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Imaginary Authors Slow Explosions
Imaginary Authors

Slow Explosions

leather
warm spicy
rose
fruity
amber
animalic
metallic
EDP · 2016 · unisex

Imaginary Authors is an indie fragrance house known for creating unconventional scents with literary or conceptual themes rather than traditional marketing angles. The brand emphasizes storytelling and artistic vision over mass appeal.

Slow Explosions opens with bright citrus and spice, led by lemon and ginger, with apple and saffron adding warmth and complexity. The heart settles into a rich leather and rose combination, grounded by amber and saffron that lingers from the opening. The base is where the fragrance shows its depth, layering amber and benzoin with leather, cloves, and birch for a smoky, slightly woody finish that shifts between sweetness and dryness.

This is a deliberately sophisticated fragrance that bridges oriental warmth with leather-forward structure. It's best suited to someone who appreciates layered compositions and doesn't shy away from spice and animalic notes. The name suits it well, the fragrance builds gradually rather than exploding immediately, making it an evening wear or cooler weather choice. If you gravitate toward The Dark Poet, The Maverick, or The Mystic, Slow Explosions will likely appeal to you.

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$115Best · 50ml
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Price Comparison2 retailers · updated daily
SizeBottleDecantUpdated 226m ago
$115.00
at Imaginary Authors
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Main Accordsreported by community
leather
100%
warm spicy
100%
rose
75%
fruity
50%
amber
50%
animalic
50%
metallic
50%
fresh
50%
green
50%
smoky
50%
Fragrance Notescommunity verified
Top · 0–30 min
apple
apple
Fresh, crisp, and slightly cidery, apple reads as clean and natural rather than candy-sweet. Green apple is sharper and more aromatic; red apple is rounder and juicier. Both add an approachable freshness to florals and fresher orientals, and green apple in particular is a signature of certain classic masculines.
birch
birch
Tarry, smoky, and distinctly medicinal, birch tar (used in classic leather fragrances) has an almost petroleum-like quality that creates unmistakable leather accords. Birch leaf, by contrast, is clean and green. Birch tar is not for the timid: it's the note that makes old-school Russian Leather fragrances smell like what they are.
ginger
ginger
Warm, zesty, and slightly medicinal with a bite that sits between spice and citrus. Ginger root adds a lively, invigorating quality to fragrances, it energises rather than soothes. Depending on how it's used, it can read as fresh and zingy or warm and earthy, making it unusually versatile across fragrance families.
lemon
lemon
Sharp, clean, and instantly familiar, the pure zest of fresh-cut lemon peel, not the sugary juice. In perfumery it reads as crisp and energising rather than sweet, and is often used to amplify other light notes. It fades quickly, so it's almost always a top note that makes a striking first impression.
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.
Heart · 30 min – 3 hrs
amber
amber
A warm, resinous accord rather than a single ingredient, amber is typically built from labdanum, benzoin, and vanilla to create a rich, honeyed, almost solar warmth. It's the quintessential base-note family, adding a comforting richness that makes fragrances feel complete. The difference between a fragrance feeling cold and feeling alive.
grass
grass
The clean, green, slightly sweet smell of freshly cut lawn, one of the most universally pleasant scents in nature. In perfumery it adds an honest, outdoorsy freshness that synthetic 'clean' notes often fake but rarely match. Often paired with citrus in sporty and fresh compositions.
leather
leather
One of perfumery's most complex accords, smoky, animalic, and slightly woody, evoking tanned hide, polished saddles, or fine gloves depending on the recipe. Leather adds sophistication and edge simultaneously, and is deeply associated with masculinity in Western perfumery (though the best leather fragrances transcend gender entirely).
rose
rose
The queen of floral notes and the most-used ingredient in fine perfumery. Real rose is simultaneously velvety, honeyed, and slightly spicy, nothing like the synthetic candy version. Depending on the variety used, it can anchor a composition or drift through it like a ghost, adding warmth without dominating.
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.
Base · 3–12 hrs
amber
amber
A warm, resinous accord rather than a single ingredient, amber is typically built from labdanum, benzoin, and vanilla to create a rich, honeyed, almost solar warmth. It's the quintessential base-note family, adding a comforting richness that makes fragrances feel complete. The difference between a fragrance feeling cold and feeling alive.
benzoin
benzoin
Sweet, warm, and balsamic, benzoin resin smells like vanilla mixed with incense, with a powdery, slightly medicinal edge. It adds a comforting warmth and fixative quality to oriental fragrances, and blends beautifully with spices. Often used to smooth and round off sharp edges in complex base notes.
birch
birch
Tarry, smoky, and distinctly medicinal, birch tar (used in classic leather fragrances) has an almost petroleum-like quality that creates unmistakable leather accords. Birch leaf, by contrast, is clean and green. Birch tar is not for the timid: it's the note that makes old-school Russian Leather fragrances smell like what they are.
cloves
cloves
leather
leather
One of perfumery's most complex accords, smoky, animalic, and slightly woody, evoking tanned hide, polished saddles, or fine gloves depending on the recipe. Leather adds sophistication and edge simultaneously, and is deeply associated with masculinity in Western perfumery (though the best leather fragrances transcend gender entirely).
Who Wears ThisScent DNA matches
🖤
The Dark PoetBest match91% match
You don't wear fragrance. You inhabit it.

Dark, animalic, smoky, resinous. Challenging, polarizing, completely unforgettable.

🎲
The Maverick84% match
You do what works for you. That's always been enough.

Fresh, bold, abstract, dry. Metallic notes, experimental musks, architectural woods with presence.

🌙
The Mystic83% 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.

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 Dark Poet
You don't wear fragrance. You inhabit it.
Dark, animalic, smoky, resinous. Challenging, polarizing, completely unforgettable.
Discover your type →
Scent Profile
leather100%
warm spicy100%
rose75%
fruity50%
amber50%
Fragrance Family
Oriental
EDP
Decants Available
3
listings in stock
2ml$3.50/ml15ml$2.53/ml14ml$3.29/ml

Imaginary Authors Slow Explosions— Prices, Coupons & Buying Guide

Best price today: Slow Explosions is $115.00. Without a coupon the lowest price is $115.00. 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

Cheapest price for Imaginary Authors Slow Explosions? +
$115.00 at Imaginary Authors. Gush compares 47+ retailers updated every 2 hours.
What does Imaginary Authors Slow Explosions smell like? +
Imaginary Authors is an indie fragrance house known for creating unconventional scents with literary or conceptual themes rather than traditional marketing angles. The brand emphasizes storytelling and artistic vision over mass appeal. Slow Explosions opens with bright citrus and spice, led by lemon and ginger, with apple and saffron adding warmth and complexity. The heart settles into a rich leather and rose combination, grounded by amber and saffron that lingers from the opening. The base is where the fragrance shows its depth, layering amber and benzoin with leather, cloves, and birch for a smoky, slightly woody finish that shifts between sweetness and dryness. This is a deliberately sophisticated fragrance that bridges oriental warmth with leather-forward structure. It's best suited to someone who appreciates layered compositions and doesn't shy away from spice and animalic notes. The name suits it well, the fragrance builds gradually rather than exploding immediately, making it an evening wear or cooler weather choice. If you gravitate toward The Dark Poet, The Maverick, or The Mystic, Slow Explosions will likely appeal to you.
What are the notes in Imaginary Authors Slow Explosions? +
Top: apple, birch, ginger, lemon, saffron. Heart: amber, grass, leather, rose, saffron. Base: amber, benzoin, birch, cloves, leather.
What fragrance family is Slow Explosions? +
Imaginary Authors Slow Explosions belongs to the Oriental fragrance family. It is an EDP.
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