The Story
Why it exists.
Josh Meyer set out to bottle the unmistakable aroma of a Portland‑grown tennis court for the 2012 launch of The Soft Lawn. Inspired by the crisp snap of freshly cut grass and the synthetic zing of a brand‑new tennis ball, he crafted a green‑synthetic portrait that feels like a match‑day morning. Imaginary Authors, the literary‑leaning house founded the same year, framed the fragrance as a short story you wear, turning a simple sport into an olfactory chapter.
If this were a song
Community picks
Take Five
Dave Brubeck
The Beginning
Josh Meyer set out to bottle the unmistakable aroma of a Portland‑grown tennis court for the 2012 launch of The Soft Lawn. Inspired by the crisp snap of freshly cut grass and the synthetic zing of a brand‑new tennis ball, he crafted a green‑synthetic portrait that feels like a match‑day morning. Imaginary Authors, the literary‑leaning house founded the same year, framed the fragrance as a short story you wear, turning a simple sport into an olfactory chapter.
The inclusion of a dedicated tennis‑ball accord sets the composition apart, turning a playful plastic note into a crisp, slightly rubbery green that sits beside linden blossom’s citrus lift. Laurel and ivy add a leafy, almost arboreal depth, while vetiver and oakmoss anchor the dry‑down in earthy, moss‑kissed soil. This blend of synthetic and natural creates a paradoxical freshness that feels both manicured and wild.
The Evolution
The opening bursts with the bright, citrusy snap of lime (linden) blossom, instantly recalling a dewy morning on the court. Within the first ten minutes the tennis‑ball accord leaps forward, a clean, slightly rubbery pop that feels like a freshly opened can of balls, while a subtle green synthetic undercurrent steadies the scene. As the top fades, the heart emerges: laurel’s aromatic sharpness intertwines with ivy’s green, slightly resinous whisper, giving the scent a leafy, almost garden‑path quality that lingers for the next hour. By the two‑hour mark the base asserts itself; vetiver’s dry, woody earthiness blends with oakmoss’s damp, forest floor nuance, softening the earlier brightness into a quiet, moss‑laden finish that clings for six to eight hours before slipping away like the last line of a match report.
Cultural Impact
Since its debut, The Soft Lawn has resonated with a niche of fragrance enthusiasts who appreciate literary‑inspired storytelling through scent. Its green‑synthetic profile captures the paradox of nature and sport, prompting discussions about modern masculinity and nostalgia for outdoor leisure. The fragrance has been cited in numerous blog essays as a case study in how narrative can shape olfactory perception, influencing a generation of indie perfumers to embed storytelling into their creations, thereby expanding the cultural dialogue around scent as a medium for personal and collective memory.
The House
United States · Est. 2012
Imaginary Authors is a Portland‑based niche fragrance house that frames scent as a narrative medium. Founded in 2012, the label releases limited‑edition perfumes, scented soaps and hand‑poured soy wax candles that reference literary forms such as memoirs, mosaics and secret journals. Each launch arrives with a story‑driven name and a modest glass bottle that lets the fragrance speak for itself. The brand’s catalogue spans more than a decade, from the debut Memoirs Of A Trespasser (2012) to the recent First Peach of the Season (2026), offering collectors a curated library of olfactory chapters.
If this were a song
Community picks
A breezy, sun‑lit morning on a grass court, with crisp strings and a playful pop that echoes a tennis ball, settling into a warm, woody hum.
Take Five
Dave Brubeck
