Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

Süskind’s masterpiece is not merely a thriller; it is a daring exploration of the sense of smell that transforms reading into a complete sensory experience, set against the foul-smelling backdrop of pre-revolutionary France. Born in the filthiest corner of Paris, Grenouille possesses the ultimate sense of smell but lacks a personal odor of his own. The author presents him as an amoral psychopath on a "sacred" mission to become the God of scents. Despite his repulsive nature, the prose forces us to feel a paradoxical empathy for a creature who never knew human love. The detailed descriptions of perfumery techniques—from Paris to Grasse—are so vivid that the reader can almost "smell" the pages. Süskind defines beauty through scent rather than sight, combining the historical structure of a Hugo novel with the psychological intensity of a Nabokov. A chillingly realistic portrayal of 18th-century social reality. An unexpected, surreal climax that remains etched in the memory. The protagonist's seven-year isolation in a cave may weary readers seeking non-stop action. Perfume is a profound study of human isolation and obsession. It is a book that transcends genre boundaries and changes the way you perceive the world around you.

Good, and really creepy! The story is about a man born with no smell to him, and the amazing ability to smell things from far away and to decipher smells as well. He can tell people apart by their smell, he can smell when their emotions change, he can smell stones and glass and things no human can sense. Periodically he runs into a girl with a fantastic and desirable smell—and he HAS to kill her in order to capture that scent. The crimes themselves weren't more horrible than average (probably less so, compared to most modern crime novels), but the killer himself was REALLY creepy. He was unlikable throughout the whole book, and not only does the reader dislike him, but really no other character in the book likes him at all. Even when he was a baby his wetnurses hated him. The other thing that was really good was all the stuff about perfumes. It was really interesting to learn all about the various ways to extract the scents of different kinds of flowers, trees, or animal products. And the parts about creating new perfumes by combining these scents in various ways was also fascinating. What wasn't great was that the ending was strange and rather unsatisfying. Aside from that, the book was haunting and powerfully written, with a well created murderer that was repellent on every level!

First and foremost, German author Patrick Suskind's novel, "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer," is a celebration of the written word, and an affirmation of good popular literature. Suskind's beautifully crafted narrative excites the imagination and expands the reader's senses - especially that least appreciated of faculties, the olfactory. John E. Woods should be lauded for bringing the richness and texture of the author's language to his English translation. "Perfume" is much more than a murder mystery or suspense thriller. It is an extraordinary tale that defies genre classification. Jean-Baptiste Grenouille was born in the most squalid, stinking marketplace of 18th-century Paris, perhaps even the most putrid place in all France, on July 17, 1738. And, as the author explains, the stench of 18th-century Paris is one that modern man cannot begin to fathom - manure, moldering wood, rat droppings, human excretions both common and exotic, caustic lyes and sulfur from the tanneries, congealed blood from the slaughterhouses, the great unwashed masses, spoiled and rotting food, etc., etc.. His mother, who suffered from "gout, syphilis and a touch of consumption," was otherwise healthy. She was not concerned when her labor began. She had delivered four other babies beneath her fish booth, all illegitimate, and disposed of all four, along with the bloody refuse of fish and entrails at the end of the market day. Amoral, she had no idea she was doing wrong, nor did she particularly care. Jean-Baptiste was fortunate. He cried lustily at birth, thus calling sufficient attention to himself, that his mother was forced to acknowledge him. The baby boy was allowed to live. Taken in by the church, he was placed in the care of a wet nurse. In the novel's wonderful first paragraph, Suskind introduces John-Baptiste. "In eighteenth-century France there lived a man who was one of the most gifted and abominable personages in an era that knew no lack of gifted and abominable personages. His name was Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, and if his name - in contrast to the names of other gifted abominations, de Sade's, for instance, or Saint-Just's, Fouche's, Bonaparte's, etc. - has been forgotten today, it is not because Grenouille fell short of those more famous blackguards when it came to arrogance, misanthropy, immorality, or, more succinctly, to wickedness, because his gifts and his sole ambition were restricted to a domain that leaves no traces in history: to the fleeting realm of scent." Grenouille had no scent of his own - absolutely no odor. This was a terrible handicap which caused all to shun him from infancy, without understanding why they avoided him. However, in a bizarre attempt to balance this aberration, nature provided Jean-Baptiste with the most acute sense of smell of any human that ever lived. At an early age, he was able to clearly distinguish differences in people with his eyes closed. He knew the different scents of wood, which he had to chop everyday, and even which of a variety of cows provided the milk he drank each morning. He spent his every waking hour identifying, ordering and classifying scent. This extraordinary olfactory gift, and his passion to pursue, capture and distill all scents, were to be the cause of his unforeseeable elevation in society, which rarely recognized one of his lowly class, and also, his ultimate downfall. Mr. Suskind chronicles here Grenouille's life - from his stint at the home of Madame Gaillard, who took in orphans like Jean-Baptiste, to his arduous apprenticeship with the tanner Grimal, his work with the famous perfumer Baldini, where he became a journeyman perfumer, and his wanderings throughout all Paris to learn the city's every smell. He aspired to become the omnipotent god of scent. He knew that the person "who ruled scent also ruled the hearts of men," for "scent was the brother of breath." Then came the day he discovered the single most exquisite scent of all, which he became obsessed to possess for his own. Grenouille had never known love or the slightest affection, not even a tender touch. No one educated him about right and wrong, and he had no inherent ability to distinguish between good and evil. From the earliest age, he did what was necessaey to survive. He was truly a man with no conscience - totally narcissistic. Morality played no part in his life - the pursuit of scent was all that gave him joy. It is to Patrick Suskind's credit that I felt such empathy for this creature. I don't excuse his behavior, but given his background and life, how else could he have been expected to turn out? "Perfume's" various settings are illustrated, and the characters depicted, as Jean-Baptiste would perceive them, through smell. The descriptions are so vivid, and the use of language so bountiful, that I found myself reading passages aloud at times, just to savor the words. The historic detail is meticulous and fascinating, as is the process of perfume making, much of which is described here. This is a compelling tale, that is surreal, almost otherworldly. It is also a chilling portrait of a psychopath with a mission. The conclusion is brilliant, unexpected and riveting. A marvelous read! JANA

the novel itself is great, so I bought it as a gift. But I don't understand why the book is in such poor condition. Most of the pages are not trimmed or have uneven edges. Three stars for the poor quality of the book

THIS BOOK!! 🌟 How can I assign any labels to such a one-of-a-kind read? Reading ‘Perfume’ by Patrick Süskind was such a magical experience that no single label can capture its essence. The story follows Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, a boy born in 18th-century France with a magical gift: an extraordinarily heightened sense of smell. From his difficult birth in the squalor of Paris to his rise and fall as a perfumer, Grenouille’s life is marked by his uncanny ability to discern and create scents. What seems like a miraculous talent quickly reveals itself to be more of a curse. Isolated and misunderstood, Grenouille’s obsession with capturing the perfect scent leads him down a dark and twisted path. His journey delves deep into themes of identity, obsession, and the human condition, making this book an immersive exploration of the senses and the psyche. Grenouille’s character is crafted to evoke a strong sense of disgust in the reader. His cold, calculating nature and his lack of empathy makes him a character that is easy to despise. However, despite his insufferable traits, I couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of sorrow and sadness for him. His actions, though horrific, seem detached, as if driven by an internal compulsion rather than a conscious desire for evil. This detachment evokes a tragic dimension to his character, highlighting the loneliness and the profound disconnection from humanity that define his existence. His inability to relate to others and his obsessive pursuit of creating the perfect scent underscore a deep, intrinsic void, making his story as pitiable as it is repellent. I know that I’ll be thinking of this book forever, which is why it’s a 5 🌟 read for me. Süskind’s writing is nothing short of genius. His talent for describing scents is so vivid and evocative that it feels as though you can actually smell them through the pages. Every fragrance, from the most sublime to the most repulsive, is brought to life with astonishing detail. Best. Book. Ever. Can’t wait to rewatch the film!!!

This was an amazing book. Plain and simple. The story flows like a Victor Hugo novel and it grabs you through the storytelling. But it dives into the thinking and the mindset of Jean-Baptisete Grenouille like the way Nabakov dives into the mind of Humbert in Lolita. It takes place in France pre-revolution and you feel you are in the period. Suskind puts you in the mindset of all the characters both rationally and emotionally. I loved how it uplifted and even exaggerated the sense of smell and smelling. The book has a total infatuation with smell, but it makes sense. It’s a sense we really never think about and Suskind was able to make it the star of the book. Most books describe beauty as a key characteristic. In other words, the eyes are the main sensor. But here, beauty is almost not even mentioned. In fact, the persons described were plain and some not even attractive. But smell defined the person. Even though the murders are gruesome, they are weirdly connected with Grenouille. I will not ruin the ending, but it was extremely original. I would have never guessed such as finale. This is a very colorful book and not for the light-hearted. But it is well written for a translated book. The characters and events in the story are so distinct, that I promise it will stay implanted in your memory, indefinitely.

My wife likes the book, that's all I need to know

First published in German in 1985, this intriguing novel has a unique perspective. Set in 18th century France, it's a weird and wonderful story about a murderer and his obsession. And it's a lot more. We first meet Jean-Baptiste Genouille when he is birthed and left to die in a filthy fish stall in the slums of Paris. Miraculously he survives but there is something different about this child. He had no body odor at all. This frightened people although they couldn't really understand why. But even though he had no smell of his own, his own sense of smell was so well developed that he could distinguish the nuances of the thousands of odors that surrounded him constantly. And, after a harsh apprenticeship at a tanner's, he meets a perfumer and begins to learn the art of perfume. One day, during his adolescence he was attracted to a very specific odor. It belonged to a young girl. This was his first murder. This is not a simple story however. Genouille is a strange person and is not capable of any emotion other than hate. He is portrayed sympathetically though and I soon began to understand his inner thought patterns and the way his mind worked. We then follow his life. He lives in a cave for seven years, in sensory depravation. Later a rich scientist tries to use him to demonstrate his own strange theories. Even later he finds employment as a perfumer. It is then that his obsession gets stronger and he develops a method where he can capture the essence of his murder victims in perfume. This story is more than just this plot though. It is a deeply analytical study of the social and economic mores of the time. And, most of all, it is a study of human behavior. This book can be read on many levels. The mood and the lessons in perfumery and history are outstanding. And the religious symbolism cannot go unnoticed. After a while though I got a little impatient with the story as it became more and more unrealistic. However, this is a fine book. And I know that it made me start to think about my own sense of smell in such a way that it has changed my perception of the world forever. I therefore I give "Perfume" a high recommendation.

Ever since teen is my most fav novel of all the times!! 🖤🖤🖤 “He possessed the power. He held it in his hand. A power stronger than the power of money or the power of terror or the power of death: the invincible power to command the love of mankind. There was only one thing that power could not do: it could not make him able to smell himself.” Perfume is a story about social isolation; it’s a story about not belonging in the world and the negative effects this can wrought on one’s mind. It’s also a story about obsession, a singular pursuit for perfection regardless of the costs. Consequences simply do not matter for Jean. He is completely detached from reality; he lives in his own world of scent, invisible to all others. Murder means nothing to him because he does not fully understand what he is murdering. He has no feelings. He cannot comprehend what it is to snuff out a life because he is not truly alive himself. He is dead inside and numb to all else in his differentness. “He realized that all his life he had been a nobody to everyone. What he now felt was the fear of his own oblivion. It was as though he did not exist.” “He had withdrawn solely for his own personal pleasure, only to be near to himself. No longer distracted by anything external, he basked in his own existence and found it splendid.” As such befalls misery for all those that meet him. His talent is remarkable and his motivation (when roused) is unstoppable. His singular pursuit for his goal is uncompromising and he will stop at nothing to achieve the most perfect of scents. The secret ingredient he has been looking for comes his way and he cannot rest until he has it. Innocence is a mighty hard thing to harvest, though it is the missing piece he has been looking for; it will give his perfume the power to inspire love: it will be irresistible. However, as the tale of Icarus taught us, those who fly too high will burn. As such the ending of this is simply perfection. The moment captures the heart of the book in one beautifully horrific frenzy of emotions and desire. The delivery is masterful. I knew it was coming (I’d seen the film many years previously) though I don’t think the film could every quite capture the intensity and euphoric nature of the situation. The only reason I have not given this five stars is because I found it rambled a little in places. I think the story could have been cut back and made tighter and more effective, though I loved the prose and the plot. Jean makes for an interesting character study for sure.

Dieses Buch wollte ich eigentlich schon lesen seit es in die Bestsellerlisten eingegangen ist. Zum Glück habe ich mir bis jetzt die Verfilmung nicht angesehen um mir die Spannung nicht zu nehmen, aber jetzt werde ich das sicher bei nächster Gelegenheit nachholen, diesmal aber in der deutschen Version, denn ein Werk eines deutschen Schriftstellers in der englischen Fassung zu lesen ist praktisch fast schon pervers aber das liegt daran dass ich sonst nie deutsche Autoren lese. Auch wenn der Untertitel "Die Geschichte eines Mörders lautet" handelt es sich hier keinesfalls um einen klassischen Krimi, denn der erste Mord lässt lange auf sich warten und bis zu den folgenden vergehen im Buch viele Jahre. Vielmehr wird die Entwicklung von Grenouille von seiner Geburt im Paris des 18. Jahrhunderts bis zu seinem ziemlich grausamen Tod erzählt. Sein Start ins Leben beginnt wenig erfreulich, erst will ihn seine Mutter gleich wieder erdrosseln und dann will ihn noch nicht einmal die Amme behalten. Auch in dem Waisenhaus, in dem er aufwächst gewinnt er keine Freunde weil er den anderen Kindern unheimlich ist, so nimmt er denn auch die erstbeste Gelegenheit eine Arbeitsstelle anzutreten wahr, um diesem tristen Dasein zu entrinnen. Das Schicksal verschlägt ihn bald zum erfolglosen Parfumeur Guiseppe Baldini, dem er Dank seiner Gabe Düfte praktisch aus dem Nichts zu kreieren zu großem Ansehen und Reichtum verhilft. Doch auch dieser nutzt ihn nur aus. Als er eines Tages darum bittet, aus Baldini's Diensten entlassen zu werden, wird er zusammen mit einem Hungerlohn auf den Weg geschickt, was Grenouille aber nichts ausmacht, denn Geld und Ruhm bedeuten ihm rein gar nichts, er ist auf der Suche nach dem ultimativen Parfum. Man kann gut nachvollziehen warum er immer menschenscheuer und letztendlich auch -verachtend wird. Er ist besessen von seiner Vorstellung und als er einem Mädchen begegnet, das einen für ihn absolut vollkommenen unwiderstehlichen Duft verströmt gibt es für ihn kein zurück mehr. Die Handlung verläuft linear, es gibt keine Seitenstränge oder Rückblenden, dadurch lässt sich das Werk zügig lesen. Als Urlaubslektüre würde ich "Das Parfüm" aufgrund der düsteren Grundstimmung nicht empfehlen, auch sind die wohldosierten Schockelemente wohl eher nichts für zartbesaitete Gemüter aber die Hauptthematik ist auf jeden Fall interessant - man erfährt vieles über die Herstellung von Parfums und man wird sich bewusst, dass der Geruchssinn, der in unserem Leben sonst eine eher untergeordnete Rolle spielt einen großen Einfluß auf unser Verhalten hat.

The book arrived with scratched covers and worn off edges. This was not what I was expecting when I bought a new book. The review is only regarding the condition of the book and excluding the content.

Olá! Venho falar com dificuldade desta obra, pois não creio ter a capacidade de usar as palavras de tal forma que façam jus a essa obra de arte MAGNÍFICA, FABULOSA, INCOMPARÁVEL. Que baste isso. Leia, é uma obra filosófica, que fala de maneira simples e clara sobre memória, sobre afetos e desafetos, sobre a mente humana e sobre a vida na terra e do que somos feitos. Quanto ao produto: chegou com leves riscos na capa, nada que incomode, a edição da capa é linda, as folhas são finas, cuidado para não rasgar! É o tipo de livro que se você encontrar: COMPRE-O!

Je l’ai acheté car c’est le livre préféré de Kurt Cobain. Lors d’un vieux interview il l’a donné envie de le lire. Et je ne regrette pas, histoire sombre et prenante. A lire.