The Emperor of Scent

Chandler Burr

THE best book I have read in years, and I do not relish nonfiction, escape—lover that I am. The writing style is so reader friendly that I absorbed wads of scientific information as if it was chocolate coated. Again and again I had to turn to the inside of the book jacket and stare at the photo of author, Chandler Burr, amazed that I was enjoying his book so much. Was he that good a writer or what?

The Emperor of Scent is about three things: a radical theory of the sense of smell; the biography of Luca Turin, the wild man scientist who created it; and, to a certain extent, it is about perfume. Not subjects I would normally be drawn to. I mean, you either like the smell of something or you don't, who cares about anything in between? In my whole life I have gone into rapture over only one or two perfumes and it never occurred to me that scent and its physiological basis could make riveting reading. But in Chandler Burr's hands that's exactly what it is.

I found myself wanting to meet the scientist and, indeed, artist, Luca Turin, although I think he may be an exciting but exhausting friend. Page by page, however, such a person makes extremely interesting reading.

So empathetic and skillful is the author, and so energetic and intelligent are Turin's arguments, that I soon bought into his theory of scent. What was wrong with those other cement footed scientists? Why didn't they see? Luca's theory feels right. My mind likes it. I had to keep reminding myself to think and not be entirely swept along in delight with the writing and character. It was a nagging bother to sort out whether Luca's theory might or might not be right, so honestly, I simply went with the flow and enjoyed the book immensely. (I told you, I am an escape reader.)

Agree with Luca Turin's theory or not, The Emperor of Scent is that rara avisa really good book.

Review by Holy Moly.