The Abandoned Mansion by Imaginary Authors: Gothic romance in a bottle I can’t stop thinking about

I’ll say it up front. When Imaginary Authors names a scent The Abandoned Mansion, I’m already halfway in love. I can smell the velvet dust, the creak of polished wood, the hush of old secrets. If that doesn’t stir your pulse a little, check it.

If you’re new to the house, this indie brand, led by Josh Meyer, builds fragrances as chapters from imaginary novels. It sounds gimmicky until you try them. Narrative is their engine, but it’s the textures that keep you hooked. Think atmosphere you can wear, the kind that makes strangers lean in and ask questions they didn’t mean to say out loud.

What do I expect from The Abandoned Mansion? Not a funfair of sugar, that’s for sure. The name promises patina. I’m imagining cool stone corridors, sun-warmed varnish, a floral bouquet left to dry in a silver vase, maybe a hint of beeswax and a library’s hush. If it follows the house’s best instincts, it will be brooding yet luminous, slightly strange but undeniably beautiful on skin.

For context, IA’s back catalog is a vibe map. Memoirs of a Trespasser is a smoky-vanilla cult crush that says I read by candlelight. A City on Fire is charred-ember intrigue that turns a rainy night cinematic. Cape Heartache does mossy forest romance with a wink. Slow Explosions brings saffron-tinged leather sparkle. Every Storm a Serenade pulls brine and spruce into something addictive. The brand likes to flirt with oddness, then seduce you with balance. I’m betting The Abandoned Mansion sits right in that sweet spot.

Who should absolutely sample it:

• Lovers of gothic-lite elegance who don’t want to smell like a prop room
• Fans of Memoirs of a Trespasser or A City on Fire looking for a moodier cousin
• Anyone bored by safe florals and ready for texture, shadow, and a little mystery

I plan to test it on a cool evening and let it bloom through a coat collar. If it skews plush and resinous, I’ll layer a whisper of Memoirs of a Trespasser for extra candlelit warmth. If it leans mineral and airy, I’ll tap in Every Storm a Serenade for that crisp contrast.

Bottom line. Imaginary Authors The Abandoned Mansion sounds like the quietest person at the party who ends up stealing your attention. Sample it, let it haunt you, and see if you’re ready to move in.