Praise for Fragrant: The Secret Life of Scent
Named one of Time Magazine and Flavorwire's Best Fall Reads
“Aftel could be considered the scent world’s Alice Waters. … She writes passionately about scent … pass[ing] through the histories of [her five] “landmark scents” like an anthropologist jotting down field notes. … A welcome perspective.” —New York Times
"Sublime...“From astonishing, almost mythic accounts of the ancient spice trade to easy-to-follow formulas that will allow readers to try their own hand at perfumery, Fragrant is a lush must-read for all lovers of perfume.” —Elle
"Mandy Aftel's seductive Fragrant plumbs the power of ancient and exotic smells to ignite desire, discovery, and transcendence." —Vanity Fair
"A powerful history of the senses. “People sailed around the world the wrong way just to get different aromas into their lives,” explains Aftel. In the spirit of those spice-seeking adventurers, she sets off on a sweeping narrative tour, exploring the role of scent in everything from Greek mythology and classic texts likes One Thousand and One Nights to its impact on modern medicine, and even flapper-era cocktails." —Vogue
“[Aftel] writes passionately about our emotional connection with scent, its powers of transcendence and her mission to create perfumes that are the antithesis of overly chemical, mass-produced fragrances… deftly weaving in the Bible (the scent-drenched Song of Solomon), historic remedies (how to make 19th century Vienna Bitters)…linguistics (the Sanskrit origins of the word "musk"), literature (Charles Darwin waxing rhapsodic about jasmine), history (the spice route) and science (how frankincense may relieve depression)” —Los Angeles Times
"Cinnamon, mint, frankincense, ambergris and jasmine seem to waft from the pages as Aftel interprets their history, mythology and ethereality, providing the reader with a heady literary elixir." —San Francisco Chronicle
“A valuable recent addition to the perfume nerd’s informational arsenal… Reading [Aftel’s] book makes a person wearing perfume feel connected to every human in every era who has ever done so.”—Bookforum
“This fall's most compelling tome of highbrow nonfiction by a Berkeley author … is [this] authoritatively voiced, utterly fascinating, fact-laden look into the surprisingly complex world of scent.” —San Francisco Magazine
“Aftel offers intriguing insight into world cultures through the history of five key scents – including why mint tea is a sign of hospitality in the Middle East, and how the Dutch policed the cinnamon black market in Ceylon.” —Food & Wine
“A fascinating mixture of history and personal anecdotes about perfume and the role scent plays in our lives.”—Largehearted Boy
"A strong case for the powerful sense properties of scent." —Bay Area Reporter
“Sumptuous and gorgeous… I want to give [Fragrant] to every woman I love” —Sophie Uliano, Gorgeously Green
“Working with archetypical aromas cinnamon, mint, frankincense, ambergris and jasmine- Mandy uses aroma as muse and guide into an exceptionally well documented unfolding of the human experience.” —Cafleurebon
“I’d highly recommend [Fragrant] if you’re at all curious about aromatic ingredients. She’ll teach you how to interact with a perfume—how to smell it, think about it, experience it. Best of all, you’ll learn olfactory factoids that are perfect cocktail party fodder.” –Paths & Errands
“Riveting and indulgent. [Fragrant] is a like a well-crafted piece of fine art, or a gourmet meal. You want to savor every single word on every single page” —The Girl Who Knows
"A Botany of Desire for scent." —Michael Pollan (via Twitter @MichaelPollan)
“Masterful storytelling awaits within the pages of Fragrant. We are treated to natural history, adventure, the enmeshing of scent with human civilization…This cornucopia of information is delivered to us engagingly, summoning all of our senses in the process. Scholarly meets sensual, intellectual meets tempestuous, the creative marries the practical. The illustrations and cover art alone would be worth the purchase of this precious volume; they possess a life all their own.” — Fragrantica
“Ms. Aftel’s previous career as a writer along with her experience as a natural perfumer allows for a perfect synergy…[Fragrant is] as easy to read as a true-life adventure…I learned so much I didn’t know about ingredients I thought I knew a lot about. The section of my bookshelf which houses the books on scent and perfume that I think are essential is pretty small. With the publication of Fragrant it just got one volume bigger.” —Mark Behnke, Colognoisseur.com
“In this sensuous and profound exploration of the history, science, and art of perfume, expert perfumer Aftel seduces readers with a sensualism that only intensifies as her stories unfold. … The book is peppered with fascinating trivia [and] recipes and tidbits … that entice readers to wake up their noses and perhaps engage in their own scent alchemy.”—Publisher's Weekly (starred review)
“Aftel’s vast knowledge and passion for perfumery are on full display here, and her personal anecdotes read like an old friend sharing a cherished recipe. … Strongly recommended for casual readers interested in the basics of scent and perfumery.” —Library Journal
“Aftel will greatly expand … what readers think they know about fragrance as she chronicles the medicinal, culinary and spiritual uses of aromatics from antiquity to the present…[Aftel] doesn't merely create pleasant aromas; she opens an olfactory portal to the sensual and spiritual appetites that make us feel alive and in the moment… Evocative, heady and overflowing with history and lore.”—Kirkus Reviews
"Fragrant is a thoughtful, beautifully written meditation on scent; I love that Mandy is both intrepid researcher and sensualist, with an innate gift for storytelling and an abiding curiosity in the provenance of her ingredients. This book vividly shows how the aromas of the natural world have the power to open the pathways to our minds, guiding and defining our traditions, our history and our future." —Alice Waters
"Reading Mandy Aftel’s thoughtful and charmingly written Fragrant, I was taken on a journey of intrigue and fascination that operated on all my senses. Who knew there was so much to learn about the human affection for smelling good? Or, indeed, for the adventure of smelling itself."—Alice Walker
“Mandy Aftel has been tutoring my nose for many years. I've been lucky enough to make regular pilgrimages to her perfume studio to smell with her through the hundreds of materials in her collection, to browse in her wonderfully eclectic library, to be informed and inspired by her passion for scent in all its forms. InFragrant, she distills that passion into an eloquent account of the forgotten stories of nature's aromatic materials, the pleasure and meaning that they've given to people through the centuries, and simple ways of bringing those riches back into our own lives.” —Harold McGee, New York Times columnist and bestselling author of On Food & Cooking
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