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Imaginary Authors

Niche brand · Portland, Oregon, United States

Imaginary Authors

Q: Who founded Imaginary Authors?

Imaginary Authors was founded in Portland in 2012 by [Josh Meyer](/perfumer/josh-meyer) and Ashod Simonian. Meyer is the perfumer; Simonian is the creative director responsible for illustration and the visual brand world.

Q: Does the fragrance or the story come first?

Historically, [Josh Meyer](/perfumer/josh-meyer) usually began with the scent. Meyer and Ashod Simonian then developed the title, fictional author, plot and illustration. There are exceptions: Meyer says [A Little Secret](/perfume/imaginary-authors-a-little-secret) began with a dream of Simonian’s.

A Portland perfume house where scent, fiction and illustration turn every bottle into a story for the senses.

Portland, Oregon, United States · founded 2012

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Founded: 2012
Origin: Portland, Oregon, USA
Founders: Josh Meyer and Ashod Simonian
Creative roles: Josh Meyer composes; Ashod Simonian develops the illustration and brand world
Concept: Fragrances presented as fictional books with their own plots and cover art
At Parfinity: 22 fragrances to sample

The story

Imaginary Authors was founded in Portland in 2012 by perfumer Josh Meyer and creative director Ashod Simonian. Their premise treats each fragrance as an unwritten book: perfume, fictional author, synopsis and Simonian’s illustration are developed as one coherent work.

Literature is not simply pasted onto a formula. Meyer says the scent has historically come first; story and visual language then make its character more immediate. The narrative range stretches from the woodland romance of Cape Heartache to the ice-cream-shop nostalgia of A Whiff of Waffle Cone.

01 · Portland, 2012

Two disciplines, one shared language

Before the first collection appeared in 2012, Josh Meyer taught himself perfumery and experimented with materials in his Portland basement. When an early brand direction failed to fit the scents, he asked Ashod Simonian for help. Simonian proposed the name Imaginary Authors, and the conversation grew into a partnership.

Their roles remained distinct and productive: Meyer develops the fragrances; Simonian builds their visual and narrative worlds. That division of work helps explain why bottle, title and plot do not feel like decoration, but like different ways into the same scent.

02 · From scent to book

The story usually follows the formula

At Imaginary Authors, the process has historically begun with the perfume. Josh Meyer and Ashod Simonian smell together, discuss images, memories and tone, then develop the fictional author, plot, title and illustration. The fantasy accords printed on the bottles are not meant to pretend that a secret material exists; they translate complex smells into an accessible, playful language.

The sequence is not a rigid rule. Meyer says A Little Secret grew from Simonian’s dream about the distinctly Pacific Northwest pairing of cherry pie and diner coffee. What matters is that idea, image and scent finally speak in the same register.

03 · A library of contrasts

Concrete images instead of abstract jargon

The collection makes most sense through its range. Cape Heartache sets woodland depth against an unexpected fruit sweetness; A City on Fire turns smoke into a dark narrative. A Whiff of Waffle Cone translates the smell of a freshly baked cone into a gourmand perfume, while In Love with Everything feels like a brightly lit dance floor.

The quieter books remain equally visual: Memoirs of a Trespasser brings together the impression of wood, warmth and a private library. The stories do not prescribe a fixed reading; they supply the opening sentence and let personal memory continue it.

04 · Memory as the destination

The wearer completes the story

The brand describes its mission as conjuring old memories and helping create new ones. The book motif supplies a frame, not a finished script. Ashod Simonian compared the process to a bridge across an unknown canyon: the brand builds part of the way, and the wearer fills the remaining span with personal experience.

That also explains the idea of a “fragrance bookshelf.” One bottle is one volume; several scents offer different perspectives on occasion, feeling and personal history. The literary premise is therefore less a claim than an invitation to participate.

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Choose five Imaginary Authors fragrances as 2 ml samples for your Parfinity Box. The value of your box is fully credited towards a later bottle purchase.

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FruityGourmand

Vibrant 80s fruit punch euphoria

Sample from €9

€11050ml

Imaginary Authors

Falling into the Sea

6.7/10(3)

AquaticCitrus

Citrus splash, tropical breeze.

Sample from €9

€11050ml

Imaginary Authors

O, Unknown!

5.5/10(2)

TeaPowdery

Mysterious tea & powdery whispers.

Sample unavailable

€11050ml

Imaginary Authors

Memoirs of a Trespasser

WoodySmoky

Smoky Vanilla-Wood Embrace

Sample from €9

€11050ml

Imaginary Authors

The Language of Glaciers

6/10(2)

GreenFloral

Alpine frost meets cashmere flora

Sample from €9

€11050ml

New

Imaginary Authors

First Peach of the Season

FruityLactonic

Juicy Peach & Cream

Sample from €9

€11050ml

Imaginary Authors

The Soft Lawn

GreenSynthetic

Green zest, tennis court freshness.

Sample from €9

€11050ml

Imaginary Authors

Telegrama

PowderySpicy

Powdery spice meets vintage allure.

Sample from €9

€11050ml

Imaginary Authors

Whispered Myths

WoodySmoky

Cantaloupe & oud: sea mystery.

Sample from €9

€11050ml

Community

What the community says about Imaginary Authors

10/10

„Very high quality, amazing cherry that leans unisex. Longevity is very good and yes, it is a good value for money for cherry lovers compared to the alternatives“

panagiotaA Little Secret

10/10

„I have been looking for a great cherry fragrance for a long time. I found it here. The cherry is beautifully in the foreground and is wonderfully complemented by all the other fragrance notes. The sweetness of the marzipan comes through perfectly. And so does the slight alcoholic touch, as well as the tonka bean. A really beautiful fruity, sweet, and gourmand thing. Total recommendation if you are looking for something like this.“

jesse23A Little Secret

10/10

„... an addictive experience with seductive allure... far more complex than ordinary cherry scents, this fragrance elegantly distances itself from sugary-sweet gourmand monotony... at the heart, juicy marzipan soaked in rum merges with precious saffron, which perfectly balances the sweetness with a fine tartness... carried by warm patchouli, a deep, oriental-spicy bouquet unfolds that lingers eternally on the skin... familiar enough to provide a sense of comfort, yet so unique that it remains something special ♥️“

2.55A Little Secret

7.1 / 10from 39 approved reviews by our community

The nose

The perfumer behind Imaginary Authors

Josh Meyer

Josh Meyer's path to becoming one of America's most innovative indie perfumers began far from the fragrance world.

Discover more about Josh Meyer

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Who founded Imaginary Authors?

Imaginary Authors was founded in Portland in 2012 by Josh Meyer and Ashod Simonian. Meyer is the perfumer; Simonian is the creative director responsible for illustration and the visual brand world.

Does the fragrance or the story come first?

Historically, Josh Meyer usually began with the scent. Meyer and Ashod Simonian then developed the title, fictional author, plot and illustration. There are exceptions: Meyer says A Little Secret began with a dream of Simonian’s.

What does the fictional-book concept mean?

Each fragrance is presented as the work of a fictional author, with cover art, a plot and an image-rich note list. Cape Heartache, A Whiff of Waffle Cone and Memoirs of a Trespasser show how different these scent-books can be.

Are the fantasy notes real raw materials?

Not necessarily. The founders describe terms such as fictional places, objects or memories as a way to make the effect of complex materials easier to grasp. They are part of the narrative, not a complete ingredient list.

Wear First. Love Forever.

Which story will you wear on your skin?

Build your Imaginary Authors selection and get to know each fragrance where it matters: in everyday life, on your skin, and without time pressure.

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