Cult Perfumes: The World's Most Exclusive Perfumeries

I love this book, I return to it over and over. I actually have given away several copies over the years, so here I am purchasing another one!Wonderful to own and/or gift. Highly recommend for any perfume fan or really anyone who appreciates 'works of human art' aimed at the senses.You won't be disappointed! Delight awaits!

A fascinating and informative book with magnificent, extensively researched images of perfumeries from the Persian Gulf, to Mysore India, Florence, Grasse and Paris. Tessa Williams draws the reader into this intriguing scent world with links to nature – rain, civet cats (musk), tuberose (favorite perfume of Salvador Dali), trees, ferns and resins.Cult Perfumes is a history book chronicling the favorite perfumes of kings and emperors, the medicinal house of monks in C13 Santa Maria Novella Florence, and the extraordinary careers of today’s perfumers – scent ‘composers’ and ‘channelers’ with trainings in painting, chemistry, genealogy, philosophy, ancient history, photography and classical music. We learn about the ‘heart’ note that forms the middle note of the perfumer’s basic triadic chord as well as the devastating affliction of ‘anosmia’ (loss of sense of smell) that can befall a scent artist.Alongside this luxuriant world, we learn about the glassmakers whose sculptures are the chosen containers of these perfumes. Exquisite cut glass bottles, designed from the domes of mosques, the Orient Express, flower engravings as well as exotic crystal and gold, complement their interiors.A perfect holiday gift that brings a message of Peace and Love.

This book is a feast for the eyes with bottles of modern perfumes. It also includes images of perfumes from companies' histories with their antique labels.Be warned, however, that the author tends to fall too easily for the marketing hype for some fragrance companies. Made-up, fantastical corporate "histories," complete with so-called noble and royal patrons, are far too common on the promotion of perfumes. In this day and age, the hype can easily be exposed with research, unlike 100 years ago where would-be patrons were far more trusting and with fewer resources to judge truth.The book examines all manner of luxurious perfumes from older companies (or revived ones) to the Johnny-come-lately companies purporting to offer the most luxurious of perfumes. Take each article/feature individually and judge for yourself.At a glance, the book seems like a marketing vehicle for fragrance companies. I just concentrated on enjoying looking at the pictures of the perfumers and the bottles.

Nice big glossy book. Evocative writing. While no book can possibly keep up with all the niche lines, this one has many. Some are missing. It was great to read about the artists behind the fragrances, and the backstory that led them to create their lines. The only possible improvement would be "scratch and sniff" pages, but I say this with tongue firmly planted in cheek.

Very interesting book! I thoroughly enjoyed it.The photos were glossy and beautiful and there was just enough info on the perfume companies to not ever fall into a tedious read.I enjoyed reading about the perfumers, their families, who they may have trained with, their backgrounds and their stories.

This is a beautiful book for fans of fragrances. Besides the pretty photography, there are numerous articles about the history of various perfume brands. You will learn a lot about the perfumers, as well. This is a perfect gift for perfume lovers, and it is a nice present for yourself, too!

Very informative and affirming - turns out I owned many of the perfumes in this book. Especially loved the history of Santa Maria Novella - a long time favorite. I bought it as a gift for my daughter, but I read it too, as we both love fashion and great perfumes.

Very pretty book and written well. I love it.

I love the content and photos. Gorgeous book!

this is a book for all the people that loves cult perfumes and want to know something else about the company and the history of these.You can discover great companies and a great range of amazing smells that you want to buy something for sure. I did it!

A real dictionarry of cult perfumes,really good book to understand the Niche perfuemery and its historyReally recommended book worth the money

Nice to have a table book of parfumes

Ooh i love perfumes i do. They are all here in their heady glory.Cant go wrong with a bottle of perfume - actually you can but thats a long story. Pleasant reading for amateurs and afficionados alike.