Perfumes - The Guide by Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez

Read reviews about Perfumes - The Guide by Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez

Post a review

Add to Wishlist

Perfumes - The Guide
by Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez

The Scoop
Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez are experts in the world of scent. Turin, a renowned scientist, and Sanchez, a longtime perfume critic, have spent years sniffing the world's most elegant and beautiful--as well as some truly terrible--perfumes. In Perfumes: The Guide, they combine their talents and experience to review more than twelve hundred fragrances, separating the divine from the good from the monumentally awful. Through witty, irreverent, and illuminating prose, the reviews in Perfumes not only provide consumers with an essential guide to shopping for fragrance, but also make for a unique reading experience.
Perfumes features introductions to women's and men's fragrances and an informative "frequently asked questions" section including:

• What is the difference between eau de toilette and perfume?
• How long can I keep perfume before it goes bad?
• What's better: splash bottles or spray atomizers?

• What are perfumes made of?
• Should I change my fragrance each season?

Perfumes: The Guide is an authoritative, one-of-a-kind book that will do for fragrance what Robert Parker's books have done for wine. Beautifully designed and elegantly illustrated, this book will be the perfect gift for collectors and anyone who's ever had an interest in the fascinating subject of perfume.

		$28

If you like Perfumes - The Guide you may also like...


Couto Toothpaste - Travel Size 30g


Amouage Reflection Man


By Kilian Rose Oud


Chandler Burr The Perfect Scent


By Kilian Liaisons Dangereuses


Serge Lutens Jeux de Peau

Here's what other people are saying about Perfumes - The Guide...

Post a review >>

I completely agree with the points made in the previous positive reviews. 1) I am bored to tears by most descriptions of perfumes. 2) It is a guide, written with love and humor. 3) It is supposed to be opinionated and I believe the authors clearly encourage readers to go out and find their own opinions. The writing is witty and fun. For me the focus on the emotional impact of the scent as well as the impression it gives off (ditzy, sad, etc) helped me connect to my own feelings about scents I love. For me buying a perfume is about an emotional connection, not a science experiment. And please, all that mid-notes stuff is just boring. Reading perfume blogs perhaps I am unique. I drink wine because I like the way it tastes and I don't give a hoot about discussing tannins either. For me, perfume reviews are similar, either overly romatic ad copy or dissections of notes etc. I am intellectually curious enough to try reading all those reviews - just saying in the end they rarely leave me with a desire to buy or wear anything as a result. This Guide however, combined with The Posh Peasant and Lucky Scent (bless you good people) have expanded my perfume wardrobe with savvy investments and few misses. Yes, there is nostalgia here but it helped me discover Shalimar - whose popularity predated my birth and I had avoided as a result. But seriously, this is a sexy and sophisticated scent and better than half the celebrity crap out there now. On the other hand, I did not find this guide snobby. They give nods to the solid competence of Estee Lauder and many of the perfumes they rank as 3 or better are inexpensive, relatively speaking. Lolita Lempecka, Bulgari pour femme, etc. They raved about Tommy Girl for heaven's sake. So my conclusion about this is - if you are already a perfume buff and spend your time blogging your opinions this will give you something to talk about. If you are new to perfumery and want funny, smart, knowing friends to go shopping with you get this book. OR if you know someone else interested in learning more, buy them this book, send a link to Lucky Scent and The Posh Peasant and share the love. I have done exactly this for several girlfriends and my sister, who shares my passion for smelling really great. (If only I could talk her out of this patchouli obsession).

Rating:

Anonymous -Marketing from Minneapolis

p.s. Both Baldessarini for Men and Knize 10 are reviewed in the Fall 2008 update of The Guide, which (could?) be downloaded off the Internet. (As is/was the Fall 2009 update.)

Rating:

Traveling One -physicist from Grosse Pointe Park, MI

Aesthetically informative, wonderfully witty, written for fun, with biting humor, superb one-line put-downs and zingers. Only most dour persons, the autistic, the seriously depressed or the intellectually plodding and dull/dead won't appreciate it. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. LT & TS remind us that perfumery is an art and their book is about appreciating its objects: man-mixed and man-made high-end (= not "functional" as, e.g., in fabric softener) scents. I do not need a chemical analysis of the pigments to appreciate a painting by any great artist from Giotto to Picasso! Such an analyis (or any other of the same sort, say a psychological study of the artist, or a historical study of the society in which the artists lived, etc.) serves only extra-aesthetic purposes (e.g., to establish the authenticity of a paining). Similarly, I don't need the litany of top notes, mid notes or base notes (that is redundantly available on legions of Internet prefume blog or vendor sites) to appreciate a fragrance. That said, the book is far from perfect. Nor is it neutral, or even self-consistent from one version (French, ca. 1992) to another (English, 2007). For example, Chanel Pour Monsieur Concentrée is fawned over in the French version, while dissed in the English version. (Has it changed THAT much over 15 years? I doubt...) This leaves one wondering: what axes do they have to grind, what petty scores do they have to settle? Nor are they infallable in their judgements, as is evident by the occasional disagreement between LT's and TS's star ratings, and also by their different perceptions of the same fragrance (e.g., J-P Gaultier's Le Male). I give two examples here where my nose disagrees with theirs. (1) L'Instant for Men by Guerlain, smells really greasy and oily to me, and stinking as if you had spilled sunflower or corn oil over your clothes, Thus, it is not deserving 4 stars in my book, but only 2 at most. (2) Hugo Boss' Baldessarini for Men crash-lands in a screechy chemical dry-down on my skin, also worthy of no more than 2 stars. None of that damascone-damascene techno-babble, it is sheer chemical STENCH and a gratting one at that! What a disappointment, after the excelent dry-down on the test strip. The latter example makes another point: how many of the fragrances did they test on their own epidemis? Especially those rated 1 and 2 stars? Still, many, many of their descriptions are "spot-on" as the English would say: Equipage, Ambre Sultan, L'air de Rien, Guerlain's Vetiver, Etro's Vétiver, Racine, Déclaration for Men, Must for Men, Eau de Cartier, Cabaret for Women, Tocade, Knize 10, Yatagan, Kouros, Azzaro for Men, Monsieur de Givenchy, Bulgari's Eau de Thé Vert, Invasion Barbare, Bandit, to name only a few. I only wish they had covered perfumes from more non-French designers' fragrances (Spanish, Italian, American, English, German?), both the good ones and those to avoid... BUY THIS BOOK and have fun while you educate yourself about fragrances. I don't remember hooting with laughter when reading a book, as much as I did with "Perfume - The Guide," in a long-long time... It is not THE Bible, it is only a GUIDE, as the authors admit themselves, meant to tech you the lay of the land. (So you need to watch yourself for the stones on the road, in order not to stumble and ALWAYS test - on paper first, then on your skin). Bravo, well-done!

Rating:

Traveling One -physicts, with a Ph.D., just like Dr. Turin from Grosse Pointe Park, MI

It is fun to read, but I didn't find the reviews very helpful in a sense that they were not descriptive. Perhaps they didn't have space; however, I would have found an inclusion of the actual notes of fragrances beneficial. I agree that I've read more insightful reviews on the web by non-professionals. Some of the language was sexist.

Rating:

Anonymous - from

This is certainly NOT a guide. You'll find more helpfull reviews - if that is what you're looking for - on Perfume Web Blogs.

Rating:

Anonymous - from Cary, NC

The best perfume book ever written. Also seek out the writings of Edmond Roudnitska, and Michael Edwards' Perfume Legends.

Rating:

Nigel Resnir -Photographer from Seattle

If you want a booster book, check out Fabulous Fragrances II. If you want to read something that will inspire you to think, laugh out out, and get righteously offended, read The Guide. No book of REVIEWS is going to be subjective, but it might inspire some serious sampling. Besides, any book that inspires it's detractors to post this much hand-wringing anger is worth reading, don't you think?

Rating:

MG - from IL

I don't really like this book. I was looking forward to getting it but it was quite a disappointment. Their evaluations seemed ridiculous. Lets face it, vintage perfumes are nice and they paved the way for a lot of new great ones but they aren't the only ones that deserve 5 stars and many are simply unwearable now. The fact is, most of those perfumes smell "granny" to everyone else so while I might appreciate it I dont necessarily want to reach for it. They gave Estee lauder Miracle, Knowing and Beyond Paradise 5 stars but Musc Ravageur, People of the Labyrinths only 3??? Come on-It does just seem like snobby opinions more than actual appreciation for fragrances that may not be their taste. You might not like Keiko Mecheri Loukhoum or Serge Lutens Rahat Loukhoum but come on-these were firsts of their kind and some people (me for instance) love them. I know you cant please everyone but I seriously disagreed with most of their observations. Ive been obsessed with perfume for a long time so I feel like my absolute favorites must have some substance but they pretty much berated all my favs. Sorry-just not a fan....but lets face it. Its still fun to look at all the perfumes and reviews the first time around.

Rating:

Anonymous - from

This book is a joke. And one in bad taste, at that. If you get stranded in an airport, and you desperately need something to help you kill some time, reach for this "book." It makes trashy supermarket magazines sound like literary masterpieces, by comparison. This book is just a compilation of petty, catty, nothing-but-personal opinions on different brands of perfume. Mr. Turin is embarrassingly unprofessional and silly in his "evaluation" of scents, which he bases strictly on his personal preference, rather than on the scent's merit, or lack thereof. He sounds like a catty teenager, badmouthing her rival on the cheerleaders team. As someone very cleverly put it in another website, "(After reading this book) I felt like I'd had an awkward dinner with someone I'd once respected, during which I watched them get drunk, vicious and gossipy, and left feeling disgusted." And Ms. Sanchez is only marginally better. One star is too good for this thing.

Rating:

Anonymous - from

I was delighted to discover this book, I knew really good stuff was out there from my years of living in London and frequent trips tp France, but since living here in america I had settled into accepting what was readily available at the local department stores. Since discovering this book, I have been on a quest for my "signature scent " ever since. I found myself to be almost in total agreement with Mr. Turin, but the complete oposite with ms. sanchez. I discovered this website because of the book and for that I am really greatful. I am also slowly going broke, but that's another story. I don't think the book was intended as a serious or scientific attempt, at all, more a lighthearted romp, and rant about a subject close to both their hearts. However I refer to the book constantly and have bought many perfumes from Lucky based on the strength of what Mr. Turin has said. I have yet to be dissapointed.

Rating:

The Evil Queen of Numbers -N/A from Portland

Great fun to read. I am a complete perfume addict and I was gratified to see that almost all of the scents I have loved over the years were also great favorites of the authors. I did feel that Mr. Turin brought a much more scientific approach to his reviews than his co-author. Understandable because that is his work, but this often caused his opinions to veer toward the overly analyzed. His co-author(she must also be his partner if I am guessing correctly) tended toward the flip and sometimes jaundiced view of certain types of women ..beige blondes..ditzy high school girls that indicated she might be a little self satisfied about how unique she fancies herself. Those two thoughts aside..I really did enjoy it and have used it as a point of reference for future purchases. For a woman who is not wealthy and has spent most of her working years in the public sector I have to carefully choose my purchases. The book has been great fun to refer to as I read it and re-read it . To me perfume is magic and all that it entails,so I am pleased to see that this is obviously also the case with the writers of this book. The reviews about de Nicolai perfumes led me to order some samples. They are so beautiful and I hope to order several of them soon. I read the reviews on your site and spend a lot of time daydreaming....I confess that as a woman who is not by nature envious I always feel a twinge when someone mentions their huge perfume collection. I tease my husband that were we ever to become vastly rich (not likely with our type of work) that after making sure that some of the educational woes we experience each day are somehow improved upon...I would sit down and order one of each of everything on your beautiful and excellently written site. Because I have witnessed the amazing impact of a lovely scent when sprayed on a young person who feels they have no future ...I would save some favorites for myself and use the rest everyday in my work and volunteer work..just to spray on my students or the women I work with at "Dress for Success" to witness the look of happiness that is inevitable when that bit of magic is added.(I have a wonderful story about your perfume samples I will write to you some day). Yikes! I always get carried away when it comes to perfume...so suffice it to say that I found the book interesting and a very good guide. What I find even more interesting and a better guide is your customer reviews and the wonderful descriptions of the perfumes by your obviously very talented staff.

Rating:

Michelle Smith -teacher/trainer for a communications company from Indianapolis

It is ok. It is not definitely a guide but rather like a cosmopolitan magazine opinion about perfumes. Sometimes funny, sometimes a pure non-sense, sometimes I agreed with comments. It is easy to read so if you want some light reading about perfume, this is it. Just dont take it seriously cause it is not serious material.

Rating:

Anonymous - me - from

I would have to disagree; I LOVED this book! It is so deliciously written, that even when you don't agree with most of its ratings (my favorites tend to hover around 3-stars, with the exception if Givenchy's Insense which we both agree is a 5-star), you'd have to appreciate it. They certainly have an old-school Guerlain/Chanel bias, but the writing is superb! It re-inflamed my passion for perfume and opened up a whole world of "boutique" perfumery I didn't know of (such as this site). And even though I still think most of this "boutique" perfumery is simply over-priced and not worth its money, I am glad to know of it.

Rating:

arch.memory - from Philadelphia

Awful book, waste of money to read the talentless dribble of Miss S and the self indulgent sermons of Mr. T. No real content, only personal vendettas and kiss a**

Rating:

Anonymous - from

Free Fragrance Samples with Fragrance Purchase*

Toll Free: (US) : 866 931-8297

Brand Directory

Top Picks

Luckyscent Facebook

International: +1 323 931-8297

Shipping Rates and Info

Privacy and Security

Recommend a Fragrance

Unsubscribe

Store Location & Hours

Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Paypal

* Free fragrance samples not included with "sample only" orders click here for details

©2012 Lucky Scent Inc. All Rights Reserved. All images and copy are a registered
trademark and property of Lucky Scent Inc.Privacy & Security Policy

Perfumes - The Guideby Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez

Perfumes - The Guide
by Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez