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The Essence of Perfume

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:52:29 +0200

A Scented Palace: The Secret History of Marie Antoinette's Perfumer

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:48:06 +0100

French writer de Feydeau offers a unique take on the closing years of the ancien regime in France--specifically, court life at the Palace of Versailles as presided over by Queen Marie Antoinette--in composing the life story of Her Majesty's official perfumer. Following an introduction that provides one of the clearest summaries of the French Revolution to be found anywhere, the author proceeds to reconstruct the life of Jean-Louis Fargeon, who hailed from Montpellier, where perfumery was an important profession. His advances from his hometown to his advent into Paris, where his talents were brought to the attention of Madame du Barry, mistress of Louis XV, and then to that of the new queen, Marie Antoinette, is a path the reader follows with absorption, gaining insight into the lives and preoccupations of the elite during the eleventh hour of the old monarchy. Fargeon is an interesting individual in his own right, but doubly so as a paradigm of the precariousness of life for anyone--but especially for former purveyors to the royal court--during the bloody revolution. Brad Hooper

The Estee Lauder Solid Perfume Compact Collection 1967-2001

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:43:47 +0100

Every year since 1967, the Estee Lauder Company has introduced an annual collection of limited edition solid perfume compacts for the holiday season. Collectors and dealers have longed for a book devoted to this subject, and Roselyn Gerson has worked closely with the Estee Lauder Company to assure accurate documentation. The book contains listings and color photos of Estee Lauder solid perfumes and pendants created from 1967 through 2001. There are vintage images of Estee Lauder, and a thorough history of the company. Recent Internet auction results for the items, and current collector values for every item are provided. 224 pages. AUTHORBIO: Roselyn Gerson, known as "The Compact Lady" is the founder of the Compact Collectors Culb and editor and publisher of the newsletter, Powder Puff. She is the author of the first book written on ladies' compacts, Ladies' Compacts of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, and Vintage Vanity Bags Purses, Vintage Ladies' Compacts, Vintage Contemporary Purse Accessories, Vintage Vogue Ladies' Compacts, Second Edition, and The Este Lauder Solid Perfume Compact Collection, 1967 to 2001. REVIEW: Every year since 1967 Este Lauder has introduced a collection of beautiful limited-edition solid perfume compacts. This book is dedicated to those compacts, and they are beautifully featured in large full-color photographs. Information on the company is provided, as well as a preface by Deborah Krulewitch, Vice President of the Este Lauder Companies, Inc.

(Source Amazon.com)

Sur les routes de l'encens (The Incense Road)

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 02:13:40 +0100

This book recounts some of the great periods in the history of perfumes and tells about the perilous journeys leading to the supply sources: Ancient Egypt and the mysterious Land of Pount located somewhere on the African coast; Imperial Rome and the desert trails leading to Happy Arabia; Renaissance Venice and the Silk Road explored in the late 13th century by Marco Polo, the most famous Venetian; 17th century and 18th century France and the seaways to India and China taken by the ships of the famous East India Company. Each period is illustrated with a perfume revived by Dominique Ropion, using an ancient recipe and natural raw materials. Travel and smell... this book fragrant invites you to a double celebration.

Perfume Legends

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 02:13:18 +0100

Never before have so many perfumers, couturiers, bottle designers and perfume House executives spoken so openly about their fragrances. The result is a fascinated journey through the history, technology and romantic love of French perfumes, illustratred by sumptuous colours photographs and drawings. From Jicky to Opium, each perfume has an intriguing story behind the name. Learn, for instance, how couturiers such as Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, Paco Rabanne and Yves Saint Laurent translated the spirit of their style into fragrance. Discover how the perfumers created such innovative accords as Chanel n°5 or Angel. See how the bottle designers fashioned marvellous flacons for Houses like Rochas and Nina Ricci.Perfume Legends is a magical book where fable meets history, dedicated to all those who simply love perfume.

Histoire en Parfums

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 02:13:16 +0100

How about reading the history of perfume from the Roman period till today with your sense of smell? In this book, illustrated by Status Mansau, thesmells of cinnamon, bergamot, clover and others will open your eyes and your nose. Take an anthropological walk through Western history and discover its smells and fragrances. The book calls upon writers such as Paul Faure, Jean Verdon, Annick Le Guérer, Alain Corbin and Dominique Larue.

Secrets of Aromatic Jewelry

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 02:12:54 +0100

This books recounts the history of perfume as an ornament and features illustrations of uniquely beautiful objects designed to contain perfumes. Worn by men and women alike, they were made of fragrant material (resin beads, pomanders...) or of precious metal (pendant bottles, spice boxes, vinaigrettes...), and belonged to the so-called category of aromatic jewels.

Chanel : A Woman of Her Own

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 02:12:42 +0100

Chanel: Her Style and Her Life

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 02:12:40 +0100

Essence and Alchemy: A Book of Perfume

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 02:12:26 +0100