Perfume

by Patrick Süskind

First published 1985

In 18th-century France, the gifted Jean-Baptiste Grenouille is born with an extraordinary sense of smell. Apprenticed to a perfumer, he becomes obsessed with capturing the scent of a virgin. His ruthless quest drives him to commit unspeakable acts, as he seeks to create the perfect, divine fragrance. A gripping psychological thriller about the dark depths of human desire.

Genres: fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, crime, 19th-century, dark

Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking

Tropes: dark-protagonist, obsession

Setting: France

Period: 18th century, 19th century, 20th century

255 pages · Paperback · Vintage

Content warnings: murder, violence

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