I love the thematic storytelling behind this brand, their packaging is quirky and fun, but I’ve never clicked with any of their fragrances. Yesterday Haze (creamy fig) and Memoirs of A Trespasser (boozy vanilla) are my two favourites from the house. Recently, I sampled their two latest perfumes and found them to be quite interesting and, at the very least, worth a sniff, especially if you’re a fan of white florals or sweet fruity scents.
Imaginary Authors – Fox in the Flowerbed – This is a white floral, heavy on jasmine, slightly indolic, but nothing too outrageous. Some impressions online liken Fox in the Flowerbed to Van Cleef & Arpels California Reverie and freshly laundered dryer sheets. However, neither came to mind when I wore the perfume. Instead, a curious rubbery, leathery earthy facet develops as the scent progresses. The suggestion is the fox has been digging around the flowerbed, pulling jasmine and tulips (the other main note in the scent) out of the ground.
Running alongside the rubbery florals is a spicy, smoky accord courtesy of pepper and incense. Honey is listed in the note pyramid, but thankfully I don’t pick up a lot of sweetness with Fox in the Flowerbed. The scent that comes to mind when I wear Fox in the Flowerbed is Tapis Volant from Liquides Imaginaires. Both have this earthy, almost green jasmine note, but Tapis has a lovely iris note lacking in the Imaginary Authors. Certainly, though, they’re in a similar ballpark. Fox in the Flowerbed has 6 hours of longevity with moderate projection for the first 2 hours.
The full note breakdown for Fox in the Flowerbed is jasmine, tulip, honey, mountain air, thistle, pink pepper & olibanum.
Imaginary Authors – In Love with Everything – This 2022 release radiates neon red brightness, tutti frutti sweetness, bubble gum, and cotton candy. Indeed, everything I detest in my perfume, but I enjoyed this one for some reason. Fruit punch, palm sugar, raspberry, citrus, and sandalwood are the listed notes. And that is what is served up. The cover art on the bottle is apt. In Love with Everything is meant to be a fun scent and it delivers in spades.
In Love with Everything’s bright sparkly cheer lasts 4 hours before fading. I doubt it will become anyone’s signature scent. But from time to time it would be fun to wear. The nicely done sandalwood accord in the base prevents it from becoming too juvenile. Optimism bottled, and a good lesson for me to never judge a book by its cover, even if it is by an imaginary author.
Do you have a favoruite from the brand?
Note: Samples purchased by me, bottle images from Fragrantica, and images of Tapis Volant and gerbera are my own.