temperature today is hovering around 70 degrees f and I can see why this is mostly rated as a fall / winter fragrance, but at the same time, to my nose, this is an all season, all hours offering. Typically, I’d agree that boozy fragrances are best for fall, but this one sits light, the leathery / rubbery aspect is also quite light and the powdery floral aspects round it out in a manner that I can see wearing this year round. To me, this isn’t Captain Jack Sparrow half cocked, slurring, and running from authority; rather this is a former pirate who’s advancing age has induced retirement from setting sail, and hindsight inspired wisdom that pillaging, violence, and theft are both destructive not to just the victims, but to oneself, not to mention culturally frowned upon and simply old hat - a new guard has taken hold, there is an air of refinement, and he’s embraced wisdom gained from other cultures, and when and if he sets sail, it will be to embrace other cultures he may once upon a time have brought a scourge toward. This is beautiful and mature. It’s refined, elegant, and though there’s little, if anything, tropical or beachy about this, for some reason it does conjure up a feeling in me about being near the sea with the sun rays warming me. This is a 10/10 for me.

When I had this it cost £100 and I thought that was really expensive but now it cost double and I’ve run out and am seriously considering paying £200 for a bottle. Such a chocolatey, Baileys caramel rum scent. Warm and velvety. I personally think it smells a bit more feminine but I like it that much I wear it anyway and nobody else seems to think so. Strangers will stop you in the streets to ask what perfume you are wearing when you wear this. I wouldn’t wear it to work but I’d wear it on my wedding day. It’s such a beautiful smell and it lasts and carries. Not overwhelmingly or obnoxiously so but people will smell you from across the room. A very warm fun chocolatey sexy smell. Unisex. Beautiful. Probably a winter fragrance but it’s so difficult not to wear when it’s in your possession you won’t limit yourself to a season. I certainly couldn’t. I hope the price goes back to £100 instead of £200 though. I really can’t justify paying that amount for a 100ml bottle of anything. I probably will cave though unfortunately. This perfume is very very special.

I am not sure where I first heard about this fragrance, but it received a glowing review. I have never tried an Atkinsons fragrance before, but I came in with high expectations. I am actually very glad I sought this out. This oft repeated formula-- boozy vanilla cacao-- has many, many iterations. I would say at least at couple hundred. But this one has its own place. The rum is mellow yet deep. It is less of a beast than fragrances with whiskey notes, at least to me. the vanilla is well-blended and the cacao is fine too. It also contains some atypical notes (broom, for example), and this gives it some individual personality. I like it better than Jazz Club, but I think that one is a bit overrated anyway. I wouldn't choose this for a special night out but would wear it to something like a low key party. It has strong lovegevity and silage. It leans male and would not be great during a hot summer day. I encourage rum lovers to sample this one. Price point is pretty good too.

Atkinson's does some nice fragrances and this one is also likeable. That's pretty much how I'd describe them all: "likeable." Worth the money, but not going to wow anyone. "Gold Fair in Mayfair" is the only one I've tried that I thought was a complete waste of anyone's time. I'd put this one kind of in the middle of the pack. And there's nothing "oriental" about this. It's more the scent of a gentlemen's club. Yes, I'm old enough to know what that smells like. The rum in particular, but mostly cacao, vanilla and cardamom is what I smell. Absolutely inoffensive. Not a lot of projection. Safe for close spaces. Not something I'd expect young men to wear. More dad, even grandad juice, which is how I'd classify every Atkinson's I've tried. So it's fine for business wear, but won't make a "go getter" impression as fougeres do. But my primary love interest likes 100% cacao chocolate, so she'll probably like this.

Shiver me timbers me hearties. This pirate-themed scent gives the illusion of a very sexy and clean-cut pirate. It is more about the cargo that a pirate would gather, rather than the pirate itself. On first spray, rum slaps you across the face. When the rum note calms down, the warm tones of vanilla, gunpowder and chocolate come forward. The tones of chocolate in this perfume are some of the best interpretations of the milky sweet that I've ever experienced. This scent transcends perfume; it is a work of art that you can wear. Lavish, like a pet tiger given to a sultan, this beautiful collection of scents will make you feel grand and a step above all other humans that you meet when wearing it. An example of the gourmand genre of perfume and how it can be explored to great effect. The only bad points are it's longevity and sillage - neither are worth shouting about, which can make the price unattractive.