Smell This!

I recently read two books by Luca Turin, an authority on perfumes and their composition. I admit, that before reading The Secret of Scent, I didn't know how to smell. I discovered that smelling, like seeing, is not a natural talent, and it takes training to discern the elements within a composition. During your first art class, the teacher will ask, "Why is this painting a masterpiece?" She will then show you the lines used in composition, the flawless perspective, subtle shading or dramatic chiaroscuro. Similarly, a sense of smell needs instruction and Turin is a wonderful teacher. He is humorous, making even the more complex descriptions of chemicals comprehensible.

After spending a few hours with Turin, I could understand the importance of careful scent composition and discern the importance and beauty in complex fragrances -- scents which have elements that hit the nose immediately and linger for several hours. I could also speak the some words in the scent language -- aldehydes and phenol and esters.

 

Equally informative and entertaining is Turin's Perfumes: The Guide, which he co-authored with Tania Sanchez, another accomplished and witty writer. Turin and Sanchez rate classic and new perfumes on a scale from one to five, while providing brief descriptions of the fragrance. I would consider using this guide to purchase your next perfume, or when selecting a scent as a gift. In addition to the reviews, The Guide contains several chapters on perfume history and composition, a Cliffsnotes version of The Secret of Scent.  

I enjoyed both books immensely, which prompted me to briefly consider attending perfumery school. I doubt that I will make that step, but the books are a wonderful introduction to a subject that many of us know very little about.