We rarely call a book an artifact of shelf-emanated importance—but if ever there were a time, this would be it! Because if the world of perfume had its own monarchy, there is no doubt that Frédéric Malle (b. 1962) would be its crown prince. Malle was born into the world of fragrance—his grandfather, Serge Heftler, founded Dior Parfums—so it was only natural that, in 2000, he launched his own label: Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle. 

But instead of following the path laid out before him, Malle rejected everything he had ever been taught about the perfume industry and instead, he revolutionized it. Rather than adhering to the constraints of mass-market perfumery, he championed the artistry of scent. How exactly did he do it? Malle has always referred to his role as that of a publisher—because, at his core, he tells stories. But instead of words, his narratives emerge from scent. He invites the best contemporary perfumers and gives them the greatest possible freedom—whether that means offering his partners an unlimited selection of ingredients or as much time as needed to make a fragrance without compromise.

Because what really goes into making a fragrance? We know that real mysteries cannot be solved, but they can be turned into better mysteries… Find out what happens behind closed doors in the world of perfumery through the stories of Pierre Bourdon, Jean-Claude Ellena, Edouard Fléchier, Olivia Giacobetti, Dominique Ropion, Maurice Roucel, Edmond Roudnitska, Michel Roudnitska, and Ralf Schwieger...