The Cultures of Perfume: Scents that Shaped History

A people’s history of perfume—what the art of olfaction can teach us about ourselves and our common humanity How do Las Vegas casinos convey the sensation of fresh water in the middle of a desert? What is the connection between unripe produce and the new popularity of green-smelling perfumes? And why do we love putting these scents and more on our skin? This illustrated field guide to 36 distinct scent notes tells the story of smell and humanity’s fascination with perfume through anecdotes, historical research and folk knowledge. With a smart and politically savvy style, author Saskia Wilson-Brown argues for scent as an art on a par with all other forms of art, and demonstrates how its appreciation and creation can be enjoyed by everyone. Nine thematic sections—Among the Elements; In Sickness and in Health; Seduction; Magic and the Supernatural; Religion; Power; Trade Paths; The Golden Age of Consumerism; and The Stories We Tell—move from the ancient origins of scent-making to the