Included in the Financial Times's "16 gifts for the mixologist in your life" Holiday 2022 Gift Guide Included in Vogue.com s Best Books to Gift for the Holidays, 2022"
"Ellena writes in a vivid prose, and has a knack for translating smells into the written word... This enchanting volume merits a spot on any perfume connoisseur s shelf." Publishers Weekly
"Perfumers have taught me just as much about smell (and taste) as any sommelier. I long to get my nose into this new work by Jean-Claude Ellena, writer and former head perfumer at Hermès." The Financial Times
Introduction 8 Woods and Barks 10 Sandalwood 12 Cinnamons 16 Red Cedar 20 Oakmoss 22 Leaves 26 Labdanum 28 Absinthe and Artemisia 32 Basil and Tarragon 36 Rose Geranium 40 Patchouli 44 Violet 48 Flowers 52 Jasmine 54 Lavender 58 Mimosa 62 Narcissus 66 Bitter, or Bigarade, Orange 70 Tea Olive 74 Rose 78 Tuberose 82 Ylang-Ylang 86 Fruits 90 Bergamot 92 Black Currant Buds 96 Sweet Orange 104 Gums and Resins 106 Benzoin 108 Galbanum 112 Myrrh and Frankincense 116 Seeds 120 Ambrette 122 Green Cardamom 126 Carrot 130 Peppers 138 Tonka 142 Vanilla 144 Roots 148 Garden Angelica 150 Iris 154 Vetiver 158 Postface 163 Documentation 165
Jean-Claude Ellena, the nose of the luxury brand Hermès for fourteen years, has been the Creative Director of Fragrance at the perfume house Le Couvent since 2019. Karin Doering-Froger, a faculty member at the Atelier de Sèvres, has illustrated many novels and travel guides, including Atlas de cités perdues and Atlas de contrées rêvées.