Violet Disguise by Imaginary Authors

"Like a good book, these scents are meant to inspire you. In these bottles are layered narratives that are sure to generate stirring conversation, fragrances that might be capable of changing the course of your own personal story. The hope is that they not only invigorate and intoxicate, but also take you to new places."

Violet Disguise is one of the scents from Imaginary Authors, a clever new line of scents straight out of that hotbed of culture, Portland, Oregon*. Each perfume is a story in and of itself, wrapped around the idea of an author who never was. The entire concept was dreamed up by Josh Meyer, a self-taught perfumer with a clear love of books. I adore the scents, the website, the packaging... it's all brilliant.

*Is Portland "a hotbed of culture"? It kind of seems like it to me and Lucy of IndiePerfumes agrees. That's not the point, though. Stay focused. Keep reading the review. ;)

"Each Imaginary Authors fragrance follows a compelling storyline peppered with intriguing twists. These are scents to curl up with, to share with friends, to take with you wherever you go, and to return to again and again for a uniquely transcendent experience."

Invigorated by the reckless blooms of spring she took to the street like a blossom on the breeze.” So begins Violet Disguise by Lenora Blumberg. A Californian through and through, Blumberg’s early stories invoke the innocence of picnics in the park, days whiled away picking plums in the orchard, and warm nights cruising canyon roads with the top down. 

After Violent Disguise was adapted for the screen Blumberg spent several years consorting with Hollywood’s elite but abandoned the glitz for a quiet life on a plum orchard in the Ojai Valley. 

WHEN TO WEAR: This is a versatile fragrance that will remind you of the simpler joys in life. Violet Disguise will invigorate and put a spring in your step. 

NOTES: Plum, Violet, Dried Fruits, Balsam, Amber, Evening Air & The Month of May

60mL | $85 | Eau de Parfum

Violet Disguise opens with an odd swirl of pine tree and flowers and something fruity, spins in the air, then settles back down again. That out of the way, the perfume behaves in a bit more of a ladylike manner. There's a sweet, fruity nuance flirting around the edges of this violet perfume. And under it, only just, is the dried fruit, chewy and somehow...healthy? Like a baggie full of dehydrated fruit you'd take on a hike. It adds an odd, deadened vibe that's somehow very appealing, contrasting with the vibrance of the sweet violet petals. I'll be honest: I've never been quite sure what plum smells like...until now. It's clearly here, ripe but subtle. It tangles beautifully with the balsam, nesting in the boughs until the amber washes up and wipes them away. As for the Evening Air and Month of May - yes, they're here too. A spritz of Violet Disguise will lead you right to them, then to your wrist, again and again for more. This perfume is fun and flirty with a slightly serious side. She's the girl with the glasses, wind blowing through her hair, and a wink in her eye.

"Life is a series of blank pages and it is up to one’s self whether to fill those pages with tedious prose or wildly imaginative storylines.”

ps:

Until 4/2