In 'The Emperor of Scent', Chandler Burr takes readers on a sensory journey into the intriguing world of perfume and the revolutionary scientist Luca Turin, who has a unique theory that challenges the very foundation of how we understand smell. As Turin battles the elite perfume industry and its traditionalists, his quest for recognition becomes a thrilling exploration of art, science, and the senses. What makes one scent intoxicating and another repulsive? The narrative delves deep into the scents we encounter daily, uncovering their hidden complexities and emotional connections. This book is not just about fragrance; it's a gripping exploration of passion, ambition, and the science of experience.
By Chandler Burr
Published: 2004
""In the world of scent, the invisible becomes tangible, and the essence of life is distilled into a single drop that tells a thousand stories.""
The Emperor of Scent tells of the scientific maverick Luca Turin, a connoisseur and something of an aesthete who wrote a bestselling perfume guide and bandied about an outrageous new theory on the human sense of smell. Drawing on cutting-edge work in biology, chemistry, and physics, Turin used his obsession with perfume and his eerie gift for smell to turn the cloistered worlds of the smell business and science upside down, leading to a solution to the last great mystery of the senses: how the nose works.
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“"In the world of scent, the invisible becomes tangible, and the essence of life is distilled into a single drop that tells a thousand stories."”
The Emperor of Scent
By Chandler Burr
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Chandler Burr is an acclaimed American author and journalist known for his unique exploration of the sensory world, particularly in the realm of fragrance. He is the author of several notable works, including "The Emperor of Scent," which delves into the science and artistry of scent, and "The Perfume Collector," an intricate narrative that weaves together themes of memory and perception. Burr’s writing style is characterized by its vivid sensory descriptions and an insightful blend of narrative and scientific inquiry, inviting readers to appreciate the complexities of the olfactory experience. In addition to his literary contributions, he has served as the fragrance critic for The New York Times and has contributed to various prestigious publications, establishing himself as a prominent voice in both the literary and fragrance communities.
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