About this title: From the "New York Times" perfume critic comes a stylish, fascinating, unprecedented insiders view of an industry and its charismatic characters. Writing with wit and elegance, Burr juxtaposes the stories of two perfumes--one created for a luxury-goods house, the other made by a giant international corporation.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Description: Good. Former Library book. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Very Good. Former Library book. Great condition for a used book! Minimal wear. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Good. Purchasing this item supports Pierce County libraries. Thriftbooks and PCL have partnered to help raise additional funds for the library system. Ex-Library book-will contain library markings. Book has appearance of light use with no easily noticeable wear. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more
Description: Good. Purchasing this item supports Pierce County libraries. Thriftbooks and PCL have partnered to help raise additional funds for the library system. Ex-Library book-will contain library markings. Book has appearance of light use with no easily noticeable wear. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more
Description: Good. Purchasing this item supports Pierce County libraries. Thriftbooks and PCL have partnered to help raise additional funds for the library system. Ex-Library book-will contain library markings. Light shelf wear and minimal interior marks. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more
Description: Like New. May be shiny, in some instances dust jackets are not included, no missing pages, no damage to binding, may have a remainder mark. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Picador USA
Date Published: 2009-01-06
ISBN-13:9780312425777ISBN:0312425775
Description: NEW. Softcover. From an inventory that is 100% brand-new, 100% direct from the publishers' distribution channel. We carry NO pre-owned, NO remaindered. We pack in CARDBOARD to ensure the pristine quality is maintained. (Bubble-wrap alone is NOT sufficient to protect from USPS equipment. ) Guaranteed brand-NEW, protected with CARDBOARD, your satisfaction is guaranteed. BKLUVID: 9780312425777. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Picador
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780312425777ISBN:0312425775
Description: New. Brand New! Buy with confidence-your satisfaction is guaranteed at B-Logistics! Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. Please note that Expedited shipping is not available at this time. read more
"A fascinating insight into the world of the men and women who create perfumes. Chandler Burr a NY Times journalist was lucky enough to follow Jean-Claude Ellena (the creator of my most favourite perfume) and Sarah-Jessica Parker and her creative team as they went through the processes of creating two different perfumes - Ellena's Un Jardin su la Nil for Hermes and SJP's Lovely for Coty.
The most interesting thing about this book was its discussion of the process of creating a perfume. What I didn't realise was that perfumeurs don't sit in their labs and mix essential oils together, instead they hold the idea of what molecules smell like in their head and combine them up there to make a scent, send off to one of their lab minions to mix up a formula and then decide whether it works or not.
Something else that was interesting was the way Burr looked at the mistique that the big perfume houses try to portray about their products - as if all perfumes are made from natural ingredients when actually the vast majority of elements in a standard perfume are single synthesised molecules.
Burr made the interesting point that sandalwood essential oil comes from an endangered species of tree in India and comprises hundreds of different molecules making up the oil, many of which are allergens and are not permitted to be used in perfumery. Instead, there are a number of beautiful smelling sandalwood molecules that are used in perfumery. But the perfume houses would have us all imagine that our perfumes come from the unfortunate trees cut down for our pleasure.
It's an opulent and cut-throat world and I was very interested to read about how it works. I feel slightly disillusioned by the stupidity and shortsightedness of many of the perfume houses as described in the book. But whilst scent geniuses like Ellena are still around to make beautiful perfumes like Ambre Narguile, I'm afraid I will still continue to buy them."
"As the very long title suggests this is a nonfiction account of the perfume industry discussing everything from the conception of the famous No. 5 to the process from beginning to end, of getting a perfume into the marketplace. It follows the new Sarah Jessica Parker fragrance. Despite the fact that some parts are very "chemist technical" I found the book an interesting read, with a few juicy tidbits of information thrown in about those famous fragrances (men's and women's) that we know so well."
"First let me preface this by stating that I am a perfume collector, and love reading, discussing, and researching anything that has anything to do with perfume. But this is really a fascinating and fun read, following the creation of two different perfumes, one by Jean Claude-Ellena, inhouse perfumer for Hermes, and one by Sarah Jessica Parker. Chandler Burr is funny, intelligent and honest in his writing, and I will certainly be picking up whatever he puts out. He definitely knows how to find a story and get the best stuff - brainy but not condescending. Love it!"
"I enjoyed this immensely. It's one of those books one carries around reading aloud from. Full of fascinating chemistry tidbits as well as the slightly less fascinating celebrity/designer ones. Burr's scathing, off-the-cuff assessments of current perfumes are hilarious, as are his other asides. Here's a favorite quote:
"Perfumers are deeply strange people simply because their sensorial perception of the world is so highly trained. The educated olfactory capacity makes spending time with them not unlike spending time with talking Labradors."
We guarantee every item's condition, as described on Alibris. If you are not satisfied that an item is as described, return your purchase for a refund.
rating
