Perfume: A Century of Scents

Apr 27, 2025 4:28 AM

Author:Lizzie Ostrom

The incredible stories of 100 perfumes from a whole century of scents.

Signature scents and now lost masterpieces; the visionaries who conceived them; the wild and wonderful campaigns that launched them; the women and men who wore them – every perfume has a tale to tell.

Join Lizzie Ostrom, dubbed ‘the Heston Blumenthal of perfume’ (Daily Mail), on an olfactory adventure as she explores the trends and crazes that have shaped the way we’ve spritzed.

Reviews

A wonderful, well-informed read... Charming and illuminating... I loved it… if you're thinking about Christmas presents I would buy it...

—— India Knight , Spectator

Lizzie Ostrom’s entertaining romp through a century of perfumes, ten per decade from 1900 to 1999… This book is as delectable an artefact as the product it describes… the perfect accompaniment to a bottle of J’Adore in your stocking.

—— Suzi Feay , Independent

A really enjoyable, fun book... a great stocking filler.

—— BBC Radio 2 Fact Not Fiction Book Club , The Arts Show with Claudia Winkleman

Beautifully written and illustrated with a sumptuous cover, this would make a perfect gift.

—— Cathy Rentzenbrink , Stylist

More social history than beauty book... the witty insights and fun, chatty style make this a lush treat or a gorgeous gift.

—— Alexandra Heminsley , The Debrief

The perfect non-fiction stocking filler for perfume aficionados and beauty lovers... One of the most gorgeous covers this Christmas... A Century of Scents will inform and entertain

—— Natalie Xenos , Culturefly

A joyous canter through important scents launched during each decade of the twentieth century... a fabulous read. It would also make an excellent present for a perfume or beauty fan.

—— Amanda Carr , The Women's Room

A series of engaging vignettes… acute social commentary and fascinating anecdotes.

—— Juanita Coulson , The Lady

Gloriously evocative.

—— Femail , Daily Mail

A giddying, gleeful whistlestop tour of the 20th century... Ostrom has the enthusiasm and mischievous twinkle of TV historian Lucy Worsley.

—— Rebecca Franks , We Love This Book

A book to savour... an education and a pleasure. I couldn’t recommend it for fragrance lovers more highly.

—— Jane Cunningham , British Beauty Blogger

Witty and elegant... works like an enticing spell.

—— Louise Gorrod , The Simple Things

An intriguing, intoxicating guide to all things perfume.

—— Book of the Week , New! magazine

This is a wonderful book... will appeal to readers of fashion biographies and fashion history and anyone will a love of scent.

—— Catherine Amey , Fashion Bookworm

Whether you're considering a career change, job change or figuring out what to do next, Jenny Blake's Pivot is the book you need. It's a comprehensive, practical, must-have guide to your pivot.

—— Susan RoAne, keynote speaker and author of HOW TO WORK A ROOM

A guide for people who want a career change but are too scared to really go for it

—— ELLE

Now you, too, can think like a start-up and fix your ailing life.

—— The Sunday Times

Revolutionary. It should be read by everyone

—— Sir Richard Thompson , Past President of the Royal College of Physicians and personal physician to HRH Queen Elizabeth

This book can help to clear up confusion about fats and oils, fads and fakes and gives a view on 'the epidemic of misinformation out there'

—— Desang Diabetes Magazine

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