Every Storm a Serenade by Imaginary Authors

This perfume is a battle for the balance of the four elements. At first, Earth dominates with fir and vetiver, earthy and almost dirty, refreshed by a fine eucalyptus. Then Fire arrives with a touch of smoke that joins Air, the calone, creating a fresh breeze. Finally, Sea Water, thanks to ambergris, plays with that mix and the woods like waves against rocks, forming a Baltic sea mist. If you don’t like to travel with your nose, stop now. A Serenade after the storm: all notes alternate as it evolves on the skin. It starts strong, like a race through a dark, humid fir forest, with soft aromatics and eucalyptus. As you sweat, you feel the sea breeze from a cliff and the smoke of a campfire in the background. Reaching the cliff edge, a fresh wind hits you with every wave. Catching your breath among the rocks, you notice a mineral sweetness that joins the campfire smoke, creating a mist around you. You sit with your feet dangling and let yourself be carried away.

I was looking for this perfume to step out of the ordinary and I must say I liked it. It’s an aroma with classic elements that gets its green, almost herbal and woody aspect right, which is what I was looking for. I might be mad, but it smells like a well-kept library with ferns, in line with Imaginary Authors. I want to try the new version, although I also feel this one is unisex and has good longevity. It’s not loud, but it’s present in the immediate vicinity for about six hours, leaving a brief trail afterwards. Also, it’s a plus that Josh Meyer gives such a well-worked concept to his creations. Long live the indie spirit.

Fresh, like being lost on a misty island with a lighthouse on. I detect vetiver with a burnt, almost mineral touch, though less salty than Oud Minerale; here it weighs less. As it dries, the pine and woody notes come out more, although I don’t see it as earthy. It’s not original: if you remove the smoke, it smells commercial, like something for a suited executive.