Atlas

How it Smells

Atlas opens with a bracing, almost astringent lemon cleaning fluid note that thankfully burns off within minutes, revealing a core of salty seaweed. The Calone is definitely present, lending that aquatic, marine accord. However, unlike the inspiration, this veers into a synthetic rubber territory rather than photorealistic ocean. The drydown is a mix of ambroxan and a dusty cedar. It loses some of the initial marine harshness, but the ambroxan amplifies the cedar into a hamster cage wood chip smell. The original has a unique depth and complexity; Atlas, by comparison, feels linear and less nuanced.

Longevity & Projection

Atlas hangs around for a solid 7-8 hours, although it quickly becomes a skin scent after the first hour. Initially, it projects moderately – maybe an arm's length. I wore it to a casual outdoor lunch and found it overwhelming in the heat, attracting unwanted attention. It also lingered on my jacket for several days, which could be a plus or minus depending on your feelings about it.

Final Thoughts

This is a strictly warm-weather fragrance, and even then, use with extreme caution. A single spray is more than enough. I could imagine this working at the beach or by the pool, but definitely not indoors or in close quarters. Think daytime use only; the cedar drydown becomes cloying in the evening. Ultimately, Atlas tries to capture the essence of the sea but gets lost in a synthetic, slightly pungent interpretation.