Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (1985)

This book has it all: history, legend, mystery, chemistry, and a serial killer! Perfume tells the story of the life of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, who had a remarkable nose for scent, the ability to smell people from miles away, but had no odor of his own. Grenouille, an apprentice to a great perfumer, learned the trade and put his abilities to use to make some of the most wonderful perfumes Paris had ever smelt. While on his mission to create a scent of his own, he created a perfume so sweet smelling that it gives the person wearing it control over the emotions of the people around him. He begins to murder young virgin women, taking their human odor so that he could create that perfect scent.

It took me about a third of the way through the book before I became involved. The descriptions are wonderful and Jean-Baptiste has a sinister, powerful charisma. His adventures in finding his perfect scent, manipulating those around him, achieving mastery of his craft, and accomplishing his crimes are amazing. The story also gives a nice historical touch to the story, depicting the poverty, wealth, degradation and depravity of the times in a France that may be post-Revolution but is none the better for the overwhelming changes. The poor and downtrodden are still the poor and downtrodden.

Perfume is a deeply analytical study of the social and economic mores of the time, as well as a lesson in human behavior. The historic detail is meticulous and fascinating, as is the process of perfume making, much of which is described here. I've heard both good and bad reviews about this story. I found it to be a compelling tale and I'm happy I finally had a chance to read it for myself. ( )

Malende, visuelle, ironiske beskrivelser om duft for oss som ikke er velsignet med en parfymørs nese, om menneskelig enkelhet, brutalitet og fornedrelse. Stinkende eksesser beskrevet med språklig bravur og mørk humor - Sweeney Todd, gå hjem og vogg, her har du møtt din overmann. ( )

Orphaned, unwanted
misanthropic stink wizard
redheads smell the best. ( )

As a chemist who has worked with "essential oils", the basis for perfumes, I found this imaginative novel to have a wonderful premise, which held me even after the plot became more fantastic than my tastes would normally tolerate. I think it should have had much more good press than it got. Well worth reading. ( )

This is one hell of a strange inversion of a Jesus Allegory.

It's absolutely obsessed with the idea of innocence and scents, but more than that, it's a veritable encyclopedia of tons of smells. Borne of effluvia, the brilliance of his nose and his analytical ability sends him to the forefront of the perfumery business in Paris, nearly 300 years ago. Still steeped in effluvia, he discovers a dark secret about himself... he has no scent.

Of evil impulse and indefatigable drive, he recreates all kinds of scents and eventually creates the ultimate essence of innocence... and he, this empty, scentless creature of effluvia becomes, at least in the noses of everyone around him, the ultimate expression of love.

This was very, very fun. I particularly love inversions of old tropes. The ending fits so nicely. :)

A simple tale, a cornucopia of smells and description, and a fitting tale of justice.
( )