Ta-dah! Alice du Parcq’s book, ‘The Philosophy of Perfume’, has been launched. (And in some style.)

Our colleague and occasional On The Scent contributor Alice du Parcq’s book The Philosophy of Perfume has its official launch today (8th October), celebrated with a florabundant event hosted by Jo Malone London in the beautiful setting of their Marylebone town house. PHOTOS: JO FAIRLEY

Alice du Parcq with On The Scent Editor Jo Fairley

A Ta-dah! Our colleague and occasional On The Scent contributor Alice du Parcq’s book The Philosophy of Perfume has its official launch today (8th October), celebrated with a florabundant event hosted by Jo Malone London in the beautiful, florabundant setting of their Marylebone town house. 

Famed for her Instagram posts, her Substack writing (here) and dazzling, Jasmine Award-winning fragrance journalism, this is Alice’s first book – published by The British Library, no less. (There’s posh!)

Alice’s aim, as she explained at the book’s unveiling, was to demystify the world of scent and make it un-scary, while leading you by the hand into a fascinating olfactory universe. (A mission that we wholeheartedly share.)

With chapters on perfume’s origins and evolutions, how smell works (the sensory science and psychology behind olfaction), how perfume is made, ‘scent stars’ (important cultural figures and scent-lovers) and how to choose and wear fragrance, it is best summed up by Richard E. Grant, whose testimonial appears on the back of the book: ‘a perfect pocket-sized olfactory guide to all things perfume.’

Note: signed copies will be available to buy from this site SOON. 

For now: £12.99 at Waterstones – buy here

The stunning flowers at the Jo Malone London townhouse, beckoning guests to the launch party

The book launch’s generous hosts, Céline Roux and Bianca Iafonaco, of Jo Malone London

Belle du Parcq proudly reading Mummy’s book

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We heart Alice du Parcq…