In these times of confinement, it’s good to escape, whether through a book, a movie, or a podcast. Here is our list (not exhaustive) to help you better understand perfume culture without wasting valuable time!
Le Parfum by Patrick Süskind
(Re)read and (re)see “Le Parfum” (The Perfume)
This cult novel by Patrick Süskind tells the story of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, a very ugly man with an “absolute” nose. He is able to memorize and mentally assemble all the smells of the world! And he is willing to use his skills to become the greatest perfumer of all time and to conquer the hearts of all mankind. In addition to its unique story that has fascinated generations of readers, this novel is also known for the olfactory landscapes created by the author. Each page is filled with descriptions of very (very) vivid smells, which allows the reader to smell their way through the book. For film buffs, the novel was adapted for the cinema in 2006. A television series in which the world of perfume is portrayed in a more contemporary way also came out in 2018.
Fun fact: one of the scenes in the book takes place on rue de Charonne, the current location of our workshops!
The history of perfume from your couch
Floral bouquet by Holly Barrett
The French Institute of Fashion in Paris regularly posts podcasts online. Some of them are related to the world of perfume and its creation. These podcasts are a great way to better understand the perfume industry and how it works. They’ll also show you how independent perfumers work and shake up the niche perfumery market, or even to understand the therapeutic virtues of perfume.
On Arte, you can also find a short documentary from the Xenius program entitled “The powers of perfume”. It shows the omnipresent role of scents in our society, what they can teach us about ourselves, our environment, and others. A little science to make you feel better!
Parfums by Philippe Claudel
A bit of poetry
For lovers of prose texts, plunge into Philippe Claudel’s “Parfums“. We can forget about the confinement for a few moments and breathe in the smells of our childhood: the perfumes that envelop us with their softness. By sorting the smells in alphabetical order, Philippe Claudel invites us on an olfactory journey while remaining in our homes. A true Madeleine de Proust that warms the heart.
And lastly, for those who wish to immerse themselves in the classics, you should open “Les Fleurs du mal“. In this collection published by Baudelaire in 1857, you will find two poems entitled “Le Parfum” and “Le Flacon”. A reading full of rhymes and guaranteed to please!
Scented articles
For online magazine aficionados, visit the Nez magazine website. There you will find news related to perfume culture, interviews, readings, etc. It’s the ideal way to go deeper in your discovery of the world of fragrances!
Do you want to know the history of eau de cologne or why you should consider switching to vegan cosmetics? You can also dip your nose into all the articles on our blog right here.
So, are you ready to put all this into practice?
Lets keep in touch! Follow us on Instagram 🙂
Social