Scent: A Natural History of Fragrance

Price: $28.00
(as of Aug 17, 2025 04:24:04 UTC – Details)

A fascinating exploration of the natural history of scent and human perceptions of fragrance from the viewpoint of plant and pollinator
 
“An evocative journey that awakens one’s curiosity to an oft-forgotten sense.”—Dana Dunham, Scientific American
 
Plants have long harnessed the chemical characteristics of aromatic compounds to shape the world around them. Frankincense resin from the genus Boswellia seals injured tissues and protects trees from invading pathogens. Jasmine produces a molecule called linalool that attracts pollinating moths with its flowery scent. Tobacco uses a similarly sweet-smelling compound called benzyl acetone to attract pollinators. Only recently in the evolutionary history of plants, however, have humans learned to co-opt their fragrances to seduce, heal, protect, and alter moods themselves.
 
In this wide-ranging and accessible new book, biologist-turned-perfumer Elise Vernon Pearlstine turns our human-centered perception of fragrance on its head and investigates plants’ evolutionary reasons for creating aromatic molecules. Delving into themes of spirituality, wealth, power, addiction, royalty, fantasy, and more, Pearlstine uncovers the natural history of aromatic substances and their intersection with human culture and civilization.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Yale University Press
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 24, 2022
Edition ‏ : ‎ First Edition
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 030024696X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0300246964
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.9 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.82 x 1.01 x 8.84 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #220,932 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #81 in Botany (Books) #237 in Flower Gardening #312 in Plants in Biological Sciences
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