Slow Explosions
Imaginary Authors (2016)

Grease monkey wanders into the tannery with a jug of petroleum in one hand and swigging from a bottle of cider. Sexy in a rough and tumble way, but has hygiene issues. There are also some roses here but expressed in that half-strangled way when a butch oud is pinning them to the wrestling mat. If you like your leathers creosote stained and chokey, go for it. The rest of us may just choose to admire from a distance.

sickly sweet

the smell

of a snuffed
candle

good duration
but
boring

sickly boring

the smell

of a boring
candle

The sweet rosy notes contrasting the animalic leather note is bit shocking and unpleasant to my nose. It is rather long-lasting but in a cloying and sickly way. Do note that my preferences are lighter and drier scents, so unfortunately this fragrance is completely opposite to that.

Some people call perfumery a wearable art - well, this particular scent is more like unwearable art to me.

Very, very medicinal take on 'leather'. Smells like medicine cupboard and some spillage. After a couple of hours it turns into overripe apples that are not rotting yet - but are already thinking about it.

In general, this scent scores very high on the "Wow, it's interesting!" scale and very low on "I want to smell like this" scale to me.

When I first spritzed this, I was overwhelmed by the smell. Not in a good way, not in a bad way--it was just A LOT. AS the hours went on, it settled into the scent of spilled apple juice. I find it a little sickly, unfortunately.

I love this one, which is a shocker, because it contains notes that I don't normally gravitate towards.

This one is all about rose, saffron, and leather to me. the opening is a smokey vanilla, rose, saffron and oud. The oud smell is just a very clean leather, I mean, it has to be.. There's a dark hazelnut or caramel sort of accord, and I also get a menthol or camphor like accord in the opening too. It is indeed polarizing, and opens up with a lot going on, hitting me in many ways, with many facets.

I don't think this is the typical rose/oud combo. It's also ridiculously strong in the opening, and even for the first 2 hours. This one is and eventual buy for me.

I think it's not as popular because, although it is unique, it's just not strange enough for the typical Imaginary Author fan. This and Saint Julep have been 2 of the only ones I would consider completely wearable from start to finish.

Side note, this does contain the signature Imaginary Authors burnt sugar accord.

It really really reminds me of rose/oud, but it isnt listed as a note. I think its the leather and rose/apple.
The opening gives a blast of apples and the drydown is more leather and leather. It kinda reminds me of Dzing! Leather with a bit of interest

Apple opening then blending in with a jammy rose and cashmere leather. The apple alone was o.k., but with the rose and leather it is off-putting. Nothing like Tuscan Leather IMO, and smells to me more like a sour wine soaked leather. The rose is odd smelling as well and it's pretty loud for just two sprays from a 2ml sampler. I didn't care for it anymore after a second wearing and a single spray. Just not my style.

Starts off with a really strong apple note. I've heard it compared to Calvados and Braeburn apples both of which are accurate descriptions. There is a really strong white wine note on my skin, which is a bit off-putting.

There's a good rose note similar to Turkish Delight and a boozy sort of leather which reminded me of drinks that are flavoured with "bourbon whiskey".

It's an interesting concept and is skilfully formulated. It's just not for me. Price in the UK (2020) is £90 for 50ml which is OK value for a niche fragrance.

Someone else described it as a jammy rose and "jammy" is definitely the right word. That sticky fruity facet reminds me of a fig newton. Or more specifically, a warmed-up fig newton in a leather purse full of roses. Overall it doesn't do a ton for me, but to be honest few rose scents do. Nonetheless it's definitely an interesting scent and I can see people liking it if they're into rose.

Opens with sharp apple, rubbing alcohol, and leather. It's fruity, bitter and dry. So much leather!

The alcohol is mostly gone after 10 minutes, but the apple and leather remain. It's not my thing, but it's intriguing. I can appreciate what the perfumer was trying to do.

Rose/Oud. pretty standard. Stupid strong. The medicinal oud almost has a camphor feel. Just too overpowering. One small spray filled the room for hours.