Books In Review

Perfume: The Art and Science of Scent
Author: Cathy Newman Publisher: National Geographic Society
From its first page, when author Cathy Newman is 'fitted' for her own personal scent, Perfume is an inside look at this utterly fascinating subject. You'll meet the perfumers themselves - artists who work with a palette of some 2,000 notes as they formulate their symphonies of fragrance. You'll sit in on meetings where multimillion-dollar ad campaigns are planned - product launches that can literally make or break a company. You'll harvest roses in southern France and join an expedition into the Costa Rican rainforest in search of undiscovered aromas. You'll explore every aspect of this unique blend of artistry and science, which combines a long and often astonishing history with the most sophisticated of modern marketing techniques. Scores of glamorous full-color photographs make this one-of-a-kind book as lavish a treat for the eyes as for the imagination - and as unforgettably, irresistibly evocative as a classic perfume.

Scents of Time: Perfume from Ancient Egypt to the 21st Century
Author: Edwin T. Morris Publisher: Bulfinch Press & The Metropolitan Museum of Art
For more than 4,000 years, perfumery has never lost its allure. In this 112-page full-color book, fragrance historian Edwin Morris traces perfume's story from its origins in Babylonia to the most recent global trends. Each page is illustrated with works of art drawn from the collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Packaged with the book are eight fine fragrances, specially blended by the perfumers of Givaudan Roure to capture the most influential scents in history: Frankincense, representing Egypt and the ancient Near East; Rose, the favorite scent of the classical world; Sandalwood-jasmine, a blend reflective of the Islamic world and India; Orange Blossom, which originated in East Asia, Spice, a blend of aromatics emblematic of the Renaissance; Eau de Cologne, a refreshing fragrance first used in 18th century Europe; Millefleurs, a floral blend with 20th century aldehydic chemistry; and Sportive, a fresh, citrus fragrance anticipating trends of the 21st century.