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The Perfumer's Secret
PRE-ORDER THE LATEST, SWEEPING, BREATHTAKING AND HEARTBREAKING HISTORICAL FICTION FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE PARIS AFFAIR
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In order to save her family’s future, Stella Penhallam is forced to uncover the secrets of their past…
With her family’s perfumery in dire straits, Stella Penhallam needs a miracle. So, when her great-aunt’s journal from 1940s Paris lands on her desk, Stella realises that the missing pages could hold the answers she seeks.
In 1939, as war breaks out across Europe, Iris Penhallam is forced into an impossible situation, one that will cause her world to come crashing down.
Paris is no longer safe, and when her mentor’s family is at risk from Mussolini’s fascist thugs, Iris must find a way to save them. Using her role as a perfumer, she travels to Italy on the Orient Express under the guise of creating five exotic scents with her partner, Alessandro.
Five scents that are lost to the war along with the man she loves.
As Stella delves deeper into the past, the two lives of these women intertwine in the present and the five lost scents will forge the start of their future...
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PRAISE FOR THE PARIS AFFAIR:
‘A sweeping, and heartfelt tale of love and sacrifice’ Amanda Geard, author of The Moon Gate
‘This is a heart wrenching story of love, bravery, and impossible choices’ Louise Fein, author The London Bookshop Affair
'I loved every page of this gorgeous, transportive, and highly moving tale!’ Jenny Ashcroft, author of Beneath A Burning Sky
‘An epic tale of love and loss.’ Caroline Khoury, author of Still Unwritten
----
In order to save her family’s future, Stella Penhallam is forced to uncover the secrets of their past…
With her family’s perfumery in dire straits, Stella Penhallam needs a miracle. So, when her great-aunt’s journal from 1940s Paris lands on her desk, Stella realises that the missing pages could hold the answers she seeks.
In 1939, as war breaks out across Europe, Iris Penhallam is forced into an impossible situation, one that will cause her world to come crashing down.
Paris is no longer safe, and when her mentor’s family is at risk from Mussolini’s fascist thugs, Iris must find a way to save them. Using her role as a perfumer, she travels to Italy on the Orient Express under the guise of creating five exotic scents with her partner, Alessandro.
Five scents that are lost to the war along with the man she loves.
As Stella delves deeper into the past, the two lives of these women intertwine in the present and the five lost scents will forge the start of their future...
----
PRAISE FOR THE PARIS AFFAIR:
‘A sweeping, and heartfelt tale of love and sacrifice’ Amanda Geard, author of The Moon Gate
‘This is a heart wrenching story of love, bravery, and impossible choices’ Louise Fein, author The London Bookshop Affair
'I loved every page of this gorgeous, transportive, and highly moving tale!’ Jenny Ashcroft, author of Beneath A Burning Sky
‘An epic tale of love and loss.’ Caroline Khoury, author of Still Unwritten
448 pages, Paperback
Published July 3, 2025
8 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
Fiona Schneider
4 books12 followersI write epic historical love stories that stir the soul, transporting readers into the secrets and conflicts of World War Two.
Across dual timelines, each novel unfolds with heart, courage, and emotional depth, creating an immersive journey into the past and a passion that lingers long after the final page.
If you've ever held a treasured object in your hand or stood in a place steeped in history, you'll understand the pull of the past. It's as if voices from long ago whisper through time, their secrets waiting to be uncovered.
As a writer of dual timeline novels, I’m fascinated by the interplay between past and present: how a forgotten item or an old building can open a doorway to another era, connecting lives across time.
Set in Europe, my books feature unforgettable characters whose journey to find each other spans the war-torn decades of the last century and whose enduring love resonates into the present day.
THE PERFUMER'S SECRET and THE PARIS AFFAIR are both out now published by Penguin Michael Joseph.
I'm currently working on my third book and I can't wait to tell you about it soon.
Across dual timelines, each novel unfolds with heart, courage, and emotional depth, creating an immersive journey into the past and a passion that lingers long after the final page.
If you've ever held a treasured object in your hand or stood in a place steeped in history, you'll understand the pull of the past. It's as if voices from long ago whisper through time, their secrets waiting to be uncovered.
As a writer of dual timeline novels, I’m fascinated by the interplay between past and present: how a forgotten item or an old building can open a doorway to another era, connecting lives across time.
Set in Europe, my books feature unforgettable characters whose journey to find each other spans the war-torn decades of the last century and whose enduring love resonates into the present day.
THE PERFUMER'S SECRET and THE PARIS AFFAIR are both out now published by Penguin Michael Joseph.
I'm currently working on my third book and I can't wait to tell you about it soon.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 5, 2025
The Perfumer’s Secret captures the very essence of excellent historical fiction. Fiona Schneider seamlessly blends fact and fiction in her tale of two women, Iris and Stella, separated by decades, connected by blood. Schneider expertly leads us back into the past, to the traditional world of perfumery, where five unique scents have been lost to history. These scents link Iris and Stella, and are the key to unlocking a devastating secret.
The story of Iris, which takes place during the second world war, and Stella in the 1990s, had me gripped from the first page, despite my utter ignorance of fragrances.
With a top note of female independence, a heart note of enduring love, and a base note of hope in times of adversity, The Perfumer’s Secret is a wonderful, inspiring story that will stay with me for a long time.
The story of Iris, which takes place during the second world war, and Stella in the 1990s, had me gripped from the first page, despite my utter ignorance of fragrances.
With a top note of female independence, a heart note of enduring love, and a base note of hope in times of adversity, The Perfumer’s Secret is a wonderful, inspiring story that will stay with me for a long time.
May 8, 2025
Make me a fragrance that smells like love.” Christian Dior
What a mesmerising and beautiful World War II love story by Fiona Schneider! The quote above in the opening pages of the novel says it all! And the Prologue is jolting and sweeps us into a dramatic and heart-wrenching part of Iris’s story.
This dual timeline is powerful, supported by Fiona’s creative and thoughtful use of research. The Perfumer’s Secret is breathtaking on so many levels with its crisp details making the reading experience special and authentic. I truly felt transported to the picturesque settings and separate time periods. It was like stepping inside each character’s skin— seeing with their eyes and feeling every shift, flutter and surge of passion that burst through their frames and hearts. This emotionally charged story gripped me from start to finish, as I followed two generations of determined women who had more than their share of trials. And I marvelled at how their romantic experiences often mirrored each other.
This novel circles around the magic of perfume scents and how they reflect, enhance and remind us of intense sensory experiences. Scent is a powerful tool in unlocking memories and in sparking emotions. I enjoyed learning all the details of what goes into perfume composition: the layers and varied tones built in to create or imitate a feeling or experience. Some of the interesting terms mentioned were of the base notes, heart notes and top notes. (Quite musical in some aspects!) It was obvious from the excellent descriptions Fiona provided, that she had some experience in perfume making. Later we read about it in her Author notes at the back. I found the perfume creation parts of the story quite fascinating and I learned a great deal about the art. It was also beautiful how the scents expressed or reflected the relationship status between Iris and Alessandro and Stella and Bruno.
In the modern 1996 timeline, Stella’s father and grandfather have passed away and she is tasked with keeping the Penhallam perfume business running. But her family’s business and future are in danger of folding. Until a voice from the past reappears in the form of a journal, written by her estranged great aunt Iris. Once reading it, Stella sees it as a possible lifeline but there are some important pages missing with required information. Will she be able to gather the lost pieces she needs? One solution is to visit her elderly great-aunt. But Iris has been separated from the family since the war years and Stella does not know why. Will Iris talk to her and tell her what happened that caused the rift? And will she help Stella relaunch some special perfumes she once created? Taking this journey to Paris poses many challenges. Soon Stella will discover a path filled with road blocks and pot holes. Will her great-aunt share her past—and the information of her perfume recipes that Stella needs?
We are whisked away to the past to hear Iris’s story and learn what this woman had to contend with— before, during and after the war. It becomes obvious she was an amazing woman of courage and compassion with great perfume talents but hampered by the men in her life. And society’s outlook at the time was constrictive and damaging. I found her story both heartbreaking and invigorating—especially the latter when her past is resurrected to heal the present. Stella’s intervention in bringing about change in her great aunt’s life (and in her own) was admirable— for she not only needed to understand the choices that were made in the past but in uncovering the history of her family, it allowed her to go forward. Ironically Iris and Stella shared some similar experiences: particularly in the area of love interests. I love that the resolutions are beautifully woven together in the finale.
I was enthralled by the mystery, the search and eventual triumphs that these two women shared. I admired Stella’s strength and determination to uncover the truth and appreciated Iris’s dedication and loyalty to those she tried to help during the war—often at the expense of her own happiness. Love, is the major catalyst, in these women’s lives, with its prickly thorns and wild splendour. The men, their hearts chose, may not have fit the tidy perceptions of society, but despite the grief these women faced, out of the bitter ashes of betrayal, beauty rose and bloomed once again in their lives.
I adored The Perfumer’s Secret. I cared deeply about the characters and cheered them on, over the finish line. Because Stella and Iris have complex natures, their stories touched my heart in so many ways. The villain(s) are more than black and white sketches, too. And they certainly aroused some negative emotions in me with their annoying actions! As for the plot, it is brilliant with plenty of twists and surprises, plus the pacing is perfect. It just swept me away with its passion for love and perfume making. It is a sad story in places, full of regrets and coveted secrets, but it also is a positive one for it shines with forgiveness and healing revelations. The Perfumer’s Secret demonstrates meticulous research, exceptional craftmanship and expressive imagination. It is powerful, haunting and triumphant. Well done to Fiona Schneider for such a divine, unforgettable story. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Penguin Random House, Fiona Schneider and Netgalley for a review copy.
What a mesmerising and beautiful World War II love story by Fiona Schneider! The quote above in the opening pages of the novel says it all! And the Prologue is jolting and sweeps us into a dramatic and heart-wrenching part of Iris’s story.
This dual timeline is powerful, supported by Fiona’s creative and thoughtful use of research. The Perfumer’s Secret is breathtaking on so many levels with its crisp details making the reading experience special and authentic. I truly felt transported to the picturesque settings and separate time periods. It was like stepping inside each character’s skin— seeing with their eyes and feeling every shift, flutter and surge of passion that burst through their frames and hearts. This emotionally charged story gripped me from start to finish, as I followed two generations of determined women who had more than their share of trials. And I marvelled at how their romantic experiences often mirrored each other.
This novel circles around the magic of perfume scents and how they reflect, enhance and remind us of intense sensory experiences. Scent is a powerful tool in unlocking memories and in sparking emotions. I enjoyed learning all the details of what goes into perfume composition: the layers and varied tones built in to create or imitate a feeling or experience. Some of the interesting terms mentioned were of the base notes, heart notes and top notes. (Quite musical in some aspects!) It was obvious from the excellent descriptions Fiona provided, that she had some experience in perfume making. Later we read about it in her Author notes at the back. I found the perfume creation parts of the story quite fascinating and I learned a great deal about the art. It was also beautiful how the scents expressed or reflected the relationship status between Iris and Alessandro and Stella and Bruno.
In the modern 1996 timeline, Stella’s father and grandfather have passed away and she is tasked with keeping the Penhallam perfume business running. But her family’s business and future are in danger of folding. Until a voice from the past reappears in the form of a journal, written by her estranged great aunt Iris. Once reading it, Stella sees it as a possible lifeline but there are some important pages missing with required information. Will she be able to gather the lost pieces she needs? One solution is to visit her elderly great-aunt. But Iris has been separated from the family since the war years and Stella does not know why. Will Iris talk to her and tell her what happened that caused the rift? And will she help Stella relaunch some special perfumes she once created? Taking this journey to Paris poses many challenges. Soon Stella will discover a path filled with road blocks and pot holes. Will her great-aunt share her past—and the information of her perfume recipes that Stella needs?
We are whisked away to the past to hear Iris’s story and learn what this woman had to contend with— before, during and after the war. It becomes obvious she was an amazing woman of courage and compassion with great perfume talents but hampered by the men in her life. And society’s outlook at the time was constrictive and damaging. I found her story both heartbreaking and invigorating—especially the latter when her past is resurrected to heal the present. Stella’s intervention in bringing about change in her great aunt’s life (and in her own) was admirable— for she not only needed to understand the choices that were made in the past but in uncovering the history of her family, it allowed her to go forward. Ironically Iris and Stella shared some similar experiences: particularly in the area of love interests. I love that the resolutions are beautifully woven together in the finale.
I was enthralled by the mystery, the search and eventual triumphs that these two women shared. I admired Stella’s strength and determination to uncover the truth and appreciated Iris’s dedication and loyalty to those she tried to help during the war—often at the expense of her own happiness. Love, is the major catalyst, in these women’s lives, with its prickly thorns and wild splendour. The men, their hearts chose, may not have fit the tidy perceptions of society, but despite the grief these women faced, out of the bitter ashes of betrayal, beauty rose and bloomed once again in their lives.
I adored The Perfumer’s Secret. I cared deeply about the characters and cheered them on, over the finish line. Because Stella and Iris have complex natures, their stories touched my heart in so many ways. The villain(s) are more than black and white sketches, too. And they certainly aroused some negative emotions in me with their annoying actions! As for the plot, it is brilliant with plenty of twists and surprises, plus the pacing is perfect. It just swept me away with its passion for love and perfume making. It is a sad story in places, full of regrets and coveted secrets, but it also is a positive one for it shines with forgiveness and healing revelations. The Perfumer’s Secret demonstrates meticulous research, exceptional craftmanship and expressive imagination. It is powerful, haunting and triumphant. Well done to Fiona Schneider for such a divine, unforgettable story. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Penguin Random House, Fiona Schneider and Netgalley for a review copy.
July 17, 2025
I loved the author’s debut The Paris Affair, last year, so I couldn’t resist this second book. It’s also a dual timeline historical romance, but this time set in 1939 and 1996.
I liked Iris and Stella, both independent women, but in completely different eras. I enjoyed both storylines but the 1939 storyline had slightly more drama, because of Europe being on the brink of war, although the 1996 plot had it’s own twists and turns as well.
I loved discovering the family secrets, alongside Stella as the story progressed. I guessed some of the twists, but it didn’t matter as I was caught up in the story right from the start.
The romances between Iris and Alessandro in 1939, and Stella and Bruno in 1996, mirrored each other perfectly, especially as Stella and Bruno followed Iris’s journey. I loved the way this was written, as it added a real air of mystery to the story. Both romances were slow burns and complicated, but I enjoyed that as it made them feel more real.
Highly recommended if you enjoy dual timeline historical romances set in Europe. I can’t wait to see what the author writes next!
Thanks so much to Michael Joseph and NetGalley for my digital ARC.
Book 10 of 20 Books of Summer 2025
I liked Iris and Stella, both independent women, but in completely different eras. I enjoyed both storylines but the 1939 storyline had slightly more drama, because of Europe being on the brink of war, although the 1996 plot had it’s own twists and turns as well.
I loved discovering the family secrets, alongside Stella as the story progressed. I guessed some of the twists, but it didn’t matter as I was caught up in the story right from the start.
The romances between Iris and Alessandro in 1939, and Stella and Bruno in 1996, mirrored each other perfectly, especially as Stella and Bruno followed Iris’s journey. I loved the way this was written, as it added a real air of mystery to the story. Both romances were slow burns and complicated, but I enjoyed that as it made them feel more real.
Highly recommended if you enjoy dual timeline historical romances set in Europe. I can’t wait to see what the author writes next!
Thanks so much to Michael Joseph and NetGalley for my digital ARC.
Book 10 of 20 Books of Summer 2025
May 29, 2025
Fiona Schneider's book The Perfumer's Secret will be available on July 3.
It was a dual-timeline novel.
Stella is the present-day main female character. She is trying to keep her family's perfume business from closing.
Finding an old journal that belonged to her great-aunt, Iris, set her off on a rollercoaster of a journey.
The other timeline is based on the aunt, Iris, who lives in the dangerous world of 1939 Europe. While avoiding the enemy and fighting for justice, she started to develop feelings for a man she might never see again.
She promised to create five unique perfumes, each with its own memory and story, while simultaneously saving a family in Italy.
Although I haven't read Fiona before, I thought her writing was excellent. She created this dual timeline with ease, and I could picture myself as a character in both eras.
As the secrets from 1939 started to come out, I eagerly read more and more to the outcome. I was not expecting that ending, and sofa danced in giddiness.
This is the book for you if you enjoy WWII historical fiction and heroines on a mission.
It was a dual-timeline novel.
Stella is the present-day main female character. She is trying to keep her family's perfume business from closing.
Finding an old journal that belonged to her great-aunt, Iris, set her off on a rollercoaster of a journey.
The other timeline is based on the aunt, Iris, who lives in the dangerous world of 1939 Europe. While avoiding the enemy and fighting for justice, she started to develop feelings for a man she might never see again.
She promised to create five unique perfumes, each with its own memory and story, while simultaneously saving a family in Italy.
Although I haven't read Fiona before, I thought her writing was excellent. She created this dual timeline with ease, and I could picture myself as a character in both eras.
As the secrets from 1939 started to come out, I eagerly read more and more to the outcome. I was not expecting that ending, and sofa danced in giddiness.
This is the book for you if you enjoy WWII historical fiction and heroines on a mission.
July 25, 2025
3.75 🤩🤩
November 10, 2025
A great story but I get frustrated when these couples can't decide whether they love each other - or not!
February 5, 2026
While the dual storyline is well done, the similarities between the two are too much.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews