Take Note is your guide to the latest fragrance launches. We unpack the scent, who it’s made for and why it’s worth adding to the collection already on your beauty shelf.
If you think you know vanilla, Caron’s new fragrance Atmah is here to gently (and chicly) prove you wrong. Forget cupcakes and cozy candles; this is vanilla that has gone off-grid.
Artistic Director Olivia de Rothschild looked to the sweeping steppes of Kyrgyzstan for inspiration, imagining a scent that feels like clean air and open horizons. Atmah is vanilla, yes, but lighter, freer, and surprisingly modern. Think silk scarf in the wind rather than sugar in your latte.
The Scent
Atmah’s magic comes from its reimagining of vanilla as something crystalline rather than creamy. Perfumer Louise Turner built the fragrance around a mineral, airy vanilla, supported by Ambrofix for warm radiance and grounded with salty vetiver and woody akigalawood. Pink pepper brightens everything, ambrette adds a soft hum of musk, and touches of tuberose and jasmine give a hint of texture without turning the scent floral. The result is a vanilla that breathes: clean, luminous, and quietly expansive.
The Mood
If you prefer clear skies to crowded rooms, or at least like to smell as if you do, Atmah is your match. It is serene without being shy, perfect for people who move with grounded elegance. Think early-morning walks, soft tailoring, unbothered energy. It works in every season, airy enough for summer and warm enough for winter.
The Shelf
In a curated fragrance wardrobe, Atmah fills the elevated everyday slot. It is the scent you reach for when you want something polished but not performative. It layers beautifully with woods and musks, and even with light florals if you want a bit more softness.
But honestly, it does not need help. It is worth buying because it is the rare vanilla that feels truly new: refined, modern, and quietly unforgettable. Consider it the scent equivalent of finding inner peace, but make it chic.
From $265 (approx) at Caron
