A Perfumer's Secret: A Novel

by Adria J. Cimino

The quest for a stolen perfume formula awakens passion, rivalry and family secrets in the fragrant flower fields of the South of France...

Perfumer Zoe Flore travels to Grasse, perfume capital of the world, to collect a formula: her inheritance from the family she never knew existed. The scent matches the one worn by her mother, who passed away when Zoe was a teenager. Zoe, competing to create a new fragrance for prestigious designer Cherone, believes this scent could win the contract—and lead her to the reason her mother fled Grasse for New York City. Before Zoe can discover the truth, the formula is stolen. Philippe Chevrefeuille, the enigmatic competitor who makes her heart race, is the only one who can help her find it. But Zoe is in no mood for romance, or at least that’s what she tries telling herself.

Philippe knows that winning the Cherone fragrance contract is the way out of his mid-level perfumery job. And he has the ambition and ego to make it happen. Until Zoe enters the picture. In an instant, he’s under her spell and losing his grip on his own creativity. If Philippe hopes to win, he must keep Zoe from finding the missing formula. But can he betray his own heart?

The pursuit transforms into a journey of self-discovery as each struggles to understand the complexities of love, the force of pride and the meaning of family.

Fans of Ella Carey's The House by the Lake and Michelle Gable's I'll See You in Paris will love this compelling journey into the heart of a family's secret.

Interview with the Author
What was your inspiration to write A Perfumer's Secret?
When I visited France after college, I "discovered" perfume. It seemed so glamorous and French, and the creation aspect fascinated me. To create perfume is to be an artist—and art has always inspired me.

The aspect of an inheritance and the fact that this story takes place in France make your novel sound similar to both A Paris Apartment and The Perfume Collector. What unique treasures will readers find in A Perfumer's Secret?
My novel is a trip to Provence, set to the rhythm of scent. Zoe, the main character, is so passionate about perfume that she sees everything through that lens, offering a fresh perspective of the world around her. In the novel, you'll also find plenty of flower fields, sidewalk cafés, romantic walks along the coast… And there is the excitement of competition, as Zoe tries to win a major fragrance contract.

Would you call this a France romance?
Yes, it's a South of France romance! There are actually a few love stories in this novel: mother-daughter relationships, first love, friendship. But the most prominent is the romance between Zoe and Philippe, two perfumers whose passion for perfume turns into passion for each other.

What do you hope readers will take away from A Perfumer's Secret?
I hope readers will rediscover scent and how just a whiff can transport us to a feeling, a place, a discovery. And I hope they will enjoy this little trip to Provence and the world of perfume!

If you like reading about passion, family secrets and romance set in France, you'll enjoy A Perfumer's Secret. Thanks for reading!

Categories
Women's Fiction
Contemporary Fiction
Literary Fiction

For readers interested in: perfume book, family secrets, france book, france fiction, france romance, french stories, french women.

Genres: Romance, France, Ebooks, Contemporary

294 pages, ebook

Published May 16, 2016

About the author

Adria J. Cimino is the author of Amazon Best-Selling novels Paris, Rue des Martyrs and Close to Destiny, as well as Paris Jungle and A Perfumer’s Secret.

She also co-founded boutique publishing house Velvet Morning Press. Prior to jumping into the publishing world full time, she spent more than a decade as a journalist at news organizations including The AP and Bloomberg News.

Adria writes about her real-life adventures at AdriaJCimino.com and on Twitter @Adria_in_Paris.

Reviews

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoe Flore is a perfumer vying for a contract with her employer’s client, Cherone, to produce a new and perfect scent. She had once been in love with senior perfumer, Drew Hudson, who broke her heart. She should have realized that a love affair with a colleague could only lead to competition between them. Now, they are both working on the same project.

Zoe receives a letter inviting her to the reading if her aunt’s will in Grasse France, the heart of perfume making country. Zoe has always wanted to know about her mother, Barbara Rose Flore-Fontaine, who grew up in a perfume family in Grasse. When Barbara found she was pregnant with Zoe, she left France and decided to raise her alone. Using her perfumer’s talents, she liked to create unique scents for Zoe, and thus, Zoe learned this skill from her mother. But Zoe was never told anything about her mother’s family in Grasse, nor even her father’s name.

Loulou Stanford is a young lady of 15 living with her family in Grasse. In order to earn money, she works in a the fields plucking flowers to be used in the making of perfumes. She is shocked to learn that her beloved Aunt Marie-Odile has just died and angry at her mother for not telling her sooner.

When Zoe arrives for the reading of her aunt’s will, she is surprised to have been left a special formula by her aunt. But when she finds her hotel room ransacked and the formula stolen, she begins a hunt to find the thief. She is told by the owner of the hotel that a man named Antoine Fontaine has stopped by asking for her. So, she is going to search out this person because he may have been the person who stole her formula.

Philippe Chevrefeuille is a perfumer for Grasse Fragrance International owned by Antoine Fontaine. Philippe is working hard to create a special perfume to win the Cherone competition and hoping to defeat Henri Daumas, a competitor. The winner will reportedly become Cherone’s in-house perfumer.

Philippe and Zoe meet up and are attracted to one another even though they are competitors. Throw into the mix that Philippe is engaged, and there are problems.

Loulou’s parents are separating which adds to her stress of losing her aunt.

Thus begins a race to see who can produce a formula capable of winning this coveted prize.

This was a fast-paced story that had many interesting plots that intertwined. The thing I didn’t care for was the constant anger expressed by the characters. This seemed to take away from the story. Perfume making should be a happier business.

Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well researched novel set in Grasse, the perfume capital of the south of France, but at the same time it is also a great family drama with mystery, suspense and emotions that have been bottled up and divided a family for too many years. It really drew me in and I was happy to give in and let myself be immersed within the pages.

Perfumer Zoe Flore travels to Grasse from New York to collect a perfume formula left to her in a will and is suddenly thrust into a family who she never knew existed and most of them knew little about her. There is suspicion from both sides and when someone steals the formula she doesn’t know who to trust, or why anyone else would want it so badly. Then there is her journey of discovery; maybe someone here can explain why her mother left Grasse for New York so suddenly?

Philippe, Zoe’s rival, is lovely; a slightly nerdy guy for whom work comes first. He is stuck in a routine until everything he thinks of as normal suddenly dissolves with one sniff of a mysterious perfume that possesses him and has the power to change his life forever. When Philippe and Zoe find themselves competing for a big contract, this just adds pressure and more drama.

I especially loved the character of Loulou; full of teenage hormonal anger that seeped within me as I was reading it. Things are not easy for Loulou, but her independent streak and zest for life never let her down.

The characters are strong and there is so much detail that gives them layers and depth, ensuring they stay with you long after you turn the final page. I loved that we came to know the unique scent of each character, the scents they smell, the scents they create and their funny quirks, as well as the colour of their hair and eyes.

Interwoven throughout the pages are passion, love, secrets and tears as well as the cutthroat business of the perfume industry. The descriptions of the scents that are all around in this novel really added an extra dimension to the storyline and made me determined to add Grasse to my list of ‘must visit soon’ places. I need to be among the jasmine fields and I would love to know what happened next for Zoe. I’m sure you’ll feel the same having read this book.

[Sally Coles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoe Flore is working in New York as a perfumer and is bidding for a career changing competition when she gets a letter from a solicitor in France telling her that her great aunt from a well known perfume family has died and left her a bequest of a formula of a perfume. Zoe's mother died when she was a teenager and although she knew she was from France she had no idea who her family were or even who her own father was.

Leaving immediately for France she goes to the solicitor and receives that bequest and realises that it is the perfume that her mother always wore when she was growing up and wants to enter it into the competition. The formula is stolen however but who knew about it and who would want it so much?

There are several suspects from her new family - what has Antoine got against her and her cousin Loulou a rebellious teenager who is desperate to get into the perfume business and what is Loulou's mother hiding? Then she meets Philippe and the sparks fly but he is her rival in the competition and is he just after her for her perfume secrets or does he really care?

A great book with plenty of intrigue and great characters - perfect for the beach

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like books that are easy to read but a bit different and was looking for a good relaxing read but not same-old - and this book definitely hit the mark. Good and interesting characters, interesting and different plot and beautifully evokes the world of perfumery in the South of France - it transported me from page one into this mysterious world and was very well researched. So for a good holiday read or to remind yourself of summer days when the nights are drawing in, I would definitely recommend this.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was engrossed in this book from start to finish. Great setting in Grasse, France and about a young woman missing her mother and not knowing her family in France. There's little bit of mystery while searching for a special scent and solving the mystery of who her father was.

[Vicki Lesage · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mesmerizing novel that takes you to the perfume fields in the south of France and unravels the truth behind long-standing family secrets and betrayals. An incredible, enjoyable read!

[R J Mckay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoe knows very little about her Mom’s past. Where she came from, who her is family is, everything about her is as elusive as the signature fragrance she wears. When Barbara Rose left France for New York City, she left her past behind. She closed the book on her past and began a new one on her future. But Barbara Rose died when Zoe was a teenager, leaving the young girl with no family. It is not until many years later that Zoe receives a letter from a lawyer about an inheritance from a Great-Aunt she didn’t know she had. Her mysterious Aunt has connections with one for the most famous perfume-making families in Grasse, France.
Like her Mother, Zoe is a perfumer, a creator of fragrances. But she has never been able to recreate her Mother’s personal scent. Her inheritance is a formula, for what Zoe believes must be her Mother’s fragrance. But before she has a chance to make it, it is stolen from her room. Now she must find out who took the formula, while at the same time trying to recreate it for a completion she hopes to win. As the search for the formula continues on, she meets Philippe Chevrefeuille, one of her competitors as well as a man she becomes involved with. Her mind tells her that falling in love is not possible, but her heart says something different.
Zoe frantically tries to discover the ingredients of the perfume as well as the ingredients of her Mother’s life. What she finally discovers is the essence of her Mother and the secret behind the creation of her scent.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this book. The setting, in the South of France, was fantastic - excellent description on the part of the author, I felt like I was there. I was intrigued by the thought of being a preferred perfumer and having a "nose" so good that you could distinguish things just by their scent. I love the thought of a competition of sorts and how Zoe had ascent of her own that was so distinctive and yet couldn't be captured. I think every woman wants to feel that way. It was a great book on rediscovering/establishing family ties, searching for an answer to a mysterious, provocative scent, and a trip of self discovery. I also felt that family experienced the different types of love and how they can relationships. I recommend this book to readers. It was excellent and I hated when it ended.

I'd like to thank the author/publisher/Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Jenny_acc · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved this book.read it in less than a day because i couldn't put it down.Easy read,nice story, lovely romance and likable characters.what else does one need?

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well-researched book, with a compelling plot containing fun twists and interesting characters. Not only did I enjoy the story, but also learning about the formulation of perfume. At times I longed to actually smell the fields, the perfumes, the scents that go into the perfumes and learn first-hand. I now wish for my own signature scent! The writing about perfume making was not pedantic at all, but well wrapped up in the plot and the personalities of the characters. Somehow I would have liked the character of both Zoe and her mother fleshed out just a tiny bit more, but won't knock of any points for that.
Disclaimer: I received this book through a Library Thing giveaway. Review was not required.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely book about relationships and perfume.

Zoe works as a perfumer. Her mother, Barbara Rose, was also in the business but died several years ago. She believes that she doesn't have any other family until she receives an inheritance from someone claiming to be her great-aunt. She goes to Grasse, where her mother was from and receives her inheritance and that is stolen the very next day. She tells herself she can use the formula for the perfume her mother always were to revise for an important contract she is working on.

Ms. Cimino takes Zoe on a journey while in Grasse that brings her closer to her mother. Along the way she discovers more about herself, she also finds love. Blended with the Zoe's story is side stories that deepen the connection to the characters.

[F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy from the LibraryThings for an honest review. This was such an interesting story about the world of perfumer's and Zoe's quest to find her mother's perfume secret. Throughout the story, so many people want to get a hold of the formula for their own purpose but for Zoe it is a reminder of her mother's journey. It was well written as the mystery unfolded regarding who stole the formula. Was it a family member, her new lover/competitor? I loved learning about the details that go into creating a fragrance. The ending answered all questions. Great book.

[Lucy Pollard-Gott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Perfumer’s Secret is richly evocative of a very special art, the art of composing fragrances, practiced well by only a very few, remarkable people. I’ve never read a story so thoroughly drenched in fragrances–one in which olfactory imagery was not merely added to color and deepen the reality of the fictional world but in which particular scents were themselves central to the plot and keys to character. Scents function as the engine of the plot, and characters are so sensitive to smells of all kinds in their environment that they truly earn the perfumers’ nickname for one of their best: a “nose,” un nez.

Being a nose is a gift, a natural endowment as valuable to their craft as winning the lottery would be to a person deep in debt. And that gift in turn puts them in debt to the world, as they seem to be driven from within to create the most meaningful, memorable scents, which others are then privileged to experience. But to most of us, these nuanced scents and their creators remain a mystery.

The book opens with a haunting prologue:

"Zoe Flore’s first creation was the scent of tears. A hot, salty fragrance that she concocted the day her mother died. A perfume built on oak moss, a touch of geranium and the real tears that tumbled into the mix. It was her fifteenth birthday, and from that moment on, she wore the scent as a suit of armor."

Zoe Flore, now 30, is one of these gifted people, a “nose,” who could transform her grief into a living epitaph for her mother, whose memory still infused her consciousness and her creative life. As Zoe works on new fragrance ideas for an important contract, it is her mother’s very particular gift for perfume concoction that occupies her dreams:

"she dreamed of her mother composing a fragrance, like the conductor of an orchestra. Barbara Rose sat before the rows of vials, each containing a different basic material. With careful, flowing movements, she went through the routine: selecting vials from the perfume organ, sniffing scent dips that she inserted into one tube and waved delicately over another, then noting each element on a piece of parchment paper. Zoe squinted, but she couldn’t read the words Barbara Rose had printed on the paper."

She awoke in sad frustration. When Zoe thought of her deepest yearnings, it was not, in fact, romantic love she wanted most but “the thrill, the excitement that came with creating an unusual fragrance of unprecedented complexity.”

Unexpectedly, the death of her great aunt Marie-Odile in France broke open the lingering sadness in her life and sent her on a quest to discover her mother’s secrets and her own identity. For one thing, she never knew that her mother, Barbara Rose Flore, was really Barbara Rose Flore-Fontaine, daughter to one of the great families of French perfume makers in the commune of Grasse. Her mother had fled this family, moved to America, and hidden this connection. Zoe was summoned to the reading of her great-aunt’s will where she would inherit a letter, something of incomparable value to her. The scent of the envelope itself told her its origin: it still carried the elusive, but unmistakable scent of Barbara Rose’s perfume, a fragrance she always wore and which Zoe would never forget. The enclosed letter detailed this perfume’s secret formula.

Such a secret was valuable to a host of people beside Zoe, and it only took a short time before the letter was stolen from Zoe’s belongings. Yet, it was still possible she could reconstruct it from memory with a little trial and error.

She decided to stay in France. Zoe knew her best chance of recreating her mother’s perfume was right there in Grasse, near her family’s home. But Zoe was not working in a vacuum. The family she suddenly acquired already had a heap of their own issues and complications. Some of them were very unhappy about her arrival on the scene, and others proved to be surprising allies. They were vying for the same perfume contract, and they desperately wanted to learn her mother’s secrets too. One competitor in particular, Philippe Chevrefeuille, was a particular problem for Zoe because he captivated her romantically in a way she thought she was immune to. Likewise, he was unnerved by her “scent of tears,” and waivered between wanting to market it as his own and wanting simply to drink it in and discover the reasons behind her sadness.

Besides coping with the confusing distraction of Philippe in her life, Zoe had to figure out who took her mother’s formula! Perhaps a greater mystery, what were the circumstances of her creating it in the first place? Why did she leave her family behind so completely when she seemed perfectly suited to the career she was born to?

I won’t hint at the answers to these mysteries, since Adria discloses the truth so deftly as she spins her tale. I can only imagine what it must be like to live so deeply immersed in one’s olfactory sense. Or rather, I can imagine it much better now, for having read A Perfumer’s Secret. For me, the title now has a double meaning: the family secret (or secrets) of various characters in this particular story, and the private world of the extraordinary creative people who make original perfumes.
For my full review, visit my blog The Fictional 100.
*Note*: I received an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review on The Book Musings

There are two things in this world that I love and that brings me so much joy in life and that is books and fragrance. This novel is a tale of family secrets, betrayal, love and a heavy dose of fragrant descriptions that will delight and awaken the senses even of a person who aren’t as passionate about fragrance as I am.

[Connie Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Perfumer's Secret" is a special type of book, as it includes the making of perfume, and how difficult the process may be, within it's pages. This book is about a twenty-something girl whose mother passed away, with secrets. She had left Grasse, France and her extended family when she was pregnant, and without letting the father know. Zoe never attempted to contact family to find out anything after her mother's passing. She did carry on the perfuming like her mother did. It wasn't until her great-aunt passed and that she was to attend the reading of the will that she left her job in NYC to head to Grasse, where her extended family resides.

This is part romance and part mystery that circles each other round and round. Everyone knows that Zoe inherited a perfume recipe that everyone wants and thinks they deserve. Someone steals the paper the inheritance was written on, and everyone else is still trying to get their hands on it. I love that the story never slows down, while a few separate romances try to take place. I also love that Zoe learns a lot about relatives she never even knew anything about. A lot happens in this fast paced story that keeps you wanting to turn page after page until it is done. It is certainly worth it, too.

Thank you to Adrian J. Camino and Library Thing for giving me an e-ARC of this book to read and give my honest review.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lit by the "burnt rose," "sunburst yellow," and sometimes "shrouded skies" over houses "painted with droplets of rose, violet and mustard," in Grasse, world perfume center in the south of France, a family drama plays out. A new novel from a writer who has the gift of character, scented with the likes of Proust's and Jane Austen's talent at giving us characters in families. Without long descriptions we really know the character, the layers of depth, the singular aspects, the personality of each one. We could sit down to a glass of wine and plate of French fries with any of them and just chat away, for we know them well enough. And plot? Yes, plot! Corporate competition and family struggle for dominance wrap around a mystery, the search for a perfume formula, a "juice," that will win all -- but is the formula a MacGuffin? Hard to put down this book, winding like the little roads of southern France, this is a thumping good story--and beautiful to boot. Do jot the names and link them in a family tree as you begin and go on, you'll be glad you did. Enjoy, and just wait for the fragrance of the ending!
I won this book in the March 2016 Library Thing early reviewers' drawing.

[Deana Dick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoe is a perfumer who is trying to get a contract with Cherone. She wants to make a new scent and one that is the best in the market. Seems she has taken on a big challenge when she discovers that she is in competition with Drew Hudson. They have a past that caused her heartache, so it will not be fun to compete against him.

When Zoe gets a letter requesting her presence at the reading of her aunt's will she is a bit surprised . She goes to France to see what her aunt has left her. What secret did her aunt leave her? Why has her hotel room been left in disarray ? What is stolen from her room? I loved the setting of the story and the intricate details of the perfume world. I could almost smell the different scents as the author does a great job of describing the various combinations to make a scent.

The characters are well developed and the intrigue keeps you guessing. The setting of the story is grand and makes the story come to life. Overall I enjoyed the story and was pleased with the ending. I hope to read more books from this very talented author.

I received a copy of this book from LibraryThing for an honest review.

[Aparna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as part if the member giveaway and loved it from the get go. Once I started reading the book, it was hard to put it down. i finished it in less than 2 days and wish there were sequels out there just so that I could read more about the world Adria has created.

The story follows Zoe's journey as she travels from New York to Grasse France to find out about a family she never knew. Zoe is shocked to find out that she is part of a perfumer's family and that she has been left a very special perfume formula by an aunt she never knew existed.

Zoe is elated to find out that the formula is for the perfume that her mom wore all her life. But then things take a twist when the formula gets stolen before she could memorise it.. now her only goal is to find the formula. .distracting her from the quest is an intense attraction to Phillipe who could turn out to be her biggest competitor.

On the whole this was a well
written story that I could now put down till the last page!!

[Cynthia Prosser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book a little bit different and that is a good thing. I really liked the setting of the world of perfume. It made me wish to visit the primary places in the book and made perfume sound so very wonderful and interesting as opposed to the awful miasma created by folks who marinate themselves in it. The story moved right along with the pace accelerating as the story came to a climax. I felt pulled along to the end. I think this is the first time I have actually thought about pacing in a book and how good pacing really adds to the story. The resolution of the mystery was surprising, although it is not a mystery story. The characters were likable or believable or maybe I should say just right for the parts the played in the story. It had a satisfactory ending without being sappy or too happily-ever-after. I would definitely recommend it.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was asked to review this by Librarything.com.

A beautifully written book, and loved the description of the setting in the South of France. The main character Zoe is shocked to find out that she is part of a perfumer's family as she travels from New York to Grasse France to find out about a family she never knew.

She has been left a special perfume by an aunt, but when this appears predictable the perfume is stolen and Zoe has to try to find this. Waiting in the wings is Phillipe her competitor.

Read this in one sitting could not put down.

A good summer read with a glass of vin rouge.

[Lifelong Reader - Lifelong Learner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great brain candy! I chose this book based on my current interest in perfumery, so it was fun to read descriptions of scents, development among characters who are perfumers, and a setting that is famous for the craft. The book was fun to read, although the lighthearted writing sometimes became repetitive. I very much enjoyed reading this novel!

[Gaele · Rating 4 out of 5]

AudioBook Review:
Stars: Overall 4 Narration 4 Story 4

A story laden with scent, family secrets, drama and deep-rooted mysteries are at the core of this tale about Zoe Flore, heading from the only life she’s known in New York to Grasse France, to collect a bequest from an aunt she never knew existed. Raised by her mother, and learning the art of scent-craft from her mother’s constant creations for her, Zoe is completely unaware of her French relations, and they of her. She’s decided that along with collecting this special formula that was left to her, she’s going to meet and discover her family in the area, and perhaps discover who her father is. All of this minor drama is taking place as a contest is announced for a major perfumery contract to become the Cherone in-house perfumer, which is bringing interest from perfume creators (noses), known and unknown, from around the world. Thinking this may be a good opportunity, Zoe’s plans for entering the contest center on the recipe left by her aunt. But, after a day of sightseeing and discovery, she returns to a ransacked hotel room, a missing formula, and the owner of the famed Grasse Fragrance International looking to meet with her.

While Zoe is searching for who (and why) her formula is stolen, she’s meeting other noses in the area as all are working toward an entry for the prize. Philippe works for Grasse Fragrance, but is determined to win the contest, defeat Henri Dumas and take his ‘rightful place’ as the lead, in house perfumer for Cherone. Meeting Zoe, there is a connection between Philippe and Zoe. It’s intriguing to see their different approaches to creation: Zoe is far more organic in her approach whereas Philippe is far more methodical and routine based in his approach. He’s caught a scent that captures his imagination, but his desire to recreate that scent and use it as his entry add yet another level of gamesmanship to his acquaintance with Zoe. When you add in Loulou – a fifteen year old girl who picks blossoms for the factories, and still reeling with the discovery of her aunt’s death and her parent’s marital difficulties: the fields are her escape and her hackles are up. As the story develops, more subplots unfold as Zoe’s hunt for the formula, answers to the questions about the family she never knew existed, and discover why her mother left France for New York, never mentioning home again – the twists, turns and tensions are palpable. With lovely description of sight and scent – the visual imagery is unique and cleverly poised for readers to grasp and imagine.

Narrated by Teri Schnaubelt, the story comes to life with her simple adjustments to character voices, allowing a distinct tone and delivery for each. This is a story laden with frustration, suspicions and questions that often are hidden beneath an angry and abrupt approach: all understandable reactions to the never-ending tangle of what-next that Zoe is facing, presented with appropriate emoting that kept both the content and context at the forefront.

I was provided an AudioBook copy of the title from Tantor Audio for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at I am, Indeed

[mk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the climate of the book - small town in France, death, love and a mystery to be solved. All of it intertwined with wonderful smells of perfumes, flowers, food and ocean. Zoe, the main character, did not only found the answers to all her questions but also found what she didn’t know she was looking for - peace and her true self.

This book is one of a kind, I just couldn’t help falling in love. I must re-read it one day and experience those unforgettable moments once again.

[Evelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the information about how the perfume industry to be very interesting, but overall, the characters in this book to be less so. Everyone seemed to be out for themselves and there was too much physical gratification and not enough true feeling, at least in the beginning. I loved that it was set in Provence, a place I would love to visit.

[Nena Ivon · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the preface to the book: "Zoe's Flore's first creation was the scent of tears. A hot, salty fragrance that she concocted the day her mother died. A perfume built on oak moss, a touch of geranium and the real tears that tumbled into the mix. It was her fifteenth birthday, and from that moment on, she wore the scent as a suit of armour."

I happen to love reading stories that educate, enlighten and engage me if they happen to be located in France (or England) so much the better. I found A Perfumer's Secret to fill all those needs. The heroine of the novel, Zoe Flore, at the beginning of our story is a rather unhappy, lost soul in the midst of creating a perfume formula, with her newly ex-boyfriend and business partner, to enter into a very important competition. This competition can be a huge step forward in the very competitive world of perfume. She receives a letter from Grasse, France, where most of the components of fragrance originate, telling her she has inherited a long lost fragrance formula from her Great Aunt. Without hesitation and much to the chagrin of her business partner, she immediately leaves for France. She encounters many characters along her way all of whom seem to want the formula for their own devices. In some places, it became a bit too much of a romance novel for me, but who doesn't like a touch of romance...that was short lived (of course, we are talking about fragrance so romance is very much a part of the entire story) and I found myself totally engaged with the journey and the explanation of how perfume is made, the huge costs involved not only dollars but in people's lives and careers. I am aware of what a "nose" is in the business and how few people have it but to have it detailed in such an interesting manner that it was a delight to read. Zoe's own fragrance is truly fantasy but how divine and how it drives the story!

[Cynthia (cynsfictionaddiction) · Rating 3 out of 5]

“A Perfumer’s Secret” by Adria Cimino is a coming-of-age novel about young professional Zoe Flore who is forced to face her past and a family she never knew existed. Summoned to a small town in southern France for an inheritance from a family member Zoe had never heard of, she embarks on a journey to figure out who her parents were and why her mother never told her about where she came from.

Adria Cimino does a good job depicting the details of a professional perfumer’s life, making the lifestyle come to life in a realistic way, while balancing the intricacies of a competitive family unearthing long-kept secrets. While somewhat predictable, the story was entertaining and an interesting look at the life of a perfumer. Being a perfumer isn’t an occupation that is widely discussed or known about so this was a very fascinating look behind-the-scenes of a profession generally overlooked.

“A Perfumer’s Secret” did a great job of exploring what it’s like to be a perfumer and come from a family all in the same profession. I’m a big fan of novels that take place in small French towns, but this one also gave cause to look up the perfume industry and see how it really works. Although slightly predictable, “A Perfumer’s Secret” is a fun, easy read – a perfect addition to the summer beach bag!

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[Helen - Great Reads & Tea Leaves · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first thing that attracted me to this book was the luscious cover! Gorgeous. Overall it proved to be a well written mystery, all revolving around the stolen formula for a fragrance. All Zoe has is the memories of her mother and one particular fragrance that she associates with her. It was very interesting to learn about the details that go into creating a fragrance - the whole corporate competition, combined with family infighting surrounding the creation of a winning fragrance - was new to me and noteworthy. Likewise, the descriptions of scents that are scattered all over the book, adds to the whole scentual experience; and finally, the setting in the south of France, is the final aspect that, all in all, provides for a pleasurable escape.

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[iamnotabookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably one of the best stories I have ever read. Just like smelling your favorite scent or perfume, this story will make you heady with all the smells and descriptions that are so vivid. It was like being there myself in Grasse, France, testing for myself the different scent samples. It was a very delightful experience.

Have you ever smelled something and remembered a whole story from that smell alone? This story is like that. A single scent, very vivid that it will bombard you with varying emotions that they will appear so tangible that you can taste them. From that single aroma, it's like going through the emotions the perfumer has gone through while creating that scent. You will smell and taste all the heartaches and triumphs with just that one long whiff. Reading this story is like that. Yes, you will definitely discover the perfumer's secret.

One of the characters here that I don't really like but stood out not in a good way is Philippe. He's this type of person who knows that what he's doing or planning is not right but he still chose to do it. So unbelievable, right? Good thing, in the end, he chose to do the right thing. Finally, he actually has a conscience. That saved his character there but still, I did not like him. What bothers me most about his character was he was not actually the most notable one. But his refusal to stand up was a major red mark that makes him a big eye sore.

This story just elicited and demanded a lot of emotions from me. My heart bleeds with the same hurt caused by the heartaches and broken hearts in this story. I was upset and discouraged when Zoe's efforts turned out to be another false lead. But I also rejoiced when she finally found the secret, her secret. This was such a roller coaster ride of emotions. I felt like my heart was bruised but the whole ride was so exhilarating that I can't help but want to take that roller coaster ride over again.

This is a very sweet and aromatic story that will take your emotions up and down. The descriptions are so rich and detailed that you will feel like walking the streets of Grasse and agree that being a perfumer is a very grand profession. I feel like wanting to be one because of this story. This profession is so grandiose and filled with so much passion that you're either in it with everything you've got or better not at all. It's a job that demands your whole being and a passion that's so unyielding. It's like a job that will take you even beyond yourself, beyond your boundaries, and beyond your strictly self-imposed restrictions. Zoe's passion for this science and and art is so overpowering that I can actually touch it. It's this overflowing passion that will drive you to fall in love with her character and this story. The author perfectly captured that.

So yes, this is definitely 5/5 elegant bottles of the most exquisite and expensive perfumes. It's so intoxicating. I think I sat dazed minutes after reading this book. I was so fascinated that I think I was still imagining the scents hours after the story was over. This story will stay with you, just like the scents here that will seem to haunt you. Ah, even while writing this review, I find myself going back and recalling the smells and the feeling associated and involved in creating a specific and unique perfume. I want to relive the feeling I had while reading this story and how this somehow squeezed my heart and made it want to live life with so much passion for just life itself. So it's true, the greatest emotions can always create a powerful scent. Just ask a perfumer.

Men are like perfume. They envelope us with intensity, and then slowly but surely, they drift away.
- Adria J. Cimino, A Perfumer's Secret -

Thank you again librarything.com and Adria J. Cimino for the review copy.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received A Perfumer's Secret as part of a Goodreads giveaway.

Zoe Flore, a budding American perfumer, receives an inheritance from her dead mother's French family--the formula to a long-forgotten scent that could win her a prestigious contract. On a whim, she travels to Grasse to meet the family she never knew and investigate the circumstances around her own conception and birth--including the identity of her own father. There she meets Loulou, her young cousin in the throes of teenage angst, Philippe, a rival perfumer, and her uncle Antoine, who vigilantly guards the family's secrets. While in Grasse, Zoe must make sense of her origins while also securing her future, both professional and personal.

This was a really lovely story about the importance of family and where you come from, while also forging your own path forward. Cimino clearly did some research on the perfume industry, as the intensity of its players really rang true to me. While I enjoyed the plot and the characters immensely, the narrative style was a bit reserved--it felt almost as if the book was originally written in another language and was translated into English, because the prose seemed a bit too polished and formal, which, while beautiful to read, made it difficult to really engage with the storyline. That said, a lovely effort by Cimino, whose work I look forward to reading more of.

[Carol Boyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was immediately intrigued with this book from the title, it held such wonderful images and this story hit all of them in its pages. I literally love old perfumes and have even bought one that is no longer in circulation because I remembered the scent. Much to my dismay only a part of it was familiar just like the search in the story for the perfect formula that Zoe is trying to replicate. Zoe has inherited a formula from an aunt in France whom she never knew existed. Zoe is a perfumer in NYC and wants to win the elite Cherone contract. She is on a mission to find the formula, flies to France where she finds layers of family secrets, lies and betrayals among cousins. The formula has been stolen. In France she meets Phillipe, a handsome perfumer that she learns is a competitor, also seeking a winning formula for the same contest. I enjoyed reading about the different trials of scents and could even imagine smelling them from the rich descriptions and research this author provides of the beautiful flower fields of France. I truly was engrossed in this book, the ending I imagined was not the one that was, it was even more than I dreamed of.