Gush›Imaginary Authors›An Air Of Despair unisex
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Imaginary Authors An Air Of Despair unisex
Imaginary Authors

An Air Of Despair unisex

Aromatic
Woody
Oud
Musky
Powdery
Amber
Warm Spicy
EDP · 2015 · unisex

Imaginary Authors is an indie fragrance house known for distinctive storytelling through scent. Founded by Phil Liff, the brand prioritizes imaginative, character-driven fragrances that prioritize quality ingredients and artistic vision over mass-market appeal.

An Air Of Despair opens with cedar, cinnamon, and saffron, immediately establishing a warm, spiced woody character. The heart deepens this with oud, sandalwood, and labdanum, creating a rich amber-woody core that's both creamy and subtly smoky. The base settles into a soft, suede-touched finish with musk and cashmeran, maintaining warmth throughout without becoming cloying. The overall DNA is decidedly dark and introspective, with oud providing incense-like depth and the spice notes preventing it from ever feeling overly sweet or precious.

This is a fragrance for those drawn to complex, moody ambers and woody compositions. It works equally well on cold evenings as it does layered under clothing for intimate projection. An Air Of Despair suits contemplative wearers who appreciate nuance over brightness, and it performs well as a cooler-season signature. If you gravitate toward The Mystic, The Homesteader, or The Reverie, this belongs in your collection.

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Main Accordsreported by community
Aromatic
20%
Woody
100%
Oud
90%
Musky
48%
Powdery
18%
Amber
70%
Warm Spicy
80%
Spicy
15%
Leather
50%
Smoky
60%
Creamy
38%
Fragrance Notesbrand verified
Top · 0–30 min
cedar
cedar
cinnamon
cinnamon
Sweet, warm, and instantly comforting, cinnamon bark has a familiar warmth that slides easily into oriental and gourmand fragrances. Used sparingly it adds a pleasant warmth; used heavily it can dominate. It has a slightly sharp, peppery facet alongside its sweetness that keeps it from being purely foodie.
saffron
saffron
The most expensive spice in the world has a leathery, honeyed, slightly metallic quality that is immediately recognizable. In perfumery, saffron adds a dark, animalic richness, it's the note that gives oud-rose fragrances their distinctive regal depth. A little goes a long way; too much reads as medicinal.
sandalwood
sandalwood
Creamy, smooth, and milky with a soft, skin-like warmth that clings beautifully. True Mysore sandalwood is one of perfumery's most precious ingredients, simultaneously wood and skin, never cold or sharp. It rounds off sharp edges in any composition and makes the wearer smell subtly, irresistibly warmer.
spices
spices
Heart · 30 min – 3 hrs
cashmeran
cashmeran
cedar
cedar
labdanum
labdanum
A resin from the rock rose plant with a dark, animalic, honeyed quality that anchors many classic oriental fragrances. Labdanum is simultaneously leathery and sweet, with a raw complexity that synthetic materials struggle to match. It's a cornerstone of amber accords and chypre compositions.
oud
oud
The most prized and expensive raw material in perfumery, a resinous wood produced by agarwood trees infected with a specific mold. Real oud is animalic, smoky, leathery, and sometimes medicinal, with enormous lasting power. It anchors the great Middle Eastern fragrances and has become the defining luxury note of contemporary perfumery.
sandalwood
sandalwood
Creamy, smooth, and milky with a soft, skin-like warmth that clings beautifully. True Mysore sandalwood is one of perfumery's most precious ingredients, simultaneously wood and skin, never cold or sharp. It rounds off sharp edges in any composition and makes the wearer smell subtly, irresistibly warmer.
Base · 3–12 hrs
cashmeran
cashmeran
musk
musk
The base layer of almost every modern fragrance, a soft, warm, skin-like scent that extends longevity and bridges other notes together. Natural musk was once derived from deer (now banned); today's musks are synthetic and range from clean and soapy to dark and animalic. The right musk makes a fragrance smell like 'you.'
sandalwood
sandalwood
Creamy, smooth, and milky with a soft, skin-like warmth that clings beautifully. True Mysore sandalwood is one of perfumery's most precious ingredients, simultaneously wood and skin, never cold or sharp. It rounds off sharp edges in any composition and makes the wearer smell subtly, irresistibly warmer.
suede
suede
Soft, slightly powdery, and skin-warm, suede accord in perfumery captures the scent of fine-grained leather without the raw animal quality of heavy leather notes. It's simultaneously woody and musky, creating a second-skin warmth that feels intimate and tactile. The note that makes certain fragrances feel like cashmere.
woody notes
woody notes
Who Wears ThisScent DNA matches
🌙
The MysticBest match90% match
You wear what others can't place — and that's exactly the point.

Warm incense, dry resins, airy woods, smoke with softness. Never obvious.

🏡
The Homesteader80% match
Rooted, warm, and entirely self-sufficient.

Warm skin musks, sandalwood, soft cedar, clean vetiver. Grounding, intimate, unhurried.

✨
The Reverie80% match
You live slightly outside the present — and your scent proves it.

Warm, experimental sweetness. Caramelized woods, unusual ambers, avant-garde gourmand.

Based on this fragrance's accord profile · Find your Scent DNA →
Community
Rate this fragrance
Rate this fragrance
0255075100
—/100
Most Popular with this Scent DNA Type?
🌙
The Mystic
You wear what others can't place — and that's exactly the point.
Warm incense, dry resins, airy woods, smoke with softness. Never obvious.
Discover your type →
Scent Profile
Aromatic20%Woody100%Oud90%Musky48%Powdery18%
Fragrance Family
Amber/Woody
EDP

Imaginary Authors An Air Of Despair unisex— Prices, Coupons & Buying Guide

Best price today: An Air Of Despair unisex is $0.00. Without a coupon the lowest price is $0.00. Gush tracks 47+ retailers updated every 2 hours.

Are grey market retailers authentic?

Yes. Jomashop, FragranceNet, and MaxAroma sell 100% authentic Imaginary Authors fragrances through unofficial distribution channels. The fragrance is identical to department store stock. Grey market refers to the supply chain, not product quality. The price difference comes entirely from the distribution channel.

Frequently asked questions

What does Imaginary Authors An Air Of Despair unisex smell like? +
Imaginary Authors is an indie fragrance house known for distinctive storytelling through scent. Founded by Phil Liff, the brand prioritizes imaginative, character-driven fragrances that prioritize quality ingredients and artistic vision over mass-market appeal. An Air Of Despair opens with cedar, cinnamon, and saffron, immediately establishing a warm, spiced woody character. The heart deepens this with oud, sandalwood, and labdanum, creating a rich amber-woody core that's both creamy and subtly smoky. The base settles into a soft, suede-touched finish with musk and cashmeran, maintaining warmth throughout without becoming cloying. The overall DNA is decidedly dark and introspective, with oud providing incense-like depth and the spice notes preventing it from ever feeling overly sweet or precious. This is a fragrance for those drawn to complex, moody ambers and woody compositions. It works equally well on cold evenings as it does layered under clothing for intimate projection. An Air Of Despair suits contemplative wearers who appreciate nuance over brightness, and it performs well as a cooler-season signature. If you gravitate toward The Mystic, The Homesteader, or The Reverie, this belongs in your collection.
What are the notes in Imaginary Authors An Air Of Despair unisex? +
Top: cedar, cinnamon, saffron, sandalwood, spices. Heart: cashmeran, cedar, labdanum, oud, sandalwood. Base: cashmeran, musk, sandalwood, suede, woody notes.
What fragrance family is An Air Of Despair unisex? +
Imaginary Authors An Air Of Despair unisex belongs to the Amber/Woody fragrance family. It is an EDP.
What other fragrances smell like Imaginary Authors An Air Of Despair unisex? +
Based on shared notes, Alexandria Fragrances No Apologies (musk, sandalwood, labdanum, oud), Alexandria Fragrances Alexandria's United Kingdom (musk, sandalwood, cedar, labdanum), Boy Smells Peachy Oudy (musk, sandalwood, cedar, sandalwood), Boy Smells Red Hot (musk, sandalwood, cedar, sandalwood), Boy Smells Solar Drip (musk, sandalwood, cedar, sandalwood) may smell similar to An Air Of Despair unisex.
What is a grey market fragrance retailer? +
Grey market retailers sell authentic fragrances sourced through unofficial distribution -- typically excess inventory from authorized distributors. The product is real and identical to retail. FragranceNet (est. 1997), Jomashop, and MaxAroma are well-established with millions of verified reviews.

Gush earns a commission on purchases at no cost to you · Prices update every 2 hours · Coupon success rates based on affiliate feed data · Grey market = authentic, unofficial supply chain