Product Description

It also features introductions to women’s and men’s fragrances, to trends and to history and chemistry; a glossary and many ‘Top Ten’ Lists; and an informative section on frequently asked questions. A truly unique and useful guide, one written with a passion for its subject, and a perfect gift. SAMPLE EXTRACTS Chinatown (Bond. No. 9) ***** gourmand chypre The endearingly plucky firm of Bond No. 9 has produced its first masterpiece … like a corner of a small French grocery in summer. A treasure in a beautiful bottle. Hugo (Hugo Boss) ** unexciting lavender Dull but competent … suggestive of a day filled with strategy meetings. Gardenia (Chanel) * not gardenia …a thoroughly unpleasant, loud airport-toilet floral.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12725 in Books
• Published on: 2008-09-11
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 400 pages

Review
`Perfumes: The Guide is one of the best books I have ever read. It is dazzlingly good.' --India Knight, Sunday Times

Review
`Far more addictive than it has any right to be'

Review
`Quite simply, ravishingly entertaining'

Customer Reviews

Refreshing honesty and splendid wit
Quite apart from its sheer range and depth in tackling its subject, this book is really entertaining. It blows a welcome blast of fresh air through the fragrance business, exposing some of its frailties ('We *never* change our fragrance formulas' is the lie you hear most often) and gambolling in the glittering light of enthusiasm when reviewing favoured scents. The fragrance reviews are splendidly opinionated, but it's always clear that what's being praised is quality, coherence, balance, rather than 'niceness', so you're still free to exercise your own preference when you're shopping. I'm particularly impressed by the authors' recognition of the part appearance and presentation play in our enjoyment of fragrance, so they tell you when the packaging is the best thing about a scent, and when the opposite is true, too. They're also very good at pointing out that where fragrance is concerned, you very rarely 'get what you pay for', because some of the cheapest products on sale are very good, and some of the most expensive are not. Even if you fall into the least favoured category of person - someone who wears fragrance because they're frightened of smelling of themselves, rather than because they actually like what they're wearing - you'll find constructive suggestions here, with splendidly direct warnings about pitfalls you might want to avoid. A splendid read, and a reliable guide - which will need updating with new editions every few years!

A must have for handbags and manbags alike!
A danger to credit cards everywhere! This book is so evocative - descriptions of the good perfumes make you want to rush out and buy them without even smelling them first and reviews of the bad ones are screamingly funny. It's absolutely beautiful and a perfect present - also a brilliant way to drop a hint to your boyfriend, either because you want one of the scents or if you don't like his.

A trip down memory lane..
I spent last night poring over this book with my friends, male and female, looking up the various scents we have proudly worn then laughing and reminiscing while reading out the dead-on reviews. E.g. Poison 'The fragrance that everybody loves to hate...a must for every collector but please don't wear it to dinner'! It's warm, witty and wise - unlike anything else I have read on the subject.