O, Unknown!

Nice type biblioteque powdery, with the sublime Iris.

Love this scent! They have a few additional bottles available through the Rare Book Room for those who are interested (as of august 10 2026)

🍂 Fading Memories 🏯 You walk through a dry, desert landscape where the wind whips your face and everything around you is bone-dry. In your pocket, your hand grips an old, shriveled orris root. You keep it with you because it once smelled like home, a reminder of Elena. When you bring it to your face, you catch a powerful, uncompromising scent – cool, earthy, and so intensely waxy it evokes her luxury lipstick. Yet, the dried tissue of the root slowly crumbles in your fingers. This journey has lasted too long. The image of her face is blurring, and letters slip from your mind until you suddenly realize you have forgotten even her name. Stopping in the very middle of this wasteland, you sit on the ground and light a small fire to brew a cup of bitter black tea. As a warm, smoky aroma rises from the brew, the waxy scent of the root crumbling in your hand suddenly softens. The two fragrances blend in the dry air, sinking deep into the yellowed parchment of your journal, slowly extinguishing the last remnants of past grief. As the smoke settles, the past finally crumbles into dust. On your skin, nothing remains but an intimate, close-wearing scent of tea leaves, dry wood, and a balsamic warmth that gradually quietens. This moment will soon pass, the fragrance fading from your skin after a few hours, leaving you alone, ready for whatever the unknown may bring. Visual archive on TikTok / IG: @the.scent.files

Devastated this has been discontinued - my go-to comfort scent for years now.

This is a beautiful orris heavy scent. For me, the tea isn’t a note of its own, but seems to soften the orris so it isn’t as sweet as I’ve experienced in other orris dominant perfumes. It’s what I imagine sitting in a warm sunroom with a cup of orris tea to smell like. Gives me a similar feeling to Oh La La from Teo Cabanel, but they aren’t similar so much as they both have a powdery, almost dustiness (in a good way) smell to me. Sadly, it’s discontinued after I got my sample. May have to sample some of the “reminds me of” to see if one of them contains the same gentle nostalgia vibes.

God I am so sad this is discontinued. I am savoring my bottle. Combines my 3 favorite scents (tea,powder,green) into something so mysterious, nostalgic and weird.

So sad this has been discontinued as it is one of my favorites from the brand. It smells like walking through a pear grove when everything is still covered in fresh dew. Its a summer morning and you'll never be able to go back. It makes me feel like I'm forgetting someone I used to love. The paper scents other reviews discussed were not very prominent for me. I got more of a fruity tea scent. Not cloying or syrupy but like peeling fruit on a picnic.

not bad. reminds me of my mom

I actually think this is the best from the house. It smells like dry parchment paper and a dark green foggy forest in Japan (mostly the vibe). The tea is so dry and almost buttery, and the powder is none of that disgusting sweet baby powdery that’s in so may perfumes, it’s a chalky, dry, smooth, and slightly bitter powder. This smells exactly like the fuzzy walls inside my local YMCA. It’s such a nostalgic scent while also being pretty timeless. 9.6/10, I’m sad they discontinued this, but I don’t reach for it too much, so I doubt I’ll get through my bottle anytime soon.

o, unknown! is like a teahouse and dusty museum blended together in a bottle. its a hidden gem for those who like iris or powder in my opinion, and is one of my favorites among powdery perfumes because imaginary authors managed to hit the "mysterious" scent mark. many other perfumes try and fail to match the vibe this one gives, that being old books, the scent of black tea coming from some unfamiliar room, and dust dancing in the air lit by a window's sunlight. it truly hurts my heart knowing this perfume was discontinued due to unpopularity, though its not hard to believe, seeing as the profile is definitely not for everyone. fortunately there is a bath and body works "dupe" of it, cozy seasons is very similar but lacks depth and the longevity of o, unknown! unfortunately. but hey, better than having this perfume's scent lost to time. if you want a powdery fragrance with some woodsy depth, give this fragrance a try!

unfortunately, this smells like wet paper with cheap waxy lipstick on me. it could smell better on others, but it is god awful on me.

We’re putting away the work boots and saying goodbye to the Texas grit of Untamable today. Now, we’re gliding into a very different, much quieter place—a realm of mystery and contemplation—with Imaginary Authors' O, Unknown. The story here is truly unique: a fictional exchange of letters where strangers trade a map to hidden treasure for a promise of a shared future. This inspiration immediately promises a deeply spiritual, smoky, and reserved aromatic experience. The fragrance needs to capture that specific feeling of holding an antique, hopeful secret—the warmth of ink on old paper, the steam from a cup of Earl Grey tea, and the boundless potential of the open road. The real test is whether this hushed and meditative scent can be a compelling fragrance you reach for, or if it remains purely an abstract mood piece. Let’s unroll this mysterious map and find out where it leads. *Note* As is usual for fragrances from this house, the note breakdown isn't exactly right. Here is the official note breakdown from Imaginary Authors: Black Tea, Lapsang Souchong Tincture, Orris Butter, Kyoto Moss, Musk Balsam, Sandalwood Opening: The opening is an immediate, beautiful impression of powdery, woody, and earthy notes. The primary accords I perceive are orris butter, sandalwood, black tea, and musk balsam, with the orris butter and sandalwood being the most prominent. The orris butter greets my nose first with an intensely powdery, lipstick-like accord, similar to what I've experienced in other heavy-hitting iris fragrances like Dior Homme Intense or Valentino Uomo Intense. Crucially, however, this version places more emphasis on the earthy, root-like accord that orris root is known for. Joining the orris butter in almost equal measure is the sandalwood, giving the opening a distinctively smooth and creamy woodiness. Next up are the black tea and musk balsam. The black tea manifests as a dry and slightly tannic accord, reminiscent of the aroma of dried tea leaves. It hearkens back to the black tea note I love in Louis Vuitton's Imagination, but much drier and more aromatic. Lastly, the musk balsam—a blend of tolu balsam and musk—imbues the background with a gentle, warm, and resinous musk tone. Dry Down: The dry down remains structurally similar, focusing on its powdery, woody, and balsamic character. The primary notes are still orris butter, sandalwood, musk balsam, and black tea, with the orris butter and sandalwood remaining the clear standout notes. The orris butter is still the focus with the same powdery, lipstick-y accord, and the sandalwood still follows closely behind with its soft and creamy woodiness. Not much has changed in this regard, save for it perhaps being slightly quieter. This is followed by the musk balsam and black tea, which have swapped spots in terms of intensity. The musk balsam now plays a more prominent supporting role, providing a bigger dose of its warm, balsamic accord that leans into an ambery composition with hints of musk. Lastly, the black tea has receded to the background to provide soft whispers of its aromatic tones. Performance: The initial projection within the first hour is strong, easily reaching out around six feet. Sillage matches that, leaving behind an easily noticeable scent trail. After about four hours, the performance hadn't changed at all. At around the 7-hour mark, the projection was still holding strong at about 4–6 feet, while the scent trail was lighter but still noticeable. The fragrance finally became a skin scent around the 10-hour mark, marking an admirable performance for a scent of this composition. When to Wear: O, Unknown functions beautifully as a fall/winter fragrance that could be worn during the daytime or evening. It is a versatile fragrance when it comes to use cases; it could be worn casually, for special occasions, or formally. The refined nature of the iris and woods also makes it a relatively safe and compelling pick for the office, provided you use a delicate touch with the atomizer. Blind Buy: If you love iris-heavy fragrances that follow the same core DNA as major designer players like Dior Homme Intense, Valentino Uomo Intense, Givenchy Gentleman Reserve Privee, or Prada L'Homme Intense, this is likely a safe blind buy for you. Final Verdict: O, Unknown is, without a doubt, one of the better and most sophisticated offerings I've experienced from Imaginary Authors. Where many of their other compositions lean towards aggressive realism, O, Unknown is surprisingly easy to wear and universally appealing. The core DNA is absolutely exquisite, dominated by the powdery, earthy orris butter and creamy sandalwood, making it strongly reminiscent of other heavy-hitting, luxury designer iris fragrances that I already adore. Its longevity is excellent, reaching around ten hours, and its versatility is unmatched in the Imaginary Authors line. This fragrance is a testament to quality and refinement. If I didn't already have several high-end iris staples in my personal collection, I would definitely be picking up a bottle of O, Unknown. For fans of iris, this is a must-try. Scent: 9/10 Longevity: 7/10 Sillage: 8/10 Versatility: High Mass Appeal: Average Gender: Unisex Value: Fair

This fragrance opens with a powdery slightly dusty hit of orris. For the first couple of minutes it really does smell like you have discovered an old bag of makeup tucked away in an attic. Some people compare it to cardboard but it is not really more cardboardy than other iris or orris fragrances at least to my nose. As it dries down the tea begins to come through while the orris softens. The best way I can describe the tea is loose Earl Grey tea leaves. It is dry and aromatic giving the fragrance a warm and comforting feel. In the base a touch of green moss adds an earthy quality that grounds the scent. The combination of tea orris and moss gives it depth and character. It reminds me of Dior Homme Intense in an indie niche version. It is not as polished or elegant but it feels more layered and textured. The main drawback is performance. I get about two to three hours before it becomes a skin scent. However I will say that this is not a fragrance meant to project or draw attention. It is soft quiet and comforting making it perfect for a library a quiet coffee shop or an afternoon spent wandering an art museum. Overall I really enjoy this fragrance. It captures a reflective intimate mood and does exactly what it sets out to do. It is worth exploring if you enjoy orris-based fragrances that are soft nuanced and a little off the beaten path.

I LOVE this scent. It smells like lipstick. The longevity and silage is however so poor, it prevents me from getting a whole bottle.

This one doesn't smell like much for me. I get that buttery, powdery smell, with a boring sweetness almost like marzipan. Doesn't smell strongly and to me, none of the other notes come through

(ON CLOTHING) I loved the opening as it reminded me of white rice due to the powder-like notes but the drydown reminds me of tobacco most likely due to the moss & musk notes. If you like fragrances with light tobacco notes this will probably be your thing. This is one of those smells I'd prefer on someone else as it's not bad but I don't feel that it suits me. I prefer the heart notes as I personally got a whiff of chocolate from that (somehow, that's not a note in this fragrance) ON SKIN: Smells SO much better as it doesn't have that tobacco scent on me

HATE the opening, love the drydown

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A scent very much reminiscent of old, dusty books and library shelves. Mysterious and melancholy. I personally love it, shame it's getting discontinued.

I do like it but the balsamic notes are very prominent on my thin, dry skin. All I can smell is sandalwood and balsam. A candle would be better

I'm....so confused by this perfume? Extremely dusty with a tang that reminds me of places I was in my childhood in the 90s in an isolated part of Minnesota right on the Ontario boarder. Something about how materials from places that were old then degraded plus lots of wood, lichen, moss. There's also a powdery vintage lipstick, and a bit of marshmallow. I can't say this is what I want to smell like, exactly, but it's a very interesting, atmospheric scent.

I have tried this a few times and I feel like the best way to describe it, is that it smells like the feeling of being inside an IKEA

This kind of smells like sweet waxy crayon, or sweet plastic kids toy. It is not something I would wear. Im honestly shocked that anyone rated this as having "enormous sillage" or even moderate sillage lol this is VERY much a skin scent.

Im not sure what this is supposed to smell like and I can’t quite place it. Salty play-doh? Not quite. It’s a really specific scent I’m remembering and it is going to drive me nuts trying to figure out what it is. I get the powdery note but note quite what I expect when I think powdery. It is neither a good or bad smell. Crayons? No. The thing is this scent isnt unknown just forgotten. Ah my mother’s stage make-up - that’s it exactly. Facial powders and waxy lipsticks. Colors to paint your face. She had all that stuff in a fishing tackle box (before caboodles) My mom died this year so if they still have it I might pick it up since this makes me think of her when she was still well.

smells like wet cardboard and seaweed. or like walking into a mildewy basement.

I decided to purchase a travel size of this before it’s discontinued. I tried a sample of today and it was actually quite lovely. There is something quite meditative and relaxing about it. I love the smell of tea, and it does bring about some nostalgia for me. It’s definitely not something I’d wear out and about, but to wear at home whilst lounging for myself - it’s so comforting and warm like a hug for me.

i wanted to like this perfume, and i almost did. but the opening notes are way too synthetic and hit the palate in an uncomfortable way, almost like biting into a ball of scented candel wax (no, I'm not eating it, but that's how strong it is). it dries down sweetly amd most of the synthetic feeling goes away and as a skin scent it's nice and mellow, really smooth and almost vanilla -like. but on clothes.....it sticks FOREVER!!! and its not the nice notes that stick, its the cloying, headache inducing waxy notes. which is, again, a shame because I like it enough to wear it once or twice a month, but not enough to smell ot everywhere, all the time, pungent as day, because it clung onto a shirt or a watchband.

Smells like a powdery orris powdered doughnut you would get in a hostess bag, sweet but not cloying. I tolerate it.

THIS IS BEING DISCONTINUED SOON If this fragrance means a lot to you, just thought you should know!

Whether I want to or not, as an avid tea drinker I have to admit that black tea as a note in perfume doesn’t work for me. After trying some tea perfumes, which all evoked the same sickness in me, some more, some less, this will be the final nail in the coffin. I tried to love this, I really did. Then I tried to tolerate this, to at least finish my sample, but I don’t think I can. We’re having a cool, rainy summer and I honestly thought this would be the perfect weather to wear this perfume. Maybe I was wrong.