The arrival of any perfume book is an exciting prospect, as there are so few around. But this year, the pre-Christmas season brings us a particularly enticing treat in the shape of a tome by none other than Lizzie Ostrom, aka Odette Toilette, one of the most intelligent, vivacious and respected figures on the UK’s scent scene. Perfume: A Century Of Scents (published by Hutchinson) is a decade-by-decade examination of our complicated relationship with fragrance, using many key creations (including Mitsouko, Diorissimo and Kouros) as spring boards from which to launch into absorbing musings about the forces that have shaped western culture over the last 100 years. I hope to review it in greater depth soon – time and day job permitting – but for now, suffice it to say that it is a must-read, not least because it provides a delicious opportunity to enjoy Ostrom’s witty, cliche-free prose style.
I am delighted to announce that I’ve got 3 signed copies of the book to give away. But instead of dishing out all of them in one go, I’m going to drag the process out a little bit… just to keep your appetites sharp. Today, I’m starting a draw here on Persolaise for one of the copies. To enter, please read the Terms & Conditions below and leave a comment on this post on the subject of perfume in books, films or music. Anything that comes to mind. Don’t feel you have to write at great length. A few words will do.
When I announce the winner of this draw, I’ll reveal info about how you can win the other 2 copies.
Good luck to one and all!
Persolaise
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The perfume that has taken a prominent role in a film in the last couple of years was L'Air de Panache spritzed liberally by Gustave in The Grand Budapest Hotel.You can see how essential the scent is to this man's life and well being in the film – I would love to try it. I understand a real fragrance was created to be L'Air de Panache rather than pretending/acting that there was a fragrance and just spraying anything. I love the fact that for this visual medium, an olfactory experience was created because it matters so much and tells us about the character. I have been away and so missed the launch of Odette Toilette's book. I would love to be in this prize draw, Thanks Holly.
Holly, thanks for bringing this up. I was really, really fortunate to smell Panache when I met Mark Buxton: it's a delightful citrus scent.
You're in the draw 🙂
How can I forget Peter Suskind's Perfume: The story of a Murder novel. And later on adaption of the book in the movie.
Husen, yes, a superb novel.
You're in the draw too.
Holly Cranmer, the previous commenter mentioned Budapest, which is the capital town of my country Hungary. There is another perspective of perfume in music from the same country. New Perfume by Boggie. This is a hungarian song, but she sings this song in french with english lyrics. She was represented Hungary in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015. Avril was the first i think who used her own perfume in her music video called What the hell.
I also like Britney Spears and how she popularizes her perfumes in her mucis videos. e.g. Britney – Work B.tch, Perfume, Circus, Criminal. There is also a movie of perfume making, but that film is so morbid, I do not want to even think about. 🙂
Kinga, I wonder which movie you mean 😉
You're in the draw.
I like the thought of the identical twins in _Wise Children_ who could only be told apart by the perfumes they wore: one wears Mitsouko, the other Shalimar. I love Angela Carter's novels–they are lush with appeal to all the senses. (_Nights at the Circus_ is also full of scents, from the sharp reek of tigers to the close fug of powder and sweat in Fevver's dressing room…)
Crikey, I didn't know about that. How intriguing.
Your name's on the list.
I have an extensive collection of hardback books and over the past two years I have I begun a fragrance section. I have only eleven titles thus far and I would indeed be quite interested in reading "Perfume: A Century Of Scents".
It seems to be not available online at Amazon here in the USA.
I think I would enjoy Odette Toilette's writing style with her comments about scent and society as compared to a textbook like Herman's "Scent & Subversion"
Martin, Ostrom has presented a unique take on the perfume world in her book.
You're in the draw too.
yay, a new perfume book!! there was a film recently about a butterfly professor and her lover called the duke of burgundy by the director peter strickland. they listed a non-existent perfume by je suis gizella in the credits and got such a strong reaction they decided to actually make it as a limited edition.he got the idea from the audrey hepburn movie paris when it sizzles which lists her perfume as being by givenchy.i wonder how this perfume smells? thanks for the giveaway : )
Hmm, that's one I wasn't aware of. I wonder if I could hunt it down, somehow.
Your name's on the list.
Thanks a lot for the draw, dear Persolaise!
I read Das Parfum by Sueskind when it came out back in the eighties. I was overwhelmed by the idea to create/recreate perfume from any possible smell in the outside world. The descriptions of the details of maceration were extremely interesting to me. Although Grenouille was a pervert I couldn't help liking him for his skills and mastery AND his love for all things olfactory. Unlike most movies that are made after books, this movie was excellent too.
Neva, yes, I remember enjoying the movie when I watched it.
You're in the draw.
I am a voracious reader, and My favorite cinamatic reference to perfume is in "The Women" (the original, not the remake).
Robert, thanks for that.
You're in the draw too.
The most intriguing song for me that featured perfume is unfortunately in Arabic – but I'll try my best to 'translate'. It's based on a poem by a famous Syrian poet. Anyway, in the song – which is about a jasmine Gajra given to the narrator's love interest, but of course she doesn't love him back.
Getting ready to go out, the poet describes his love as she chooses what to wear, sits at her dressing table in the corner, dabs on her perfume from a bottle…and hums a sad French song…described in no more detail than that, but very poetic…very touching.
Makes me reapply my perfume every time I hear this song.
I'm very much interested in Lizzie's book and would delighted if I win!
Gosh, that's so evocative, thank you.
You're in the draw.
Oops, entered my request in your Send me a Message field. Sorry
Not to worry, Walford, I've received your entry, so you're in the draw as well.
Thanks everyone for entering so far. Really enjoying these brilliant references! On less high-brown matters I'm currently preparing a talk for the Jilly Cooper book club and there are loads of perfumes namedropped in her novels – will report back to Persolaise when I've done it (though not sure how much interest there'll be beyond her fandom!).
Why am I not surprised that there's a Cooper club?
I look forward to your report!
Books about perfumes are the only books that I actually buy. Thanks for this opportunity. 🙂
As an avid poetry reader, I am always thrilled when a poet mentions perfume in the poem. It doesn't have to be perfume as a product but in general – the smell of something that evokes the emotions, the memories… love it. 🙂
Ankica, yes, references to smell are always so powerful.
Oh, and of course, you're in the draw!
In Tania Sanchez &Luca Turin s fascinating and helpful book "perfume", the authors say they are often asked by women " which smell do men REALLY prefer", their answer is bacon sandwiches….funniest quote on scent, but those Tania & Luca led me to my now discontinued favourite Bulgari Black, thanks to all you scent connoisseurs and authors/bloggers out there!
I remember that line well… and I do think it's quite true! 🙂
You're in the draw.
Books and perfumes go well together. I'm a librarian, I know this. Love to read the fiction like Süskind's or John Oehler's books but I'm a fan of books Essence & Alchemy or Fragrant by Mandy Aftel. Or Scent and Subversion by Barbara Herman. Of course, I read Le Snob. I also love books/essays/novels on scents generally, their relation with memories. Italo Calvino has written a beautiful novel The Name, The Nose. I read Philippe Claudel's book Parfums these days.
What an enticing list. And thanks so much for reading Le Snob!
You're in the draw,
Thank you for this opportunity!
I find the Song of Solomon to be as evocative as a great scent, here is the fragment to remember:
"What is that coming up from the wilderness
like columns of smoke,
perfumed with myrrh and frankincense,
with all the fragrant powders of a merchant?"
A little more! 🙂
"A garden locked is my sister, my bride,
a spring locked, a fountain sealed.
Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates
with all choicest fruits,
henna with nard,
nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon,
with all trees of frankincense,
myrrh and aloes,
with all choice spices—
a garden fountain, a well of living water,
and flowing streams from Lebanon."
Anon, I can never get enough of those passages.
Your name's on the list.
I was really excited seeing Don Johnson in Miami Vice wears Patou pour Homme 🙂
Did he really? Pretty good choice!
You're in the draw.
Thanks for this opportunity, Persolaise! I love books on perfume, and have been collecting them for almost as long as I've collected perfumes. I've been waiting for the longest time for Michael Edwards' "Perfumed Legends" to be reprinted, and would absolutely love it if "Le Snob: Perfume" got a second edition too 🙂
-Lin
Lin, that's very sweet, thank you, but I'm afraid there are no plans for a second edition, as far as I'm aware.
You're in the draw.
*** THE DRAW IS NOW CLOSED ***
Many thanks to all those who entered.
The winner will be announced in a separate post on this blog very soon.