Atkinsons (often “Atkinsons of London”) is one of Britain’s oldest perfumeries, founded in 1799 by James Atkinson in London. The story goes that James traveled from Cumberland with homemade formulations of fragrances and toiletries (including a rose-scented “bear grease” balm) and even a live bear- legend has it the bear became part of the brand’s early image. Over the years, Atkinsons earned high prestige: in 1826 it was appointed the Official Perfumer to the Court of St. James.

After periods of relative quiet, the brand was relaunched in 2013 under new ownership (Perfume Holding, later associated with EuroItalia) to revive its heritage in a modern niche / prestige market. These days it blends its aristocratic, historical British roots with more contemporary fragrance trends, producing perfumes for men, women, and unisex audiences.

What makes Atkinsons stand out is its rich story, perfume style, and aesthetic identity. Its fragrances often evoke classic British elegance mixed with unexpected or exotic elements — for example, combining woods, leather, spices, oud, florals and fresh citrus. Signature lines include ones named after iconic London addresses (e.g. 24 Old Bond Street, 44 Gerrard Street, 41 Burlington Arcade) as well as the more daring Oud collections. Their boutiques also reflect their heritage: the flagship store in Burlington Arcade, Mayfair, was designed with historical references, craftsmanship, and luxury materials.