Light, floral, exotic or heady, perfume can be both a precious ally for self-care or the ultimate weapon of seduction. From its origins in ancient times to today's colossal cosmetic industry, the story of perfume is rich and enticing.

What parts of the world do fragrances come from? Who invented them and what are their main ingredients? How did perfume cross from the sacred to the profane? Who were the first great perfumers? What role has the fashion industry played in the history of perfume? How do you become a successful 'nose'? What stories lie behind iconic perfumes such as Chanel's N°5, CK One, or Jean Paul Gaultier's Le Mâle?

Lavishly illustrated with archival documents from the most beautiful fragrance brands, The Story of Perfume transports its readers into a precious and mesmerizing world. It is the perfect gift for special occasions and a must-have for all perfume lovers.

The untold story of Marie-Antoinette's perfumer, Jean-Louis Fargeon. Montpellier, 1748: Jean-Louis Fargeon is born into a family of perfumers and soon becomes apprentice to his father's modest perfumery. But he dreams of the glittering court of Versailles and of becoming perfumer to the young queen, Marie Antoinette. His ambition carried him to Paris where his boutique became one of the most elegant and well-patronised in France. Concocting sumptuous perfumes and pomades for most of the French nobility, Fargeon eventually caught the attention of the queen. After meeting Marie Antoinette in the Trianon Palace, he began creating lavish bespoke scents that perfectly reflected her moods and personality. He served as her personal and exclusive perfumer for fourteen years until 1789 when the darkness of Revolution swept across France, its wrath aimed at the extravagance of a now hated queen. Fargeon, a lifelong supporter of the Republican cause but a purveyor to the court, was in a dangerous position. Yet he remained fiercely loyal to Marie Antoinette, beyond her desperate flight to Varennes, her execution and even through his own imprisonment and trial...

The year 1947 was a crucial one for Christian Dior. It was then that the fashion designer simultaneously founded his maison and his perfume factory in Paris. The success of Christian Dior's first essence, Miss Dior, was so outstanding as to leave its permanent mark in history. Ten years on from the founding of his perfume factory, on 24 October 1957, Christian Dior's untimely death conferred a new dimension to a decade characterised by an uncommon destiny. Text in English and French.