Whispered Myths

One of the recent releases by Josh Meyer of Imaginary Authors, done semi-secretly on the website and by word of mouth, is Whispered Myths, no doubt promoted substantially less than the release that followed it, "O, Unknown!". Whispered Myths marks the first occasion in Imaginary Authors of oud being a prominent, and in this case, a dominant one. The oud used in Whispered Myths is seemingly neither toward the animalic nor soberly smooth extremes of what oud can be, resting somewhere in between. And in that respect, it seems to both a nod to true oud-lovers as well as a movement toward the middle as far as ease-of-wearing. Even at first smell, it's one of the easiest oud fragrances to wear that I've smelled, and one need not be a fan of rose (as in the many rose/oud combos) or another pronounced note to like the fragrance as a whole. The other contributory notes, minor players by comparison, of cantaloupe, cedar, and honey, sweeten and smooth out the oud further, harmonious making it even more wearable. It's sweet and enjoyable while still being bold and oud-intensive. Performance is quite great, stronger than average in terms of both projection and longevity, albeit not quite the beast of some of its Imaginary Authors siblings, such as A City on Fire, Cape Heartache, and Memoirs of a Trespasser. Higher than the usual pricing (of $95 for 50ml), Whispered Myths is priced at $120 for 50ml, due likely to the cost of oud, I imagined, and this was confirmed by Gents Scents on YouTube. 8 out of 10

If you can pull off aromatics, oud, woody notes, and subdued fruity notes -- yes, you too may find this perfectly wearable! I'm a little astonished at all the reviews talking about how aggressive or creepy this fragrance is (?) and do wonder whether the dark, surreal backstory given by IA is influencing people's perceptions of the scent. At any rate, Whispered Myths is indeed unusual, but to me its unique combination of incensey depth and aromatic, melon-lifted lightness best suit walking around a New England coastal town, poking into old gift shops. I do get some dustiness, but it's not a powdery dustiness so much as weathered wood -- the burnished mantel of a fireplace in an old pub, maybe, that has seen neither alcohol nor flames in many years but still whispers of summer sailors dropping by for a pint and a laugh. I imagine individual skin chemistry plays a big role in how this develops; on paper, it's harsh and spiky, but on my skin, it's zesty and a little intriguing. Its longevity is quite good, better than quite a few more extravagantly priced fragrances, and the use of authentic oud rather than synthetic may be less approachable for the masses but speaks to my personal preferences. Wearing Whispered Myths delights me, and as I am not an oversprayer, I have no fear of wearing it out and about.

Sometimes woody smells are like the lumber aisle in a Home Depot, but this is more like a fallen tree; a damp log that's just started to rot at the edges. This fragrance greeted me with a subtle sourness, like a blueberry, or like a well-fed sourdough starter. I'm not necessarily picking up on the melon, but that isn't to say I'm not getting haunted by the ghost of its sweetness; a sweetness that you see moving in your peripheral vision, but vanishes when you turn to look at it. The dry down reminds me of a used bookstore I once visited in downtown New Orleans; stacks of books climbing to the top of musty ceilings, shelves so close together you had to turn sideways to get through corners. It's a little powdery for my tastes, and I find myself wishing I could nail down the advertised sweetness and musk. But there's just enough of it to break the sharper edges of the cedar, keeping it from splintering off into something truly dry. While Bull's Blood is my personal favorite, this is the sample I reach for when I am heading outside; I'm sad IA has discontinued this one!

God, I love the fragrance profile of Whispered Myths, but for the way it (and ANY of Imaginary Authors' "Eaux de Parfums") performs the most I would ever pay for a full bottle is $30. UPSIDES: Gorgeous, well-blended, and imaginative dry woods fragrance. I cannot pick out any of the individual notes, but it's woodsy enough to satisfy me, the oud is front and center without being overly animalic, and it has a hint of sweetness to balance it out. All in all it's like sticking your nose right in the middle of an old book and inhaling-- and I do that to books so I mean that in the best possible way. Unisex IMO since I am a gal that loves my woods, resins, and spices. NEUTRAL: Entirely linear, but that's all of Imaginary Authors. DOWNSIDES: Lasts about three hours as a skin scent only. No projection, no sillage, no longevity, and not strong enough for this or any of Imaginary Authors fragrances to be classified as EDPs. At best it's an EDT, but honestly more like a cologne splash. For the price, it's inexcusable.

The opening is nice and bright, and a bit salty aquatic. I don't really get a big cantaloupe vibe, but that's probably for the best because I don't love cantaloupe. If the opening stayed linear, I would not be much of a fan of this. Thankfully, in the mid, I start to get a spicy, slightly woody effect, which is when this fragrance starts to get exciting. Then, in the dry down, I start to pick up a beautiful musk, photorealistic woods, and yes, a definite animalic oud. It is definitely a bit of a body odor smell, but not an ugly arm pit smell, more a pleasant musty smell due to the wood element. I understand how some would not like it, but I find it intoxicating. I cannot stop sniffing my wrist. This is probably my favorite from the house, although I very much like A City on Fire, and Cape Heartache, two very different takes on wood centric fragrances.