In Search of Perfumes A Lifetime Journey to the Source of Natures Scents

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Recommended for a very unusual travel guide and journey into cultures and histories of the past and present. You will never look at perfume the same way again. Read more

Roques’s job was (is?) sourcing natural fragrance materials for high end perfume houses. He does this not just by sitting at a desk, but by going to the sites where the materials are gathered- to Provence for the very best lavender, Italy for bergamot, Andalusia for cistus tears, etc. Each chapter chronicles his visits to the producers- sometimes farmers of their own land, sometimes migrant workers, sometimes gatherers in the forests and jungles and deserts- one fragrant material per chapter. Most of the time, he writes not just about one trip, but several trips through the years, to see where the material comes from and how it’s harvested, to find out what the producers and gatherers need to survive and have good lives, because he doesn’t want to take advantage of the people, some of whom have lives that we’d consider very primitive. He doesn’t just make money for his clients and himself, but makes deals so the workers can have medical care and schools. While the book wasn’t what I thought it would be- I thought it would be more about the fragrance materials- it was pretty interesting. I had never thought about how the people lived who gathered rose petals, or bergamot oranges, or the gums like cistus or frankincense. It’s good to know where the materials in those oh so expensive perfumes come from and what progress is doing to the areas they grow in! Read more

This book came highly recommended by a colleague of ours in the fragrance space. It’s an excellent read, especially if you’re looking to learn about how flowers are sourced for their rare essential oils. This books gets down to the actually flower picking practices and how they get from seed to bottle. I highly recommend this book. Read more

This was a fascinating and engrossing book that opened up the world of fragrances to me in ways that I had never considered before. Before this book I was the kind of person who sniffed a scent and then bought a fragrance based solely on the way it ‘spoke to me’. I never really thought of ‘reading’ it for the tones and notes that were the foundation of that scent. However, Roques’ book has changed that, now I view smelling a perfume as something akin to tasting a fine wine. I want to see if I can spot what makes this fragrance work or see if I can discover how the scent of sandalwood blends with a Damask Rose vs that of a tonka bean. However, just hearing the names of these scents is not enough to appreciate the full power of this book, because the trials and travails that went into the gathering, processing, transporting and ultimately crafting that scent is a saga that held me spellbound within each chapter. Clearly and beautifully written, Roques invites you on a journey of discovery about more than just the scent, but shares a sense of awe at the full price that these fragrances cost. Before this book, I had never considered the toll that these ingredients take on the people that gather or distill them, nor the environmental price that is paid for fine scents that are combined in one small bottle. This book is an incredible read that will make you think twice about the price of a small vial of perfume, and wonder about the lives and stories of the people who gather these precious oils. I received this as an arc from Harper Via and NetGalley Read more

This is a beautiful nonfiction book on aroma and the small farms and communities that bring fragrance to life. It is a wonderful book to read a chapter at a time as each section dives into an obscure or maybe well known ingredient. As someone on the beverage side of things, I love aroma and learning about the natural components that reshape fragrance for that industry. This is a lush and whimsical deep dive into the sites, people, and societal issues that shape and face the fragrance industry. I loved it! Read more

This book, translated from the French, chronicles the travels of a perfume expert as he goes in search of natural resources to make high end perfumes. Even though I generally don't wear perfume, I loved this book. The author has traveled to far flung places all over the globe. He had high respect for those who harvest and distill the resins and balsams used in perfume, most of whom are very poor and uneducated by Western standards. Those who enjoy travel books and/or books on sustainable natural resources will want to read this book. The writing is top notch, and the subjects of the book are treated with thoughtfulness and intelligence. I genuinely looked forward to reading a chapter or two each day and learned much. Highly recommended. Read more

As an Aromatherapist I can’t tell you how thrilled I was to stumble upon this book. And then to start reading it, I was instantly transported to the hills, the fields, the forests where these majestic plants flourish. Intimately familiar with the aromas discussed, I was fascinated by the stories of the families, landowners and harvesters. Fortunately my cabinet is filled with exquisite oils so I was able to enjoy the aroma right along with the readings and that was entirely next level. Brimming with historical information, it’s a beautifully written, highly enjoyable tribute to a life’s work in the world of scent. Read more