If you’re like me and spend hours scouring the internet for the best new products on the market, then you’ve probably seen Blu Atlas’ Atlantis floating around. Since its launch, it has consistently been named the best cologne for men of 2022, the sexiest cologne for men and the best cologne for young men. It has received plenty of accolades, but those don’t tell us everything we need to know about the fragrance. This review will answer the real question: Is Atlantis worth the hype?
Atlantis is the signature cologne of New York-based clean skincare brand Blu Atlas, which has taken the men’s skincare world by storm over the past year with their simple formulas, easy-to-understand ingredients and 100 percent money-back guarantee. The brand prioritizes scientifically proven ingredients like aloe vera and algae extract for their skin, hair and grooming products. Does the same standard hold true for their fragrance, Atlantis?
According to the brand, Atlantis is a 100% vegan cologne that is made without harmful additives and abides by industry-topping clean standards, which in and of itself is a rarity in the world of fragrance. Okay, so it’s clean but what exactly does Blu Atlas smell like?
The Scent
Evoking the scents and sensations of the coastal jungle, Atlantis takes its inspiration directly from the lush vegetation, clear waters and calming beaches of Bali. It’s a clean, evocative scent that leaves you with a sense of adventure and longing. Atlantis is well-rounded and formed from subtle layers, creating a scent that reminds you of those moments you’d love to relive, but that also evokes the beauty and freshness of a new day, filled with possibility.
Atlantis unfolds with the bright, fruity top notes of bergamot, lemon and blackcurrant. Recognized as the “prince of citrus,” bergamot opens the door for waves of brightness to mingle with the tartness of lemon and blackcurrant, creating a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity. Bergamot gives the fragrance an immediate sense of joy. It’s fun and fresh, but also tart and complex, creating a note that is refreshing and slightly spicy. Lemon is sweet, sour and oh-so-familiar, helping to ground the wearer in the present. Blackcurrant perfectly embodies a floral, forest vibe that will carry the scent into its middle notes.
Lavender, clary sage, peach and apricot make up the scent’s middle notes. As the heart of the fragrance, these notes give the cologne an herbaceous, green, mellow touch before leading into a richer base. Rounding out the fragrance are notes of orris, oak moss, violet, ambrette seed and musk. Orris and violet are soft and deep, while oak moss, ambrette seed and musk complete the fragrance with an earthy, ambery note that perfectly captures the tropical jungle.
Blu Atlas crafted Atlantis with a delicate balance of brightness and richness, playing with floral, citrus, fruity, herbal and masculine woodsy scents to create a harmonious palette anyone can fall in love with.
The Longevity
Atlantis is an eau de parfum, which means the scent has more depth and staying power than its lighter cousin, the eau de toilette. To test the wear time of Atlantis, I applied the scent to my pulse points. This is key for getting the most out of any fragrance, since pulse points (like the wrists, neck, jaw, inner elbows and behind the knees) are areas on the body where blood vessels come close to the skin. They tend to be warmer areas on the body, which helps the scent diffuse and linger on the skin.
And, while my day-to-day activities changed, the wear time of Atlantis was pretty consistent, lasting on my skin anywhere from seven to nine hours. This is standard wear time for a good eau de parfum, so in this regard, Atlantis definitely checks all the boxes. It lasted throughout the entire nine-to-five workday, making it a great go-to fragrance option for those who want to stay fresh all day long.
The Bottle
A cologne’s packaging and presentation is important to many users. Some customers want to purchase a fragrance that looks as good as it smells, while others could care less about the bottle as long as the scent inside is spectacular. Happily, Atlantis’ minimalist vibe will appeal to both types of cologne wearers.
The ultra-sleek, matte-black bottle with embossed black lettering looks sophisticated and mysterious, similar to the aesthetic of Ralph Lauren’s Polo Double Black. This is a timeless look. The bottle is one you’ll love now and in the decades to come. The bottle also features a satisfying magnetic cap (a good sign of a quality cologne) that helps keep the fragrance fresh by limiting air exposure.
The Ideal Wearer
Atlantis will be appropriate for most men. Because the scent profile is smooth and sophisticated, it’s especially suited for those who don’t want a cologne that’s in your face but who are after a clean, well-formulated fragrance that lingers.
This fragrance is said to be made for the men who defy convention – those who aren’t afraid to adventure into the unknown. And after conducting my Blu Atlas Atlantis cologne review, I’d have to agree. Its balanced profile hits every mark, creating new scent stories as the notes transition throughout the day. The scent is fresh and adventurous but not overpowering. It’s a safe buy for the world traveler as well as the man who just wants a cologne that’s comfortable to wear day and night.
Is It a Good Buy?
Atlantis retails for $100 on the Blu Atlas website and is 3.4 ounces (100 mL) in size. This is comparable to other popular men’s colognes on the market, including Y Eau de Parfum by Yves Saint Laurent, which retails for $132 for a 3.4-ounce bottle, or Dior’s Sauvage Eau de Toilette, which is $104 for a 3.4-ounce bottle. And when you consider that Atlantis is also a clean vegan cologne made without parabens, preservatives,or phthalates…the price point is excellent.
Dollar value aside, Blu Atlas is 100 percent worth the investment. Not only does the fragrance last throughout the day; it’s one you can return to time and time again. It’s classy enough for office wear or formal events, but casual enough for days working from home or lounging on the couch. And when you get bored of day-to-day life, Atlantis is there for your next adventure, whether you’re roaming through an unexplored jungle or drinking mai tais on the beach.
