Buying perfume for a perfume enthusiast is risky business. There are no safe bets; we’re just too picky. Unless the recipient has directed you to purchase a specific perfume, I would not recommend proceeding with this. An unsuitable selection, such as Calvin Klein’s Escape for Men or Mugler’s Womanity, may result in grievous bodily harm to the deluded donor. It’s better to buy them a voucher for a perfume store and let them make the purchase. All is not lost, though. I think there are still some perfumed gifts that would go down a treat on Christmas Day. Indeed, one of the safest options is a perfume book. They’re usually a much more budget-friendly option, too. From Plant to Perfume – The Botanical Origin of Scent, a relatively new publication featuring contributions from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, would be of interest to most perfume lovers.
Released in late 2024, this book features write-ups and illustrations for 100 botanical ingredients. Josh Carter and Samuel Gearing, who founded the online store Fiole, team up with Eliot Jan-Smith and Melanie-Jayne R. Howes of Kew Gardens for the book. Across 11 chapters, the authors cover categories such as citrus, woods, and resins. Each ingredient entry offers historical, scientific, and botanical details. For example, you can learn how many kilograms of flowers are needed to produce essential oils for neroli, jasmine, and tuberose, discover extraction methods, and see where each plant grows.
It’s very easy to read and consume, suitable for everyone. The authors pick three essential scents to sample for each ingredient. Some of their endorsements are for the usual suspects. For example, under lavender, they suggest Caron Pour Un Homme and Jicky; for vetiver, they choose Guerlain’s classic. But they also include left-field and more modern options such as Crazy Hours by Frank Muller for vetiver, Perverso by Baruti for tobacco, and Liberte Boheme by Au Pays de la Fleur d’Oranger for tomato leaves. Their scent tips cover designer, niche, and indie brands and span the price range from 4711 to Frederic Malle. The book would make a great stocking filler and might even bring a smile to the grinchiest of scent scrooges.
You can find the book on Amazon, but I picked up my copy at the Queensland Art Gallery. It cost 40 AUD, so it’s still cheaper than a 2ml Roja Dove sample. Galleries are often good spots to discover new books. All the photos are mine.
