Hello Posse Peeps! One of my great joys in the world of perfumery is my additional Fragrant Reading. Every night I scan my favourite blogs for information, opinion, interviews and scent. There are also a couple of reference books I find indispensable.
Lately for my Birthday & Christmas Jin has had this amazing idea. Instead of everyone buying me a shit gift that will be fake oohed and aaahed over before being packed up and sent to the goodwill he decided it would be MUCH better if I picked something expensive that I really wanted and that he would collect all out mates birthday money (it’s like Crowd Funding but for birthdays) and if there is a shortfall he makes up the difference. He got the idea from my mate Ainslie Walker who Crowd Funded the DIOR Perfumes book for me in 2014. Last year’s Birthday it was a leather motorbike jacket and this year it’s a fabulous chest of drawers for my bathing collection. You might want to think about that for a couple of these books…..
Fragrant Reading
Fragrances Of The World by Michael Edwards
Fragrances Of The World has a yearly edition by Michael Edwards and his crew. It’s the ultimate perfumistas reference book. It has categories, stories, explanations and critiques. I get it every year but for most scent hounds it’s a one off buy referred to over the years, bookmarked, dog eared, post it noted. They get a life of their own and become and integral part of a perfumistas life.
Michael Edwards is responsible for the Fragrant Wheel, like a colour wheel but built in olfactory families. Once I got my head around this concept it made a whole lot of stuff fall into place for me.
Perfume: The A-Z Guide by Luca Turin & Tania Sanchez
This book was the inducement to the fragrant rabbit hole for so many perfumistas. I will often find myself discussing it with people at frag heads get togethers or people who know I’m into fragrance will ask if I have it. Whether you agree or disagree with the contents its did start a revolution in the way we think, talk and write about fragrance.
This is another reference book that ends up looking like it’s spent a winter hibernating with an OCD bear. I have two copies, one is pristine for reference and the other is hilarious with highlighter, crossings out, rude words and pictures where I disagree, post its, dog ears, pencil, pen and even a couple of pages that have come adrift stuffed back in willy nilly.
Dior Perfumes by Chandler Burr
The incredibly luscious book that all the Australian Perfume Junkies writers crowd funded for me in 2014. Just opening this book is enough to send you on a design high. The pictures, stories and absolute perfection make me swoon every time. My copy is starting to look loved but it still retains its regal dignity and I’ve not written, dog eared or post it noted it.
If you want to ramp up your knowledge or get a better view of fragrance over the years you can’t go past these books. If Fragrant Reading is your thing too then they will help you in so many ways, as well as being cracking good reads.
What is your favourite Fragrant Reading?
Portis XXXX
If you have enjoyed this then please pop over to Australian Perfume Junkies and continue the scented conversation.
We love visitors, say HI while you’re there.
Howdy, dear! Great post — love the way you capsulized (is that a word? 🙂 ) all those books. All wonderful, but I think I need the Michael Edwards one the most. Can’t believe I’ve lived without it all these years. And yes, big kudos to Jin — that crowdfunding idea is genius. Everyone’s happy: you get exactly what you want and no one overspends — perfect!!
Heya Ann,
Thank you. It is now a word, you are the perfumistas Shakespeare. Make the language fit your needs I say.
Yes, Fragrances of the World is wonderful. I love the new look this year and it’s so full of stuff that I explode every time I go to it. Sneaky hint, they have a sale on last years just before releasing the new one. If you don’t mind that the savings are real.
Portia xx
i have quite a lot of perfume books but no folios.i would love love love to have perfume legends by michael edwards.i must have borrowed that 20 times from my library.libraries don’t even have the dior book.i tried to get them to buy it but it was too pricey..boo..he he
Hey Flowergirlbee!
I have only seen the Perfume Legends book on the net at extreme prices. What is it showing exactly? Why is it so desired?
Portia xx
hi portia,
my goodness you are in for a treat when you get to read it.you can lend it on inter-library loans if you are a member of a public library.some of mine will let you do that for free,but some charge around $15. it features 44 different perfume profiles from jicky to angel.each feature is around 6 big folio pages and has a general introduction section, a section on the perfume development and then a feature on the designing of the bottle.it is perfume heaven.get yourself a squizz pronto!! x
I am stealing the crowd funding for birthdays idea! Send Jin my thanks; he’s a genius.
Hey LisaD,
It’s the best idea ever. Every time I put on that jacket, read the book or open my new chest of drawers a bunch of the people that I love hug me. It also cuts down on angst for the giver and bullshit pretending for the receiver, and it means that people don’t overspend. This year the drawers were $300 so after Jin and Kath paid what they wanted it meant everyone else only had to add in a few $.
Jin has a day off today and is snoring LOUDLY on the couch, I’ll pass along your thanks when he wakes.
Portia xx
I have the Guide, Emperor of Scent and Denyse Beaulieu’s book. Some day I will get the Edwards book too! I like the crowdfunding idea for a worthy gift.
Hey there TaraC,
Both those books are looking a little dog eared around here. I have reread The Perfume lover a couple of times already and it’s such a fun read I will probably pick it up again soon.
Portia xx
I don’t have a lot of books about perfume, really I don’t. I used to have The Guide but not anymore. One of my dogs used it as a chew toy. I can’t remember the title or author but I have a biography of Chanel. When I heard about that a book was being written about no 5, I did get it. The Secret of No 5 is an interesting book about one perfume. I’m going to have to reread that.
Hiya Eldarwen22,
HA! Even your dogs are critics, he he he.
I loved that No 5 book and have a few on CHANEL too. She is such a dichotomy that I find her fascinating and repellent in equal measure.
Portia xx
Just want to register that I love the site’s new look!
It’s very different isn’t it Connie,
Much more simple and childlike.
Portia xx