Memoirs of a Trespasser Imaginary Authors 2012

Memoirs of a Trespasser by Imaginary Authors

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7.8 / 10 478 Ratings

A popular perfume by Imaginary Authors for women and men, released in 2012. The scent is smoky-woody. It is still in production.
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Main accords

Smoky

Woody

Sweet

Spicy

Resinous

Fragrance Notes

Gaiac wood

Oak barrel

Bourbon vanilla Myrrh

Myrrh

Benzoin

Ambrette seed

Perfumer

Josh Meyer

Ratings

Scent

7.8478 Ratings

Longevity

8.0399 Ratings

Sillage

7.3393 Ratings

Bottle

7.4355 Ratings

Value for money

7.3177 Ratings

Submitted by Franfan20, last update on 09/15/2025.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

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Hylnds - Spirit of the Glen

Bohemian Woods

Reviews

33 in-depth fragrance descriptions

05/02/2013

7.5
Sillage 7.5
Longevity 10
Scent

Coutureguru
223 Reviews

Coutureguru

Very helpful Review 9

The best of the bunch ...

I left reviewing Memoirs for last as it is my favorite fragrance from Imaginary Authors, I like this one even more than I like Violet Disguise.

Memoirs of a Trespasser is a smoky, woodsy incense that veers in the direction of an Amber (my passion du jour for some reason!) and contains all of the things I like very much. The Myrrh is dry and a touch mysterious, the Benzoin incensy and reminiscent of faraway places. Slightly boozy woods create the 'lived in' aura of a paneled library, a personal space containing a myriad of memories.
The combination of slightly musky Ambrette in the top and faintly spicy Vanilla in the base is just wonderful ... conjuring images of comfort and gentlemanly erudition ... the idea that all the experiences and adventures of the vast outside world can be brought to one place to enjoy.
Once again, I find a certain homo eroticism in the title of this fragrance (a very 70's notion inspired by reading too much gay literature from that period) ... but that's just the idea that "I'd like to cuddle up in his sweater smelling like this while he is away" manifesting. Absurdly romantic and a touch maudlin, but there it is.
'Memoirs' is only slightly sweet, but I'd warrant that a few of the gals could pull this one off beautifully too. Personally, I find it leaning more masculine, which is strange because I don't really believe in gender-ising fragrance. There's just something about this one that makes me think of a very handsome author I once knew ...

Number one on my list of purchases from this house ... I have thoroughly enjoyed testing and reviewing Mr. Meyers' fragrances. A great concept, with some truly good fragrances to back it up!

07/15/2016

7
Sillage 7
Longevity 9.5
Scent

Fluxit
42 Reviews

Fluxit

Very helpful Review 4

A familiar Trespasser

You know this feeling when a scent SPEAKS to you, its name, its concept, its notes ... and you know that you want it? After long searches for a test specimen of this (in Germany) rare fragrance, I finally - after having asked a parfumo member from Norway - got my hands on one, only to find out that the glass sample got crushed in the unpadded envelope on its rough journey. I was crushed, too ;)
At least, it had been packed into a small plastic bag that inclosed the valuable liquid. So I couldn't be sure if I had missed any head or other note here. But another thing happened: Since the fastener of the bag didn't close tightly, the scent sneaked out, spreading around my desk and surrounding me over the course of days. A trespasser, true to its name. But it seemed familar, rather a bodyguard or old friend than a disturbing contemporary. Thus, he shared my work environment at home and even after a week and longer, I kept this companion as a friend, even though I usually react irritated to a permanent display of any fragrance. This is a quality not to be underestimated!

My vanilla reference is Eau Duelle, which comes with a smokey background as well. Both I appreciate because they frame my beloved vanilla in a mature and non-feminine way. However, Memoirs of a Trespasser is way rougher than Eau Duelle, edgier. Beautifully charred, dry oak plays with unsweet vanilla, dark wooden chips on the white body of the intruder, who silently wears his cape of smoke over his soft heart. Like this, he stands beside me, not a dodgy housebreaker, but a trusted attendant who admits to have come uncalled, only with the intention to guard and protect you.

Some months later, I managed to get an original sample, so I could investigate the fragrance over its whole lifetime. Admittedly, the first sourly fermented minutes don't appeal to me, but it's just a tiny downside compared to the fabulous upcoming hours, a mere 0.5 deduction from a perfect score.

On a side note: I have ordered a flacon and it's on its way now. In the process, I've been talking quite a bit with Josh as the scent creator. I expected him to be a busy business man - and maybe he is - but his mails shine with modesty, curiosity and friendliness. Another positive layer added to this already fantastic indie scent!

01/06/2013

7.5
Sillage 10
Longevity 6
Scent

Silverfire
134 Reviews

Silverfire

Helpful Review 7

Memoirs, Yes; Trespasser, No.

Memoirs… goes on as a lit cigar plunged into vanilla ice cream, which works better than it sounds. The vanilla ice cream hangs around in the background as the cigar qualities fade into to a sweet tobacco. It's heavier, sweeter, and smokier than your usual tobacco / vanilla scent. And the projection is generous but not floor-invading. Ok, you've got my attention!

In the first hour, the smokiness of the tobacco makes out with the benzoin, which then borrows the clothes of vanilla. The scent is no longer as smoky nor as sweet as it once was; the benzoin takes it in a different direction. Benzoin imparts a feeling of high class, like you're in a high-class fridge or a fridge in a high-class house. Wait. No, you're definitely in a ballroom with a chandelier refracting light in many different ways. There's definitely an impression of elegance, riches, and formality at this point. (As an aside, this is the best benzoin that I've experienced. It's sweet and has a little bit of a citrus tang to it. Usually benzoin makes me nauseous, but not here.)

In the later stages, the benzoin turns sweeter from the vanilla, but the acridness of the smoke or tobacco keeps it from being foody, and the projection slowly decreases until it reaches the foot range. After that, a tinge of musky spice infects the vanilla. What remains is a foody vanilla with occasional whiffs of the past, be it smoke, tobacco, spice, or musk.

Now that I've reached the end of this olfactory journey, I'm not sure that the scent exactly fits the name. I don't feel that I was a trespasser. I feel like a rough-around-the-edges gentleman who somehow gets invited to upscale parties. Now both are out of place, but trespassing suggests more secrecy, danger, and criminal intent. The Memoirs part of the name works better; the scent imparts a sense of progression through time, as though you were living another life in stages. The beginning captures a man in his 20's, and the middle part, his 40's-50's, and the end, an elderly man recollecting prior times.

Memoirs.. wields benzoin and vanilla (both notes I dislike) so that even I can enjoy them, especially around the 2-4 hour mark. Whether that's quality components, or skillful perfumery, or both, quality results. The 13+ hour longevity is nothing to sneeze at, either. If you enjoy vanilla, or if you're looking for something gentlemanly but a little off the beaten path, try this.

01/14/2025

ClutterGoth
17 Reviews

ClutterGoth

5

Unique Vanilla

I dig the uniqueness of this fragrance. I get clay, smoke and a touch of vanilla, which grows more in the drydown. If it were easier for me to get ahold of Imaginary Authors in Canada then I'd really consider buying this. One of the other things holding me back is it might be too similar to Atelier Cologne Vanilla Insensee, which I have in my collection. But definitely different in it's smokiness. If you're looking for a unique vanilla and enjoy smoky scents, give this one a sniff!

06/30/2025

7
Pricing 7
Bottle 7
Sillage 9
Longevity 8.5
Scent

atllogix
2 Reviews

atllogix

3

We Just Happened To Cross Paths

The moment I sprayed it Memoirs of a Trespasser pulls me in with a full vanilla then oak barrel. The vanilla quickly becomes smoky if not smoky from the start, it isn't sugary or soft, but dark and resin wrapped. It has a rich woodiness that is layered underneath everything that adds real depth to the scent.

It’s not a loud fragrance but it doesn’t seem to need to be all that loud. It announces itself with presence, not volume like someone who commands attention with just a glance. But that’s not what made this my first written review. This fragrance did something deeper. It calmed me. Hugged me. Made me feel like everything was gonna be okay, as if I had some issue bothering me to begin with. It’s mildly dirty, yet undeniably clean. Familiar, yet what is this.

The sillage isn’t huge, but it speaks. And it lasts. All day, in fact. I caught warm, smoky traces of vanilla drifting off myself even hours later. This isn’t just a scent it’s a whole ass experience, one that lingers long after the last note fades.

A vanille I didn't think I was looking for, but somehow found me! An eccentric's signature.

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