Imaginary Authors is a compelling perfume house that borrows from literary themes to craft narrative-driven fragrances. Each perfume has its own story, designed to inspire conversations and take you to new places. The entire line is vegan-friendly, free of parabens and phthalates, and designed for all genders.
This is a review of the Imaginary Authors The Complete Works. It comes with a 2ml glass spray vial of every fragrance in the Imaginary Authors line, a booklet describing each scent, a pen, and a surprise extra sample. The set cost £79.99 with free delivery from Slickboys.
This set is beautifully designed and so pleasing to unbox. I audibly gasped at how lovely the samples were presented. The only thing that is slightly disappointing is that the samples don't have lids so throwing them in your bag, as I'm prone to do, risks wasting them!
Following my process for reviewing the Zoologist perfumes, I've reviewed each of these fragrances based on first impressions (on a blotter) as well as how they perform on the skin. I've tested each perfume across an entire day. Although these are spray samples, I've tested longevity by applying to my skin only. Spraying onto your clothes will achieve a better result.
I've already sampled A Whiff of Wafflecone, which I love, and had samples of The Soft Lawn, Slow Explosions, and Cape Heartache on my list to try. I was also very curious about A City On Fire because of the scathing reviews…
Each perfume is rated based on how much I like it, from "I wouldn't spray this on my worst enemy" to "I would die happy drowning in this." As suggested by Imaginary Authors, I picked each sample to try at random and have written up the reviews in that order.
1 - I hate it and want to get rid of it
2 - I dislike it and I won't wear it
3 - I'm neutral; I neither love nor hate it
4 - I like it and will wear it
5 - I love it and would buy full size
Imaginary Authors Perfume Reviews
A City On Fire: 3/5
First impressions: It has a smoky aroma that's both distinctive and polarizing. Many reviewers have declared it to be the worst perfume they've ever smelled. But to me, it's well-crafted and daring. This is definitely a statement perfume, ideal for environments where bold scents are embraced, like whisky bars or bonfire nights.
On the skin: If you're a fan of peated whisky, you'll appreciate the ashy bonfire smell that defines this fragrance. As it dries down, the intense smokiness softens slightly from the wild berries and labdanum. Its longevity and projection are robust, lasting all day and clinging to clothes even longer.
Yesterday Haze: 5/5
First impressions: Like a bowl of whipped cream and berries topped with sweet nuts and edible flowers. It's milky, nutty, and light with a deliciously sweet floral musk that’s a delight to smell.
On the skin: It's light and creamy, with a subtle floral note that makes it ideal for everyday wear. The combination of fig and wood adds a nutty undertone, while the iris brings a floral freshness.
It provides a pleasant and moderate sillage with decent longevity of around 3-4 hours.
The Soft Lawn: 4/5
First impressions: A blast of palma violets (likely from the linden) that quickly transitions to a strong lime note, giving off a juicy, sweet, and green scent. It's a fun twist on a classic floral green perfume with something more interesting going on—and that something interesting is rubber!
On the skin: The fragrance is fresh and clean with an interesting mix of citrus fruits and oakmoss, lending it a herbal, medicinal quality. The tennis ball note, while odd, adds a distinct, nostalgic smell. The perfume evolves into a soft, sweet green fragrance reminiscent of how clothes smell after rolling down a hill. Longevity is a solid 4-5 hours, with the scent lingering beautifully throughout the day.
Slow Explosions: 5/5
First impressions: This smells strongly of ISO E Super, which quickly gives way to a bloom of floral smoke from the saffron, leather, and rose notes. It’s a sensual and soft floral spice that demands attention.
On the skin: The combination of saffron, smooth leather, and soft rose creates a rich and complex fragrance. A hint of green apple adds a sharp contrast, which mellows into a comforting, balmy scent. The longevity is excellent, lasting 5-7+ hours with impressive projection and sillage.
Sundrunk: 4/5
First impressions: An immediate and overwhelming blast of orange soda. It's bold, zesty, and incredibly synthetic smelling. Although very nostalgic and familiar smelling.
On the skin: The opening is a super-sweet citrus explosion. After the fragrance dries down, it reveals soft floral notes and a clean, soapy scent. It’s as if someone spilled soda on you and then tried to make amends by offering you a bouquet of flowers. The transition from sugary citrus to wild flowers creates a light, summery fragrance with a lovely blend of honeysuckle, neroli, and bitter rhubarb. Unfortunately, its longevity is on the shorter side, lasting only 2-3 hours.
In Love With Everything: 3/5
First impressions: Like diving into a punch bowl, packed with ripe raspberries and juicy citrus fruits. It's sugary sweet in a synthetic way with a with a slightly sour citrus edge and hints of sandalwood.
On the skin: The scent remains bold, juicy, and uplifting. It conjures memories of being a child in the 80s, drinking the syrupy sweetness left at the bottom of a melting ice pop at a local amusement park. As it dries down, the palm sugar and sandalwood dilute the sweetness a little. However, the fragrance is quite linear. It’s fun and youthful, but it doesn’t develop much beyond that. Longevity is good at 3-4 hours.
Telegrama: 2/5
First impressions: The blend of lavender, vanilla, and talc notes give it a fresh linen sheets smell. Black pepper and teak wood add depth, creating a clean, marine fragrance.
On the skin: Initially it has a bitter, almost liquorice-like quality. The lavender and black pepper are strong and overpowering at first but mellow into a smooth, fresh scent reminiscent of laundry washed in lavender detergent. Projection is moderate, and longevity is 4-5 hours.
O, Unknown! 3/5
First impressions: A very subtle smell of fruit, which almost instantly disappears and is replaced by the faint smell of black tea and cardboard. It’s delicate and mysterious, but I wish it were stronger and more potent.
On the skin: A unique and interesting blend of fragrant black tea with a faint smell of fruit and paper. There’s a touch of sweetness, possibly floral, but overall, it’s clean and fresh while sitting very close to the skin. Both projection and longevity are limited to 2-3 hours, making it more suitable for office wear or bedtime.
Saint Julep: 4/5
First impressions: Fresh and bright smelling, featuring strong tangerine and mint notes with a hint of whisky. It evokes the scent of a freshly made cocktail that is both light and refreshing to drink. This has a playful, youthful smell, making it an ideal summer fragrance.
On the skin: A burst of tart and tangy lime jelly, transitioning into a cocktail-like blend of mint and citrus. It dries down quickly, leaving just a faint hint of tangerine and whisky, which can smell somewhat cloying. Projection and longevity are moderate to poor, which is disappointing given its unique profile.
Whispered Myths: 4/5
First impressions: This perfume combines sweet, fruity melon with a balmy oud. It feels like walking through an art gallery or a salvaged shipwreck with cantaloupes onboard. It’s a divisive yet intriguing scent.
On the skin: This opens with a funky, animalic oud that is slightly smoky but quickly evolves into a sweet, resinous scent with melon and honey. It balances woody and earthy tones with a subtle fruity note, resulting in a peculiar yet captivating fragrance.
The Language of Glaciers: 4/5
First impressions: A burst of fresh, floral notes and prominent snow and cashmere elements, evoking the smell of freshly fallen snow rather than an icy glacier. It creates a nostalgic, familiar scent.
On the skin: The combination of artificial snow with the florals creates a musky, almost mouldy scent reminiscent of wet moss and damp soil. It’s both fresh and earthy, transporting you to an alpine meadow on a crisp, cold spring day. Longevity is moderate, between 4-5 hours.
Memoirs Of A Trespasser: 5/5
First impressions: It instantly hits you with its rich and spicy vanilla notes that is reminiscent of toasted marshmallows around a campfire. It’s warm, comforting, and sweet, with an earthy undertone.
On the skin: Initially, you’re greeted by robust myrrh wood, but the vanilla quickly takes over, blending beautifully with the smoke and wood notes. The addition of clay adds a dusty, wood cabin smell. The scent is thick, sweet, and resinous, yet soft enough for everyday wear. Longevity is excellent at over 7 hours, with great projection.
Cape Heartache: 3/5
First impressions: It starts with a blend of herbal and fruity notes that might catch you off guard with its peculiar but intriguing scent profile. The combination of pine and strawberry is unique and distinctive, though it might not be for everyone.
On the skin: It evokes the nostalgic feeling of summer camp, with juicy strawberries mingling with forest notes. The strawberry note fades as the wood and hemlock become more prominent, becoming a more earthy, pine-forward scent. Longevity is moderate, around 3-4 hours.
Falling Into The Sea: 5/5
First impressions: It has a sweet, fresh, and zingy aroma with a hint of powderiness. It’s a true unisex aquatic perfume that balances citrus and floral elements with a unique sand note.
On the skin: The herbal citrus is uplifting and summery. It smells like relaxing on a beach with a gentle breeze—fun, youthful, and invigorating. The sand note tempers the citrus, creating a well-rounded, mellow profile with subtle earthy depth. Longevity is excellent, lasting 6-8 hours with impressive projection and sillage.
Fox In The Flowerbed: 5/5
First impressions: This perfume makes a bold first impression, coming across strong and potentially overwhelming. It’s powdery and sweet, reminiscent of pollen, with a bright and cheery feel.
On the skin: It smells like you’ve stuck your head into a bouquet of wildflowers with a potent jasmine note. There is a quick transition into a softer, more delicate floral scent with a hint of honey adding sweetness, although the jasmine never really fades completely. The mountain air note brings to mind clothes drying on a washing line, with a hint of honey adding sweetness. Longevity is good, lasting 4-6 hours with excellent projection.
The Cobra & The Canary: 5/5
First impressions: The unusual blend of woody and spicy notes creates a scent that's both surprising and intriguing. It gains a dewy freshness from the lemon and hay, while the combination of leather and floral notes are comforting and complex.
On the skin: It conjures a vivid scene of a bouquet of flowers and a well-loved book left on leather seats of a classic car, which is sat inside a hay barn on a summer's day. The engine has just been turned off, and the owner seems to have vanished. In the air is a rich, slightly dusty leather smell that mingles with the sweet flowers, bright lemon, and hay notes. The fragrance is both comforting and complex, with excellent longevity and projection, making it a standout in the collection.
Bull's Blood: 3/5
First impressions: The blend of fragrant rose and tobacco creates a powerful and distinctive scent that immediately stands out. The initial smoky, almost metallic, note hints at the coppery smell of blood.
On the skin: This becomes a potent mix of patchouli and rose. This isn't your typical fresh rose—it's much earthier and more animalistic. The tobacco adds a rugged, almost primal edge, reminiscent of an animal hide left in the sun. After some time, the fragrance develops a sweetness, with the rose note taking on a slightly jammy character. This perfume is not for the faint-hearted; it’s a statement scent for those bold enough to wear it.
Every Storm A Serenade: 2/5
First impressions: This is a modern take on an aquatic cologne with a more unisex blend. It evokes the sensation of taking a refreshing swim in calm, salty waves. There’s a warmth to it from the spruce and vetiver that's balanced by the fresh and uplifting eucalyptus.
On the skin: Imagine standing in a forest overlooking the ocean—there’s a blend of earthy and marine elements that feels both familiar and new. It's moody and fresh, like bottled sea air. Longevity is poor to moderate, lasting only a couple of hours before fading to a skin scent.
A Whiff Of Wafflecone: 5/5
A Whiff Of Wafflecone was my introduction to the Imaginary Authors brand, and it instantly sparked my interest in exploring more of their perfumes. This fragrance shares similarities with Kerosene Followed, but with a softer, more subtle projection, making it far more versatile and easy to wear. As a fan of gourmand scents, I find this perfume to be an exceptional example of the genre.
The fragrance strikes a perfect balance between sweet and savoury, with a rich blend of buttery caramel and amyris. Longevity is impressive—just a couple of sprays are enough to last all day, gradually evolving into a warm, comforting caramel-vanilla scent that lingers softly on the skin.
Final Thoughts on Imaginary Authors Perfumes
Imaginary Authors has crated a collection of perfumes that unfold like the stories they are meant to tell. Each conceptual blend offers a sensory experience designed to match a mood or capture a feeling. These fragrances are a great example of successful unisex perfumery, offering original perfumes that are both distinctive and wearable.
What sets Imaginary Authors apart is how approachable their scents are. Unlike Zoologist perfumes, which often pushes the boundaries with challenging and divisive fragrances, Imaginary Authors delivers concept-driven perfumes that are intriguing without being difficult to wear.
This accessibility extends to their pricing as well—at around £90 per 50ml, these perfumes offer good value for money. I’d gladly pay that for a fragrance that strikes a perfect balance between originality and everyday wearability.
One of the standout qualities of Imaginary Authors perfumes is their ability to evoke vivid memories. Whether it’s the nostalgia of drinking soda at an amusement park, the calm of lying in the grass watching clouds drift by, or the curiosity of exploring a dusty attic, these scents consistently sparked meaningful stories and memories from everyone I shared a sample with.
In a niche market where perfumes are often expected to be avant-garde and sometimes even unwearable, Imaginary Authors stands out by offering originality and creativity in a way that’s both accessible and enjoyable. True to their name, they’ve created fragrances that tell stories and evoke memories, making each scent a unique and memorable experience.