To women the whole world over, perfume means glamour, and in the world
of perfume, Jean-Claude Ellena is a superstar. In this one-of-a-kind
book, the master himself takes you through the doors of his laboratory
and explains the process of creating precious fragrances, revealing the
key methods and recipes involved in this mysterious alchemy.
Perfume is a cutthroat, secretive multibillion-dollar industry, and
Ellena provides an insider's tour, guiding us from initial inspiration
through the mixing of essences and synthetic elements, to the deluxe
packaging and marketing in elegant boutiques worldwide, and even the
increasingly complicated safety standards that are set in motion for
each bottle of perfume that is manufactured. He explains how the sense
of smell works, using a palette of fragrant materials, and how he
personally chooses and composes a perfume. He also reveals his unique
way of creating a fragrance by playing with our olfactory memories in
order to make the perfume seductive and desired by men and women the
world over. Perfume illuminates the world of scent and manufactured
desire by a perfumer who has had clients the likes of Cartier, Van Cleef
& Arpels, Bulgari, and Hermes.
