A Little Secret

We’re closing the book on the serious, contemplative mystery of O, Unknown today and shifting into something far more delicious and intimate for a significant moment: the review of our last Imaginary Authors sample, the highly exclusive, limited-edition A Little Secret. This fragrance drops the literary pretense for a wonderfully cozy, specific narrative, built entirely around the comforting scene of a slice of cherry pie with a cup of coffee on the side. With spotlight notes like Ranier cherry, marzipan, and pastry crust, the expectation is an authentic, hyper-realistic gourmand and comforting aromatic experience. So, the main thing we need to figure out is this: Does a fragrance built around cherry pie translate into something sophisticated and wearable, or does it stay strictly a delectable novelty that belongs on a plate, and not on the skin? Let's cozy up, unlock this sweet little secret, and conclude our journey with the house of Imaginary Authors. Opening: The opening is an instantaneous burst of fruity, sweet, and warm notes. The primary accords I perceive are cherry, marzipan, rum, and patchouli, with the cherry and marzipan being the clear standout notes. The cherry, specifically Ranier cherry, leads the charge with a photo-realistic fruity accord that is both sweet and perfectly tart. When discussing cherry, Tom Ford's Lost Cherry is the gold standard for comparison, and the note here is strikingly similar in tone, delivering that luscious, almost liqueur-like quality. Following the cherry is the marzipan, layering on additional sweetness but in a wonderfully powdery, doughy, and nutty variety. Next up are the rum and patchouli. The rum, instantly recognizable, plays a supporting role as a sweet and boozy note. Lastly, the patchouli resides in the background as a deep and slightly earthy/green accord. I also distinctly pick up on a bitter, pure black coffee note that is mentioned by the house; though it isn't listed in the official three notes, its presence helps all the notes come together to create the vivid illusion of a warm slice of cherry pie and a cup of coffee as the house intends. Dry Down: The dry down remains fruity, sweet, and warm, making this a rather linear fragrance. The primary notes are still cherry, marzipan, rum, and patchouli, and the most prominent notes remain the cherry and marzipan. The profile is virtually identical to the opening, just softer, with one key difference: the bitter coffee accord that provided that initial sharp kick is absent in the dry down. The overall composition is a softer continuation of the pie illusion. Performance: The initial projection within the first hour is strong, reaching out about six feet. Sillage is a bit stronger, leaving a dense and easily noticeable scent trail. After about 3–4 hours, the performance was largely unchanged. At the 7-hour mark, the projection had died down slightly but was still noticeable at about 3–5 feet, while the scent trail was noticeably lighter but still perceptible. The fragrance demonstrated good endurance, becoming a skin scent around the 9–10 hour mark. When to Wear: A Little Secret is a rich fall/winter fragrance that works equally well during the daytime or evening. Despite its intense, decadent nature, this fragrance has a fair bit of versatility; it could be worn casually or as a knockout special occasion fragrance. However, it is too rich and gourmand to be considered appropriate for formal events or the office. Blind Buy: If you love cherry-forward gourmand fragrances and especially the DNA of Lost Cherry, A Little Secret is most likely a safe blind buy for you. Just be aware that the cherry is beautifully joined by that dark coffee accord in the initial stages, which adds complexity. Final Verdict: A Little Secret is an outstanding offering, delivering a very enjoyable cherry gourmand fragrance that perfectly balances sweetness, warmth, and depth. It remains safely within the confines of unisex without ever leaning feminine, proving its versatility. The core DNA is strongly comparable to Lost Cherry, but the expert addition of the powdery marzipan, rich rum, and that surprising, bitter coffee accord makes A Little Secret significantly more interesting to my nose. Crucially, its performance is levels above what Lost Cherry provides, giving strong wear for up to ten hours. As a huge fan of this specific cherry profile, I would absolutely add this to my personal collection. Unfortunately, since this was a limited-run, discontinued fragrance, I don't have the luxury of easily acquiring a bottle. Should I ever see one pop up for sale, I will not hesitate to snatch it up immediately. What a perfect way to wrap up my exploration of the house of Imaginary Authors. Scent: 8/10 Longevity: 7/10 Sillage: 9/10 Versatility: Average Mass Appeal: Average Gender: Unisex Value: Fair

A Little Secret is the most recent release from Imaginary Authors, now officially part of their permanent collection and the last IA fragrance I will review until there is a new release. People were very excited to have it back, as it flew off the shelves during the Black Friday sale. With that out of the way, let’s hear this little secret. The opening is exactly what I was expecting: a tart, bright cherry with that shiny, almost lacquered quality saffron brings. It’s sweet-tart, face-puckering cherry for the first ten minutes or so, bold and unapologetic. But this fragrance doesn’t stay still for long; it evolves, and it evolves well. After those first ten minutes, the cherry remains prominent but begins to soften. This is where the pastry crust starts to come through, along with hints of marzipan. The best way I can describe it is this: the opening is the cherry filling being poured into the pie mold, and now you’re draping the crust over the top. About two hours later, the patchouli and rum move toward center stage. The rum is especially well done here, adding a mature, boozy undertone that keeps the sweetness in check. And finally, the patchouli. Don’t worry, this patchouli is far less aggressive than the one in Bull’s Blood, especially alongside these notes. Here it’s gentle, earthy, and even a touch tobacco-esque. At this point, it reminds me of cherry pipe tobacco as it is inviting and soft. As others have said, this isn’t a true gourmand. By the dry-down, the cherry hasn’t disappeared, but it’s greatly reduced from the opening, woven into something deeper and more nuanced. At this stage, the fragrance feels harmonious and layered, each note settling with the others. So, after all those stages, all the subtle shifts and layers, how does it come together? How does it feel as a whole? Well, let me tell you: this is excuse me, a damn fine oriental fragrance. I’ve tried, I can’t tell you how many oriental fragrances in my life, and this is one of the best. I think this one sold out for good reason. It’s a very nice, approachable, easy-to-love cherry fragrance that I think just about anyone will appreciate receiving as a gift. It’s familiar enough to feel comforting, yet distinctive enough to feel special. And with that, I’m closing the chapter on Imaginary Authors for now. 📕🌟 Happy Holidays, everyone! :)

I pick up that cherry and patchouli in the opening. The sweetness is very well balanced and isn't overpowering. Thought it's not listed as a note, I think the combination of Tonka and rum notes gives this the feeling of roast coffee with a little cream and helping of cherry pie with a little kick to get the get the day going. This is definitely going to be better in the colder months of the year. On my skin, I get about 8 hours of longevity. Projection is fairly decent; it becomes an intimate skin scent a few hours after spraying. Personally, this is a new favorite for me from the line, and absolutely a top favorite in the gourmand category. It's a shame this is a limited edition, because I would keep a bottle of this as a permanent part of my collection. It's a nice bounce back after Untamable.

The reviews on here are SO incredibly different! First off, I'm a huge cherry lover. Secondly, I'm a gourmand kinda guy. I don't really know what I was expecting, but it blew me out of the water - I purchased another bottle the next day, I'm not missing out on this masterpiece! Sweet, slightly spiced juicy cherries and sugared pastry, drying down to a cherry infused marzipan. The projection is typically large and its lasting power is just as big. Almost photorealistic, it's really hard to describe. As with every other IA fragrance, this is such a unique piece of artistry - probably why there are a vast amount of conflicting opinions. Personally, this is an instant favourite. It ticks every box I've been looking for in a cherry fragrance, it's just a shame it's a limited edition.

i don't care what anyone says i love this perfume DOWN. though the cherry gets outshone by the marzipan and pastry notes, it still smells delicious, and despite what people are saying, there are no medicinal or carmex notes to me. it's a photorealistic smell of cherry pie crust SOAKED in rum with brown sugar sprinkled on top. its tart rather than sweet it gets woodier, nuttier, and a little incense-y as it dries down & the marzipan comes out even more but it's still delicious nonetheless. this is not for you if you don't like boozy notes. i personally think the booze ties everything together and it has me craving rum every time i put it on it becomes liquid cocaine to me once i layer it with vanilla 28. delicious & optimal if you want more vanilla, tonka, and brown sugar