Imaginary Authors Bull’s Blood- and a Draw

IA_BB_BottleWell, here was one that I did not see coming. I had read about Imaginary Authors and asked for samples and they were kind enough to send me them I tried three or four on and it was a big “meh”. So much so that I decided that I wasn’t going to write about them (I’ll take LVMH to the woodshed anytime, but small places I won’t) So it was just toss them onto the coffee table and walk away.

Then I got to the door and started smelling myself- and they were GORGEOUS. So much so that I’ve been wearing Bull’s Blood for the last three days, and not just because I’m reviewing it.

The idea of the house is that the scents are based upon the lives of imaginary authors (I certainly never heard of them if they aren’t). You can read the backstory on Bull’s Blood here. I think there’s enough of tongue-jammed-in-cheek that as an advertising copy it’s pegging as cute rather than annoying. Plus I love the packaging- it’s kind of retro-fabulous in a “manly, yes, but I like it too” way I can’t help but smile.

Hey, it’s not slapping an artificial expiration date on there or telling us that it’s saving the world and the bottles aren’t encased in concrete, so I’m happy. Especially when I smell this good.

The largest part of Bull’s Blood on me is the tobacco and my new favorite ingredient, Costus Root. I do smell the rose and the patchouli and the final musky dry down is gorgeous. It’s a definite scent with many layers to the tobacco from the lush, ripe almost moist aspect of the tobacco my dad used for his pipe to the particularly dry scent of cigarettes being smoked. But not the reality of them being smoked- the romanticized version that perhaps only an ex-smoker has a memory of. (I quit a little under 20 years ago and it was the best thing I ever did. I can’t believe how much I used to give up to smoke and if you’re still doing it please stop; your lungs and your wallet will thank you. End of lecture.) The rose is light and delicate- it is like the imaginary author is sitting at his local café smoking his cigarillos, a single white rose on his table. Being Devante Valéreo and a ladies man he has a rather discernible personal smell- that of a man who has recently showered but who’s skin will always smell slightly of sex..

Lasting power for Bull’s Blood is pretty good: 6-8 hours on my skin and the shirts I was wearing are perfuming my bedroom from the hamper.

I’m going to be circling back to these and review the others over the summer.

Josh from Imaginary Authors just emailed me about three minutes before this goes live to offer three readers samples of Bull’s Blood. So leave a comment if you’d like to be included in the draw. The results will be posted next week, and I will need contact info at that point. Open to USA only, sorry chickens. Let the running of the bulls begin!

Imaginary Authors is sold in Portland, Oregon at Machus, Beam and Anchor and Eden, Sweet Anthem in Seattle, Ball and Buck in Boston, Seed People in Costa Mesa, Revolver in San Francisco and online here.  You can get decent-sized spray samples of their scents for $6, or all 7 for $35. 60ML bottles are $85 My samples were given to me for review.

Photo: Imaginary Authors

  • Patty Pong says:

    Has the draw been won by anybody????

  • Stuart says:

    Very interested in trying some of these. Great-sounding scents!

  • Violetesse says:

    Thanks for having this draw. Really interested i sampling this line. Blessings!!

  • Barbara says:

    Please enter me in the draw if not’s not too late. Have read nice things about Mr. Meyer and this line.

  • Tara says:

    Wow, never heard of this line but I do love a tobacco note- please enter me in the drawing!

  • rosarita313 says:

    No need to enter me in the draw as I have samples of this line; just putting a plug in for Josh, who is very nice, and his company, which is very original. I have liked everything in the line and found love with a couple including BB.

  • EileenS says:

    Thanks for the review, Tom! I had looked at this line and was waiting for more information. Sample order will go in soon, as this sounds like my cuppa tea!

  • Gwenyth says:

    Hope I’m not too late…:)

    Bull’s Blood – dislike the name, but am intrigued by the concept of the project. The “bios” about the Imaginary Authors are very clever and have just enough verisimilitude to make one cock an eyebrow and utter an appreciative chuckle.

    I’d love to be entered into the draw — and I’m very seriously contemplating an order of the group of 7 samples. Several of the perfume descriptions sound wonderful. I ADORE the list of notes, especially when such whimsical phrases like “evening air and The Month of May”, are used.
    Thanks SO much for bringing this line to my attention!

  • Beth says:

    Hi Tom! Great review of what sounds like a very interesting house. I’m always curious about fun, out-there ideas. Just bought 12 samples from Smell Bent, so this may be up my alley. Do you think this one skews masculine? I’m interested in trying it, but I never (in my entire life) win drawings so I’ll just order some samples 😉 It’s odd, I think people have bad luck at certain things… mine is drawings, but my dad’s is the shopping line. Never get in line behind him!

  • kal says:

    This sounds delicious. Thanks for giving us the chance to win this sample. Are Imaginary Authors based in Portland? (Some very interesting perfumes are coming from there…)

  • ncmyers says:

    The whole line sounds amazing and what a cool website they have! Count me in for the draw.

  • Datura5750 says:

    Would love to try thiis!

  • Patty Pong says:

    Thanks for the opportunity =|

  • Steve Tsotras says:

    tobacco and rose, yes please!

  • I haven’t tried any of them yet either. Pleas include me in the draw. Thank you!

  • wefadetogray says:

    I love tobacco for sure. I would be delighted to try this
    Thanks!

  • helical gnome says:

    I have not tried any scent from Imaginary Authors but would love to!
    Thanks for the draw.

  • Lean S says:

    I’ve been wanting to try a scent from Imaginary Authors ever since reading the review on Cafleurebon. Thank you for the draw here!

  • Lisa D says:

    I think the concept of an imaginary author is a not-too-illogical extension of the ad copy we usually see – why not make it all up, and be clever and humorous about it?

    p.s. Tom, congrats on quitting smoking! Even after twenty years, kudos are still in order, cuz’ that is one bitch of an addiction.

  • Beth says:

    I love tobacco scents! Would love to win this draw. Thanks

  • CC ... says:

    The notes sound gorgeous! Thank you for the generous draw. 🙂

  • Holly F. says:

    I’ve been hearing so much about these fragrances! I’d love the chance to try any of them, Bull’s Blood sounds especially fascinating. Thanks for the draw!

  • Christine D. says:

    I love the concept behind this house, and Bull’s Blood seems like a fascinating frag! Sign me up for the draw!

  • Kelly says:

    I am not sure if I like the name or not. I am undecided, it sounds like something i shouldn’t like but then again I am intrigued!.
    Would love to sample it!

  • ojaddicte says:

    I’ve just discovered how much I enjoy tobacco in perfumery, so I would luuurve to sample Bull’s Blood. Thank you for the draw!

  • mim says:

    whoa boy that sounds great–Bull’s Blood sounds unique and interesting, glad to hear it’s enjoyable and gorgeous too. Would love to try some!

  • Claudia D. says:

    Sounds intriguing! Please include me in the draw. 🙂

  • shaney says:

    I’m so glad you wrote about this house. I had forgotten about my brief obsession, reading and re-reading the website over and over again trying to decide on samples when I first started my foray into niche. I’m a lifelong reader, and the concept was too great, yet I never ended up ordering samples! I wanted to try Memoirs of a Trespasser and The Cobra and the Canary the most. Bull’s Blood sounds really intriguing, so please enter me into the draw! I have no idea what Costus Root smells like, but now I really want to know!

  • Catherine says:

    Kind of exciting – I love the idea of Imaginary Authors.

  • Janice says:

    I hadn’t heard of this line either, but I followed the link to the website and quite a few of them sound really great. Would love to try Bull’s Blood, I love tobacco scents.

  • Lace Benanti says:

    Sign me up for the draw! 😀

  • jirish says:

    I love it when something grows like this, from meh to marvelous in a half hour or so. I’d love to try this, and I’ll have to put Imaginary Authors down on the list of indies I still need to check out.

  • Rena Rountree says:

    I would love to try a sample of the Bull’s Blood, tobacco is my fav. Hope I get lucky!

  • Barbara Fox-Hajj-Houssien says:

    I’m a “Newbie” and would love to try this. ‘Musky tobacco’ describes my mood right now and I would love to experience this fragrance.

  • Ann says:

    Howdy, Tom! DNEM, of course, but so glad you reviewed this one and brought this line to our attention. Sometimes it’s really hard to keep up with everything new that’s coming out. Thanks!

  • Civet says:

    Fleurdelys, I too immediately thought of the wine! It is indeed from Hungary and quite robust. Thank you for the draw!

  • Jan Last says:

    Put me in for the draw please. I’ve been a customer of Eden since I learned of the Oregon perfume scene, and they never disappoint. You can expect good things from Imaginary Authors.

  • Bridget C says:

    This sounds really interesting. Thanks for the draw!

  • fleurdelys says:

    Tobacco is a favorite note of mine as well! Thanks for the drawing and please enter me (I live in the US). There is also a wine called Bull’s Blood, I think it is from Hungary (it was good).

  • leathermountain says:

    This sounds fantastic! I quit smoking 12 years ago, and started loving tobacco scents within the past year. Now I can’t get enough! So glad I quit, too. When and where will it retail in NYC? Why did I leave Boston? Thanks so much for the draw!

  • Dana says:

    Well, as much as I hate people smoking, too, I must admit I enjoy scents that have tobacco in it. I would love to smell this. Thanks! I do live in the U.S.

  • FeralJasmine says:

    I’m a costus fan myself so would love to be entered in the draw. Thanks for the interesting review.

  • Connie says:

    Mmmm, sounds delicious. Jasmin et Cigarette is one of my favorites, so I’d love to try this. Thanks for the draw!

  • Carol K says:

    Tom, great review. I’d definitely love to try it….I wonder if you’ll have second thoughts on their other perfumes as well? Thanks!

  • Spiker says:

    I’ve yet to try a tobacco perfume, and I’m not familiar with Imaginary Authors, so I’d love to be entered in the draw. Thanks!

  • Tora says:

    I just love a good tobacco perfume! Currently I am enamoured with Costamor Tobacca, and Santa Maria Novella Tabacco Toscana. I would love to try Bull’s Blood!

  • Cat Schultz says:

    Hey Tom!! Bulls blood sounds phenomenal! I love the smell of tobacco, hence how I got into enjoying cigars. Expensive habit. Lol.

  • l ryan says:

    i’d love to give this one a sniff…love the ‘imaginary author’ idea. i did just recently get a sample of puredistance ‘M’ which has pretty much blown my standards for the masculine scent sky-high. there is always room at the top!

  • dremybluz says:

    sounds interesting

  • Portia says:

    Hi Tom
    Bulls Blood is fabulous. I’m glad you love it too. DNEM but I wanted you to know how much I love the line
    Portia xx

  • Gina says:

    Hi Tom, thanks for the review. You’ve really got me eager to try Bull’s Blood. Mmmm, tobacco.

  • Red says:

    I do not know if I should participate or believe on draws here. I’ve won a draw here but I have not received my won sample/s nor have I been contacted by her after giving her my shipping info. Just sayin.

    • Ann says:

      Hi, Red! I think that was a draw that i did for the Oscar de la Renta Oriental Lace sample. I mailed it out to you a few days after the winners were chosen and you should have had it by now, unless it got lost in the mail or was confiscated at customs or something. I tried to contact you but my e-mail to you was pinged and came back to me. So then I replied to a comment you left on 4/28 on our “Share Your Thoughts: Giveaway Roundup” post, asking if you had received the package. I’m sorry you have not received it, but I mailed it out promptly, with the other winners’ packages. Thanks!

      • Red says:

        Sorry, no draw prize arrived, no email received (first time I heard of pinged on someone emailing me where this email is same, subscribed to STC & having no problems receiving mails) & no 4/28 round up note for me that I remember because I was too busy & must have missed that one. Maybe you must have shipped on wrong address or mistyped the box no., as this address has been served by STC consistently even recently. Customs to confiscate a little sample, who knows. Anyways, a winner without a prize, that is all that matters. Thanks.

        • Patty says:

          Hey, Red, our policy on here is that we mail things out and if the USPS doesn’t get them there, we can’t send them again and again since we are doing this out of our own pockets, and postage does get expensive. We can’t be responsible beyond that, especially with international shipping and the common occurrence of some countries confiscating packages that they believe are perfume.

          This is a perfume blog. While I a specifically am affiliated with STC, this blog is independent on that, and all the writers are not affilitated with STC except me.

          If that policy doesn’t work for you, then you are probably right and shouldn’t enter any of our giveaways. Also, communication to us works best if you click on the Drop Us a Note at the top o the blog or e-mailed the same e-mail address you did originally and let them know you didn’t get it instead of dropping a critical comment on another writer’s post. We don’t all read all the comments on all posts. I barely have time to read my own.

  • I’ve heard of this line but hadn’t tried any of them yet. Musky tobacco sounds delicious. Thanks for the draw!

  • Tamara*J. says:

    I luuurve Costus…MMmm. Not for everybody but I’m glad I enjoy it.
    I’d love to try Bull’s Blood, sign me up. 🙂
    Thanks for the draw! I’m in the US.