The Abandoned Mansion: A Scent of Dust, Wood & Forgotten Stories

When Imaginary Authors fans begged for The Abandoned Mansion soap to become a perfume, perfumer Josh Meyer resisted, until inspiration struck years later. The result is one of the brand’s most atmospheric and story-driven releases to date.

Built around cedar, petitgrain, quince, pimento, oakmoss and ambreine, The Abandoned Mansion feels like stepping into a candlelit, dust-covered library — warm wood, aging paper, extinguished candles and a faint trace of spice in the air.

At first spray, quince and petitgrain add a faintly tart, green brightness, like light filtering through cracked shutters. Then, cedarwood takes over: dry, steady, reminiscent of aged beams and floorboards. Pimento brings warmth and spice, while oakmoss and ambreine anchor the scent with a gently earthy, ambered glow.

Reviewers describe it as a “dusty old library” fragrance — papery, nostalgic and beautifully quiet. It’s not a loud scent, but a contemplative one: a memory of wood, time and stillness. Fans have even called it a spiritual successor to O, Unknown, trading tea and orris for a more immersive, textured sense of space.

In our opinion, The Abandoned Mansion sits firmly within the Woody family, with secondary Oriental (Amber) and Earthy tones. It’s a calm, introspective scent, ideal for colder months, study sessions, or anyone who loves the romance of forgotten rooms and worn pages.

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