Indie brand Imaginary Authors has launched A City On Fire, a new fragrance for men created for Machus in Portland, Oregon. Like the others in the line, it was inspired by an imaginary book by an imaginary author.
A brilliantly dark graphic novel, A City On Fire, is the story of two match-makers. (Rupert) literally fabricates matches in a factory on the waterfront while (Frances) writes a dating column for the city's newspaper. Both are recluses who haunt the night's shadows observing clandestine activities from afar but never partaking. That changes one fortuitous evening when they are both witness to the same high-profile murder and are forced to come together as an unlikely vigilante pair in order to save their own names.
Imaginary Authors developed this fragrance exclusively for Machus, a modern menswear retailer focused on forward concepts and clean classics in Portland's lower Burnside neighborhood.
WHEN TO WEAR: The refined smoke accord makes this an austere and luxurious scent for evenings on the town, whether with a special someone or alone and looking for trouble.
The notes include cade oil, spikenard, cardamom, clearwood, dark berries, labdanum and burnt match.
Imaginary Authors A City On Fire is available in 30 ($55) or 60 ($85) ml Eau de Parfum.
(quote via imaginaryauthors, additional information via machusonline, found via @Carlos319 at Twitter)
If by “lower Burnside neighborhood” they mean the west Burnside, downtown, then it should probably smell less like spices and more like b.o.! That is one of the oldest parts of town, and I’m pretty sure it’s been the hangout spot of preference for homeless folks, lay-abouts, and other outsiders pretty much since the city’s inception! A neighborhood I barely feel safe walking through even in full daylight. (My point being–there are some far-nicer parts of town, even with history, that could inspire a swanky, exclusive new fragrance! It’s a very odd choice.)
That said, it will not stop me from swinging by to take a sniff, if the opportunity arises!
Looks like they picked it because that’s where their store is…Machus, that is.
Ah, you are right, I see! Well, that’s East Burnside, which is less shady–and currently trending from downtrodden towards happening!
Many fine and expensive perfumes smell like sweat, feces, unwashed genitals, blue cheese, decay, skank, etc. — all scents, that, in 21st Century America, are not associated with nice neighborhoods.
True enough. But I mostly choose to not buy them!
(A little barnyard now and again isn’t so bad, though!)
This actually sounds awesome to me! Josh Meyer does such a great job with his fragrances – I loved Yesterday’s Haze and Mosaic.
Am I the only one who really wants to read the books of the imaginary authors?
No, you are not! This sounds like a great read to me