The Cobra and The Canary

I’m adding to my original review from 12/14/22 because I’ve been wearing this nearly steadily since then, interspersed with a handful of other fragrances that just don’t compare. In my last review I said I’d only use a couple of sprays under the shirt, but I’ve changed my opinion on that. I’m now going 4-5 sprays because the sillage is rather close and becomes even tighter over the first 30 mins. The top of this fragrance will absolutely scare the fu3k out of some people for sure with the firework hurricane napalm Armageddon of leather and muted citrus, but it’s so sO SO short lived. The unfolding of this fragrance is what makes it so special. I’ve smelled hundreds of frags like most of you I’m sure, and this is just so incredibly good. For me, most fragrances turn bad into the deep drydown (if they are complex enough to the extent that the top, mid and bottom are different). For example, something even as “basic” as Montblanc Explorer, which has some nice citrus and fruits transforms into an ambroxan cruise missile in the deep drydown—not at all nuanced. There are many frags that exhibit this trait. Another example—I absolutely love Slow Explosions by IA as well, but only for the top and mid. The drydown for me digs a tunnel to hyperdust powder rose sh1tville that I just can’t bear. In fact, I sometimes spray Slow Explosions onto my forearm and then wash it off after two hours cause it’s so gross. My point is, even within IA’s line I think Josh Meyer can get it really wrong. But Cobra is so perfect in the way it mellows and burns in. This fragrance I feel “fuses” with my body almost like this is what I would smell like if my body secreted fragrance (wow that sounds disgusting). The subtle vanillic, barely sweet, round leather that it turns into after only an hour is so cot dang great. I love it so much for its subtlety, which if you don’t give this frag a chance you would never know it would exhibit. Also, as long as I don’t go around anyone for the first 15 mins after spraying, I realize I can’t overspray this because it mellows so quickly. I went from sample, to travel, and now to full bottle. This one stands in its own protected wilderness atop the highest peak. Also, I really enjoy wearing this in combination with woody scents (think Orage by LV) or a more linear bergamot because they all compliment each other I feel. If you made it through all my bullsh1t, I applaud you. If you have a bottle of this you don’t like, I will 100% buy it from you.

His window's already passed, so he's shooting at the glass Keeping guns in his locker, and he denies it Like it's actually important, but he lied 'cause I sure did watch him Showing up wearing black, and he knows that His daddy's on death row, but he'll say it with his chest, though His friends move dope, he hasn't tried coke But he's always had a problem saying no His older brother bagged the valedictorian His mother, steady, screaming he should be more like him Can you read my mind? I've been watching you (You know it, you know it, you know it's true) Couldn't fight to save your life, but you look so cool Camo' jacket, robbing corner stores Hard odds to beat when you're on all fours Good men die too, oh, I'd rather be with you, you, you I owe you a black eye and two kisses Tell me when you wanna come and get 'em I only want him if he says it first to me I wanna, uh, him in the back of his mom's Mercury He looks like he works with his hands, and smells like Marlboro Reds It makes me so, uh, and I can't get enough of it Something's been feeling weird lately There's just something about you, baby (there's just something about you, baby) Maybe I'll just be crazy (I'll be crazy) And piss him off 'til he hates me Low slung bad bitch, baby, come and get you some Can you read my mind? I've been watching you Couldn't fight to save your life, but you look so cool (You know it, you know it, you know, oh) Camo' jacket, robbing corner stores Hard odds to beat when you're on all fours Good men die too, so I'd rather be with you, you, you I'd rather be with you, oh Oh, I'd rather be with you, oh 'Cause good men die too, so I'd rather be with you

You've taken a break from your job on the farm to recline on a bale of hay. Manual labor is hard work, and the proof is in the blisters on your rough hands. Thankfully, your wife slipped a tin of her family recipe's skin balm into your pocket on your way out of the house this morning. As usual, a thorough application of the creamy orris butter ointment does the trick. You throw your dusty leather jacket over your face and close your eyes for a brief moment of respite, daydreaming about coming home to fresh-squeezed lemonade and a warm embrace. She always makes lemonade the way you like; never too much sugar. Finally, a fragrance by Imaginary Authors that works for me! All of the others I've tried so far have smelled far too synthetic. The Cobra & The Canary's opening is a harsh blast that makes me do a double-take -- acrid leather and a bright splash of lemon announce themselves loudly. Don't be intimidated by these top notes, however. The Cobra and The Canary settles down beautifully on my skin with orris taking center stage. This perfume smartly balances the supple, buttery, earthy qualities of orris root with the warm, dry, and bucolic facets of hay. These star players rest upon a leather base with a faint whiff of bitter lemon rind occasionally appearing in the margins of my perception. Decent longevity (~8-10 hours), unique composition, and intimate-to-modest projection for a very reasonable price. What a pleasure to find an orris-forward fragrance that showcases this delightful note without leaning on the assistance of florals or vanilla. Love this one.

As this is my first review ever i have no weird terminology to use. But i wanna start reviewing every fragrance i either own or have decant of, and the first in line is this creation. I bought the sample set from IA with all of the most recommended scents, and this was the only one who stood out in a positive way. I had read a bunch about the brand and i really liked the idea of using scents to kind of tell a story in a way. When i first sprayed it on skin i got a big whiff of a harsh leather and citrus combo, and i was really let down by it. After about a minute the harshness disappeared completely and the leather got dark and a weird kind of sweet. I couldnt really smell the "Hay" note at first, but after a while it started reminding me of my second cousins barn. As i do like most weird fragrances i own, i thought this would be another one i enjoyed the smell of but couldnt really wear with other people. I decided to try it out anyways and weirdly enough i got alot of compliments from this one. As this is very different from all other scents popular in my area im actually gonna start using this as a to-go scent daily for a while. It lasts about 8 hours, but i usually respray it anyways since the base-notes that remains after 8 hours isnt exciting enough. The midpart is where this fragrance actually shines. Will not recommend this as a blind buy. I am not convinced the compliments was because its really great, but they might be because i wear alot of weird scents, and they want me to spray more wearable scents. Sorry for bad english

I'm back and forth with Imaginary Authors. There are a handful of stinkers, there are some perfumes that have such potential but then there's one or two notes that ruin the composition (*cough* strawberry in Cape Heartache *cough*), and there's a couple gems that make the whole line worth it. The Cobra and The Canary is a gem, and I love it a lot. It's unconventional, obviously, and probably challenging at first sniff. It's okay, give it a minute to settle down and it'll smooth out a bit. I encourage you to approach this one as an experience rather than just an accessory--something for yourself rather than for others. It smells like asphalt and leather car seats on a hot day with lemon and hay to round it out (and a floral note or two lurking far off). It never dried down into anything sweet for me, and instead the lemon and hay became more prominent with the other notes still flirting in the background. Anyway. Never has a perfume made me feel like such a badass. So here's what you do, what you HAVE to do if you have this perfume: On a miserably hot summer day, don your favorite sunglasses, your favorite t-shirt, a couple sprays of Cobra and go for a drive down a pretty road with whatever music makes you feel cool. Bonus points if you stop into some shitty bar for an afternoon beer. The Cobra and The Canary isn't trying to be a daily driver--it's a once-in-a-while perfume (as a special treat).

Everyone: please, hear me out on this. I think this is my 2nd review of this fragrance. I’ve had it for a year-ish. I really, really urge you to get past the opening. I enjoy it, and it’s really grown on me. The opening is an atomic, rugged leather machine oil with muted Meyer lemon underpinning it. That only lasts like 7-10 minutes. Mid and drydown are just fu3king incredible. I don’t get hay, I never got hay. I get a super smooth and mellow vanillic, rounded leather iris—not powdery—not Dior Homme-like—just so rich and smooth and very comforting. For comparison, I can’t stand powdery makeup-bag iris. I don’t like heavy fragrances—this is not heavy, but rich. There’s some distinction between those things in my mind. Not thick, but full. It’s so comforting and sits relatively close. This one integrates so well with my body. But I also do LOVE befuddling people in my vicinity in the locker room when I blast myself with that auto garage bomb. I really do love it all. If you like IA’s frags (unfortunately most of which I don’t), I think this pairs really well with the creamy walnut of Yesterday Haze. I’m telling you, do not overbuy the negative opening hype on this one. @go4buck I don’t get any Ganymede in this—are you confusing this one with Slow Explosions? That one is saffron-forward. Peace 2u.

This is all about the ride of the fragrance. And it's a hazily beautiful one. Opening is immediately (and only momentarily) pungent- like almost green lemon zest. It's the smell of a knife after you've peeled off the rind. But wait-- you're in the back of a vintage car, the leather seats warmed by the sun, doing this. The leather is pretty dang awesome. In many ways, it feels like those exposed car seats had residual Cabochard by Gres or maybe Antilope Weil sprayed on them, and as they warmed, the scent wafted your way. The similarity to Cabochard is an afterthought, and not a likeness you immediately think of. Tobacco and orris blend seamlessly together, giving a mild, powdery aura. They're definitely second fiddle in this story. This isn't frilly or dainty. In the later stages (maybe an hour or two in) no powder, yet this dry, grassy edge frames the leather. The car is in a summer hay field. A dry one after the grass has been bailed. I love this fragrance. I've worn it out to bars at night and gotten numerous questions about what I'm wearing. It's definitely not the traditional masculine fragrance, but serves as his descendant who has an eye of appreciation for the past.

I recently purchased a sample of The Cobra and The Canary. I was curious about it, but not expecting much. I'm oftentimes leery of a hay note, as its primary component is coumarin, which is also prevalent in tonka bean (which I'm not fond of), and hay is the second highest voted note after leather. I'm either anosmic to leather or for some reason otherwise usually unable to identify it. Asphalt and tobacco aren't listed here, but they are part of the composition. On first spray I smelled a sweet lemon mixed with a dusty iris. My beloved note, iris, is prominent! I can't ever recall smelling iris and lemon together before. I'm beginning to love this! The tobacco and, yes, a whisper of leather make an appearance. The hay is there, as is the asphalt, but neither are obnoxious. Many reviewers have described this as being masculine, but to me, this is a true unisex. The combination of notes is uncommon enough that anyone who enjoys them can and should wear this! Sillage and longevity are good. Not legendary as is the case with Memoirs of a Trespasser by the same house, but this perfume exceeded my expectations in every aspect. Will likely be seeking a full bottle soon.

The hot asphalt in the evenings’ sun and riding through the town right after the shower with your friends, the night just beginning. As the evening sun begins to the fun night to be had. The leather jacket you threw on has a bit of the iris cologne you wore yesterday that pairs nicely with your lemony drink. Mixing with the slight coolness in the night air you hop from a restaurant to the bars. Standing outside in the outdoor patio you hear the warm buzz of conversation around you. A very ever so slight tobacco of the group of people who smoked a cig a bit ago. Even though so much has already happened, once again the night is just beginning; and you can only fuck around to find out what’s gonna happen next. It indeed a has a fitting description. This opens with an addicting, boldly bright, lemon soap and asphalt opening that fades into a smooth and clean leather, Iris combo but keeping that brightness from the hay. I have had my 10 mL for about 2 years and it has aged amazingly with the tobacco flowers note being both fresh and ashy. One of my favorite takes on leather, and one of my favorite fragrances that often jumps into the rotation. 9/10.

A wonderful fragrance journey. Like all Imaginary Authors (that I've tried so far), it paints a picture with literature, presentation, and scent. I get the "open road and leather" feeling. As a motorcyclist, it's a scent is love, and identify with. Iris gives it a floral note, which is a nice diversion from asphalt and leather. It also has a clear lemon note in the background livening up the otherwise heavy fragrance. I don't get a "hay" note directly, but there is some form of a vegetation note. I just don't recognize the exact one. I also get a clear sandalwood note, slightly creamy. It doesn't evolve a whole lot, but I don't really want it to. It's perfect as it is. A bit more projection and I'd have no complaints. It has a moderate sillage, and moderate to long longevity. I can easily spray a bit extra for more sillage, but it would reduce the total amounts of wears per bottle. I'll wear this all year, day or night. It's somewhat circumstantial, as it's the perfect "on the road/traveling" fragrance. But can easily be used for other purposes too. Personal score: 9.5/10. I have to get a full bottle. It's that simple.

The Cobra & The Canary opens with a crisp lemon, more of the rind than the fruit, that quickly gets to the point to reveal a warm, powdery leather. If you're familiar with this house, each of their fragrances is accompanied by a narrative, and this one is supposed to conjure asphalt and sports cars. I don't necessarily disagree, but my mind immediately goes to horseback riding on a cloudy autumn day in the country. This fragrance is the rugged leather of the saddle, certainly, but the iris note lends it a wonderful powderiness that also suggests lipstick and luxury. The hay note is highly evocative of the outdoors, barns, and wet grass. I think this would smell very sexy on a lot of men, and particularly badass on a woman. Personally, I don't always feel up to the task, but on the days when it's right, it is SO right. Performance is great, a two-sprayer at the most. This is no shrinking violet, and you will smell it all day long. Hope you try it!

I've written a couple a reviews about this one. I haven't worn it for maybe a year and today the travel spray fell out of my gym bag when I was about to put on Hacivat. You know you're a fragrance addict when bottles you've forgotten about randomly fall out of bags. Dang I forgot about how I love this, especially now after a year it smells richer. That sharp opening has really mellowed. This is really so very good. It's so comforting and warm. There's iris, but not like in homme intense, which I wear to bed every night on my forearm to put me to sleep. The iris is slightly less round and a feather's touch vegetal. It's so amazing that the fragrantica rating for this is mediocre. C&C is totally unique. I own 97 fragrances now (80 of which i cant stand (but thats for my therapist when i get around to hiring one) and nothing remotely like this one. I'm ordering a big bottle this time. Best from IA imo. I've sampled all of them. Peace 2u fragfreaks.

I've tried 16 IA fragrances and this is my favorite. It opens with a nuclear leather bomb backed by muted meyer lemon. I say meyer lemon bc it's less sharp than pure lemon. I wouldn't use more than 2 sprays of this, and under the shirt. There's a definite auto shop, motor oil, old go kart track in a hayfield vibe involved in the top as well. But as the top burns down over the first 20-30 mins, this scent imo becomes amazing. Very deep and rich with a very slight tobacco sweetness. The leather is still most pronounced, but its quality changes as the roughness wears off, although I've grown to love the leather bodyslam in the opening. This is such a great fragrance for the fact that the leather is present throughout the show, but in different costumes. I'm wearing this right now at the 5+ hr mark and it's just so so good. Seriously, let the short-lived top burn off and judge it for its true nature.

I was not expecting to love this so much, because at first spray I think it smelled too masculine. I was sure that my bf would notice and think I was wearing men's perfume...I still liked the smell, i just found it to be a little masculine. As the day progressed, I fell in LOVE. We were driving along windy roads on the coast of Corsica, through the woods and along the sea, and what made my day was smelling this on me throughout the experience. Unforgettable. So exhilarating. This perfume really does take you on a journey. Before spraying the cobra and the canary, I put on Nina Ricci L'Extase, but about 2-3 hours earlier. I think this layering actually made the scent so special. I might make this layering combo my signature...If you find Cobra and the Canary is too strong or masculine, you might want to pair with something a little sweeter or gourmand. The effect is heavenly.

I'm devastated that this will be discontinued next year because I just discovered it :( This smells so magical to me. I can smell all of the notes at different points in the wear. First spray is oily asphalt, mechanic's shop. My dad smelled like black-top when he came home from work everyday. Reminds me of being a really little kid, when my dad was not-yet-revealed as a deadbeat. The lemon really comes through for me, not in a sour way but in a sweet, chalky candy kinda way. The leather isn't a dry leather but a supple, freshly conditioned leather. It doesn't project very far and it doesn't last as long as I'd like but towards the end of the day I can still smell it on my skin and it's just ever so slightly there. I did order a full size bottle of this but I might order another because I feel like I will be using a lot of this because I love it so much!

I am a BIG fan of traditional masculine scents, such as Leather, so I recently picked up a bottle of IA's The Cobra and The Canary I am very glad I did! TC&TC is all about leather. TC&TC has a very strong, heavy leather opening, almost like a peppery, spicy burnt rubber on a freshly tarred road. A Very masculine scent that is not for the faint of heart. If you are into clean and fresh scents, this one is not for you. TC&TC is not a kind and gentle leather, instead it is a very dominant, stand up take control type of leather. Tip of the hat to "Gigi The Fashionista" below me. Her review does an excellent job capturing the metal image projected by this scent. I get great projection and longevity on my skin. But I find this scent works best in casual attire. Bottom line: If you like strong leather / masculine scents, you should try a sample of this one.

this one smelled so strange compared to what the notes entailed but it was a really enjoyable scent. This to my nose opens with a strong scent of Dr Pepper and leather. It smells like as if you took a leather coat and spilled Dr Pepper all over it. The lemon is there too but it’s a really only an opening note of citrus, and then it doesn’t really turn up afterwards. The hay here is earthy, grassy, and dry. The orris and the tobacco flowers add even more earthiness but with a hint of smoky sweetness underlying. There’s an asphalt note in this and it weirdly enough smells just like wet cement, like the sidewalk after it’s rained that morning. The dry down of this is a leather heavy scent with sweet earthy accords and an add addition of asphalt as a background note, but I think the combination all works very well.

I really didn’t care for this one when I sprayed it on test paper. However, on my skin it is so warm and comforting. It’s summer, but it’s a cooler rainy day and it feels like the perfect scent for this day. It is a little more masculine than I typically wear, but as it dries down it becomes more unisex and the iris gives it a slight feminine edge. I’m a little surprised at how much I like this one. I have a sample from their The Complete Works set, and I think this one, Yesterday Haze, and Falling into the Sea are going to be full bottle worthy for me. I’m loving this house. ETA: So I did buy a travel size, 10 ml of this but I’m kicking myself for not getting the full bottle. I love this even more now than I did when I tested it. @dsgnmind above me explains the notes well, but for me it’s a love love.

Opens up smelling like Gojo hand cleaner; then, as the dust settles, you can cleanly pick out each note that was used. IA are clever with the stories that back up their scents and all of them are presented so nice up front but I'd be interested to see if this one lasts under normal wear and tear as I'm just trying the sampler. Hay with asphalt, leather, and lemon is such a powerful combo that I don't want to pull away from quick sniffs. Maybe it has to do with growing up around mechanics and welders and that machine shop smell. All tire and oil change shops have this kind of smell as well. A burst of citrus covering up the grime and cigarette smoke behind the scenes. Was not expecting this based on the name alone, but it makes perfect sense when you read the inspiration.

i am so sad to see they’re discontinuing this :(( one of my faves from this house. i didn’t like this at first sniff, but after wearing it i found that i was incredibly fond of it. i am so fascinated by the ability to smell more peculiar, abstract notes in a perfume and this is just the case with the asphalt note in this. its so distinctive. the tobacco flowers and hay add such a lovely earthy-sweetness to a fragrance that otherwise may be too masculine or leather-heavy for people. i find that the lemon note is more prominent on clothing and that it may be offensive to some, as it leans very astrigent or sort of like a cleaning product scent, but it quickly mellows into earthy, floral, sweet, leathery goodness. so sad to see this beauty go!! :((

This is so dark, edgy, and mysterious. A true leather scent with some tobacco thrown in for good measure. What I’d imagine a Victorian candlelit mansion’s couch to smell like. Or a girl who just pulled into a roadside diner on her Harley. Or a mixture of your dad’s garage and whatever cologne he was wearing when he worked on his car. I wanna spray it on my leather jacket. It also has that note of asphalt smell to it, but all of that is so nicely rounded off with the scent of lemon. And this isn’t a “cleaning product” type lemon, make no mistake. It’s just barely there in the background - to cut down the dirtiness of the leather and asphalt. A gem in the IA line for sure. Might get this in a full bottle one day!

This fragrance truly shocked my experience on perfumes! The "imaginary" notes include as well Asphalt and Hayfields. Reading the story about this fragrance exactly puts you in that experience. I did not expect to love this fragrance, and how it is easy on the nose! It smells like a road trip, sitting in vintage leathery seats, listening to Arctic Monkeys in the sunniest hayfields. It has this indie movie feels. The fragrance is unisex, but leading closer to male- but I don't care because I would want to wear this fragrance when traveling. Amazing! This is one of the best perfume experiences purchasing both short story collections- cannot wait for more. Zodiac Trio ⬆Gemini ☀Sagittarius 🌜Capricorn

YES YES YES YES YESSSSSS. The scent of clean leather here is what really lures me in, I cannot stop sniffing myself every time I have this on hahaha. So classy, fresh and uniquely beautiful. Got me imagining my own fictional story before I even knew its synopsis. Heavy on midwestern town, very Ethel Cain vibes LOLLLLLL. Is it weird to say that this perfume brings me lots of comfort? It’s a genuine piece of art that you get to wear on your body. Wish I could wear this every single day, but of course, there’s a time and place for a piece like this: to an art exhibition, to a speakeasy, or something equally refined.

I recently sampled all the IA scents with my boyfriend and here is a dual review. My review: wow I love violet and earthy notes mixed together. A sweet yet earthy and leathery fragrance that I am certainly going to have to add to my collection. It reminds me of my favorite parts of Santal Supreme mixed with a hint of lemon and in general better. I definitely get the asphalt, hay and tobacco but they add a depth to something I loved already. Overall one of my favorites from the collection His review: *sniffs again for many minutes* smells like a barn honestly... And (starts experiencing nostalgia) never mind

Really nice scent! I disagree with others that this is a more masculine scent and I wear it confidently as a female. The dry down is lovely iris with lemon and hay undertones on me. The iris kind of powders it down and makes it have a certain must in combination with the hay. While I can certainly smell the leather, it is not a predominant note on my skin. Only complaint is wishing this lasted beyond 4 hours. Not a safe blind buy, I realized after noticing that it smelt like a whiskey barrel on a co-worker, but fortunately Imaginary Authors has sample sets that allow you to test a variety!

A long time ago, I had a really close friend who lived out in the country on a farm where their family took care of cattle. One of my favorite parts about going to their farm was the drive there. The country side in the summer and autumn was beautiful. This reminds me of those drives. The hot pavement and the hay and the animal/musky smell of the country side. Mixed with a little bit of fresh lemon that reminds me of the sweetness of the surrounding air after it just rained. 9/10 the only thing is that it doesn't last as long as I would like.

I put this on paper before I read the description and instantly thought "Old Hollywood Rebel". Sure enough, the story behind it is an "On the Road" style epic about human adventure. The asphalt and lemon come through strongest at first. Like driving in a car through southern California on a late summer day. Sitting on leather seats and rushing past blooming flowers growing on the side of the highway. You begin to wind through golden fields as the scent dries down. I absolutely love it. It is a journey.

This is the truest leather fragrance I’ve ever had the pleasure of smelling. So much so that it’s basically ruined other “leather” fragrances for me. They just don’t come this close to the real thing. The opening is really nice and bright from the lemon. This is smoothed out as it dries down by the iris and what I smell as a dry tobacco note. The leather is very prominent throughout, and will last on me for a good 7 hours or so. Another winner for Imaginary Authors.

selected this along with 7 other Imaginary Authors scents in the amazing sample box - Cobra & Canary is one of my favorites up to now - I'm not good in detecting what it is that makes my like it very much but I do I would call it a 'makes me feel good' perfume - a bit intimate - not perse to be shared with others - does that make sense ? + the bookmarkers you get with the perfumes are amazing which for me makes it an even more pleasant 'experience'

Probably my favorite fragrance from the IA line. The leather and lemon notes up read a lot more "highway cafe" than "new car," and the asphalt, hay, and orris notes as the scent develop in a very lovely way on my skin. I love this for an especially hot day; it's a good way to approximate a sun-baked feel without resorting to animalic scents. This, Every Storm A Serenade, and Cape Heartache are the must-tries from Imaginary Authors.

Interesting bright and squeaky clean leather. Black leather upholstery that squeaks when you jump behind the wheel to take the classic sports car for a spin. It's more wearable than some of the other niche automotive inspired perfumery I've tried as that they don't put in a gasoline accord. My only gripe is after a while the leather dries down a bit mundane. Take my review with a pinch of salt, as I've only tried this once. YMMV.

Very unique and interesting. The asphalt note is not harsh to my nose. It smells really cool and edgy and is rounded out by the hay and lemon notes. Smooth, aromatic and long lasting - and the leather is not overpowering at all to me. Love this one from IA! My collection needed something different and this checks all the boxes. Very fairly priced for a niche frag and the performance on this is really really good. 8.5/10

This bears no resemblance to Stash!! Stash is a wood heaven. TCATC is a delightful mid weight unisex leather beauty. I do like the way the hay and citrus really lift and accent the leather. The iris has its usual cool powdery effect. It's sad the citrus is not around a lot longer but that's the nature of the beast. The silage quickly retracts and then it stays close to skin but lasts a good few hours.

I just love it! It's definitely not for everyone and highly recommend a sample/decant first. And it's probably not an every day scent for most people. The asphalt, the lemon, the hay and leather combine to create a magical, strange and complex scent. Imaginary Authors has a knack of taking my mind on a journey. Imaginary Authors indeed. Well played! Scent - 9/10 Performance - 9/10

I absolutely adore this. So WARM and musky and leathery without being overpowering. I don’t really smell any lemon but there is a freshness to it. I love violet mints and candy and after the first warm hit of leather hits I thought “this smells like violet candy tastes.” Thought I was crazy but there is iris in there and it really shows up. I will be wearing this for sure

Another wonderful creation from Imaginary Authors. The iris in this fragrance is similar to the way Josh Meyer uses it in O'Unknown. Altogether pleasant and captivating. I feel it leans a bit more masculine but anyone can wear it. Longevity on my skin is above average, about 10 hours. Sillage and projection moderate. Overall 8/10

Interesting leather and hay combo, it's a good city smell that actually blends well with all the car fumes and smoke in the air. The initial blast is kinda bad and made my roommate cough, but on skin and hair it's much better. Edit: the strange blast of leather is new car smell, can't believe it took me so long to recognize it

This is pure badass energy. It smells like worn-in leather with a gritty concrete/asphalt edge, giving strong road-trip, rebel, outlaw vibes. Very masculine vintage vibes. It feels artistic and cinematic, like cruising endless highways in a leather jacket. A creative fragrance for people who like rough, leathery scents 8.5/10

Probably my favorite IA frag. I hated this at first and almost wrote it off completely, but then I read Fragriminator’s review and seriously... if you wait out the punch in the face with a leather boxing glove, it turns into something really great. Sweet and moody and deep. I mean seriously, their review is 100% spot on.

Wow-- I really love this fragrance! It's nostalgic in a way, for me, that I can't really put my finger on. The leather/hay mixture almost gives a tobacco-like quality to it, which I like. The citrus balances it out and makes it more elevated and interesting. I can definitely see this being a signature scent of mine!

This fragrance is amazing to me. You get that dark leather but then shining through it is that bright lemon. It is a bit like ying and yang IMO. I wore this when I went to a pub by the beach which suited the occasion perfectly since you have that leather for the pub and lemon for the sea.

At first this smells purely metallic, but I can smell the listed notes the longer I wear it. After that I mostly smell the leather, but there's a tinge of sweetness that makes it feel inviting. Actually, the more I smell this, the more complex it gets. I'm loving all of it though.

This is a wonderful scent, mmmm I love it very much. It's very comforting and easy to wear, I can't stop sniffing it. My personal fav from the lineup and a signature scent for me. Memories of an auto garage with a sweetness that makes me keep going back in for another sniff.

I gravitate towards "fall"/"winter"/"night" notes, but this is something I like that's summer appropriate (Strangers Lumberjack being another one I like). The leather is just right, and I *do* catch a very slight animalic barnyard, at least in the opening.

Definitely tobacco-y with a lot of the sharpness removed. This smell reminds me of a museum moreso than what other people have said about leather or motorcycles - like big, empty, echoey space and the weight of history. Another favorite from IA.

فوق العاده چرمی بسیار با کیفیت با روکشی سبز از یونجه و علف به شدت خاصه و مشابه نداره ----------- Scent & Quality: 10/10 Longevity: 9/10 Sillage: 7/10 Creativity & Uniqueness: 10/10 Affordability: 4/10 ----------- Overall: 8 + 0.5= 8.5/10

Someone used lemon scented armor all on an old beat up shelby series 1s leather seats and took it around the track a few times. The leather and musk remind me a lot of penguin by zoologist which is an all time favorite of mine.

This is a masterpiece when I saw the notes I was confused like how the hell dose lemon tobacco asphalt and hay work? But somehow it works PERFECTLY I love this so much this might be THE best imaginary author ever

So beautiful and rebellious. I imagine James Dean smelling like this. You really get each of the notes here.. that masculine leather and hay are complimented so well by the more feminine iris and lemon.

Haven't smelled anything quite like this before. Love how the notes play off one another. Very creative and well-blended. The only real downside is performance. Would be great if it lasted longer.