Seduction is a new novel by author M.J. Rose (who also wrote The Book of Lost Fragrances), and it’s going to be released on May 7th.
The novel is “about Victor Hugo (creator of Les Miserables), the secret séances he attended, grief, ghosts, reincarnation, and the lengths we go to for love” (quote from the press release). Fragrance features strongly in the novel, and one particular magical perfume plays an important role. M.J.Rose describes it as “a rich and spicy perfume that combined roses, ylang ylang and oak moss…Nothing like most modern mass-produced fragrances, but beautifully articulated and rounded.”
The perfume exists only in M.J. Rose’s imagination, and she is currently running a contest to identify what perfume best matches the fragrance she describes in the book. The winner will receive a signed copy of her new book. More details on the contest here. Via press release
Full disclosure: I helped M.J. Rose with some scent-related research for her book.
21 Comments
Karima: ooh, this sounds intriguing. love the book cover too. April 29, 2013 at 8:24am
Victoria: I haven’t read it yet, but I look forward to it. April 29, 2013 at 11:47am
nikki: Victor Hugo is quite fascinating: I watched the French history show “Secrets d’Histoire” about him and his life, amazing. April 29, 2013 at 9:48am
Victoria: I watched The Story of Adele H. again not long ago. How beautiful was Adjani who played Hugo’s daughter in it! April 29, 2013 at 11:57am
Nancy A.: There are certain words that I find endearing…seduction is one of them. Is that a nom de plume for the author Rose or coincides with what’s revealed with her story. At first glance of the jacket cover I started thinking Masterpiece Classic and the fragrances they wore. The Downton Abbey favored Guerlain since Shalimar is mentioned briefly.
I will check out this suggested read and as for the “scent” in the book for me is what exudes as a natural body chemistry, not formulated. April 29, 2013 at 10:06am
Victoria: I’m curious what commercial perfume might match M.J. Rose’s description! April 29, 2013 at 12:01pm
Cornelia Blimber: Roses, oakmoss… perhaps ”Knowing”? I definitely want to read that book, and have that beautiful cover on my table! April 29, 2013 at 12:24pm
Victoria: MJ is a very engaging storyteller, and I’ve enjoyed The Book of Lost Fragrances very much. At first, I thought that I wouldn’t like that sort of genre, but I really couldn’t put the book down. April 29, 2013 at 1:42pm
Karen: Sounds fascinating!
Mitsouko, caleche and No.19 all spring to mind… April 29, 2013 at 5:39pm
Victoria: Yes, I’m thinking something classical too, based on that description. April 29, 2013 at 6:00pm
Cornelia Blimber: What about Knowing? April 29, 2013 at 6:03pm
Victoria: I was going to comment on that, but then I got sidetracked. Yes, I can definitely see Knowing too. It has that mixture of drama and richness for me. April 29, 2013 at 6:09pm
Cornelia Blimber: Looking at the cover, Madame Rochas (vintage) comes to my mind. April 30, 2013 at 4:45am
Victoria: It really does! Especially when you think of the old ads, which show a woman’s face turned sideways. April 30, 2013 at 6:52am
rafael: Sortilege de Le Galion April 30, 2013 at 12:37pm
Victoria: I can see Sortilege too, now that you mention it. April 30, 2013 at 3:24pm
sara: I think the description matches with both Chypre by Coty and Mitsouko by Guerlain.
Regards. April 30, 2013 at 1:03pm
Victoria: Chypre would be a great choice, wouldn’t it! April 30, 2013 at 3:23pm
george: I haven’t tried rose chypree by Tauer yet but that sounds like it might be a match. April 30, 2013 at 3:38pm
Victoria: I’ve tried it a long time ago, and I think that it would fit. So would Tauer’s Le Maroc Pour Elle. April 30, 2013 at 4:47pm
M.J. Rose: Nancy – I didn’t take this name for this book – no:)
It’s my family name and I’ve been writing under this name since 1998. But its very appropriate now that I am writing about perfume.
And thank you all for your comments and entries -I have some smelling to do! May 1, 2013 at 8:23am