The Secret of Scent: Adventures in Perfume and the Science of Smell

Having read the negative/critical reviews, I went ahead and bought the book thinking it would be similar to another book on the perfume industry I had just read and really enjoyed. I was wrong. This is more of a chemistry book with a stylish cover and is pretty heavy going at times. Yes I learnt a lot but I would suggest that it's more suitable for readers looking to understand the technicalities of ingredients and of perfume making, as opposed to how the industry works. Glad I read it but there are better books out there.

Great

Luca Turin's book concerns our sense of smell, or at least, his argument that human's distinguish between different molecules which emit smells due to their vibration. Four of our sensory systems, which is to say, vision, hearing, touch and taste are reasonably well understood and documented. However, our fifth sense, that of smell, is somewhat of an unknown, the subject of continued debate. Just how does the human olfactory system differentiate between one fragrance or smell and another? This is the question Luca Turin's book seeks to address as part of the science of smell, in relation to his long-term work within the perfume industry. His argument is that we differentiate smells due to what is called 'vibration theory of olfaction'. Turin is not the first to theorise on the subject of smell differentiation. Others in this field have - and in some cases still do - hold the view that our sense of smell is no different from what occurs with systems elsewhere in the human body, which rely on receptors and the shape of molecules...but there's a problem with this approach. For example, there are molecules that are quite different in their structure and yet smell exactly the same. The smell of almonds is a good example. One type tastes great in the form of marzipan on cakes, the other type will kill you! But you need to read the book to put this in its correct perspective. The shape theory is also known as the 'lock and key' model. The vibration theory has it that the bonds between atoms which make up all molecules actually stretch, vibrate or bend and twist at certain frequencies between their covalent bonds (or molecular bonds); a chemical bond that involves sharing of the electron pairs between atoms. Much of Turin's argument was strengthened in 1991 when biologists Dr Linda Buck and Dr Richard Axel discovered what are called transmembrane proteins which are believed to be the odour receptors and the genes that encode them, a significant step in our understanding of how the olfactory system works and which earned them a Nobel prize in 2004. While Turin's book is beautifully written and provides a solid argument and clear explanation, it is not for the chemistry novice. Some understanding of organic chemistry is essential, in particular benzene ring molecules. However, additional information is readily available from the Internet and a little research is certainly well worth the effort to fully appreciate this superbly interesting text book, which can, for academic purposes, be considered an excellent primary source.

I love how well Dr. Turin explains the science behind perfume, you actually get a feel for the molecular structure that can lead to a type of scent recognition (or not, structure is not always = function). Admittedly, I have a bit of a scientific background so not everyone might be as appreciative as me.However, this is a great read for anyone who is looking to understand as well as admire scents!

If you are interested in perfumes this is a must read, explaining a lot of how scents are made and how the industry works.

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