The Perfect Scent
Chandler Burr
Henry Holt and Co.
<p></p><p>From the <i>New York Times </i>perfume critic, a stylish, fascinating, unprecedented insider's view of an industry and its charismatic characters</p><p> </p><p>No journalist has ever been allowed into the ultrasecretive, highly pressured process of originating a perfume. But Chandler Burr, the <i>New York Times </i>perfume critic, spent a year behind the scenes observing the creation of two major fragrances. Now, writing with wit and elegance, he juxtaposes the stories of the perfumes—one created by a Frenchman in Paris for an exclusive luxury-goods house, the other made in New York by actress Sarah Jessica Parker and Coty, Inc., a giant international corporation. We follow Coty's mating of star power to the marketing of perfume, watching <i>Sex and the City</i>'s Parker heading a hugely expensive campaign to launch a scent into the overcrowded celebrity market. Will she match the success of Jennifer Lopez? Does she have the international fan base to drive worldwide...</p>