Book: A history of perfumes (1880-2020) – Yohan Cervi

Through the history of the great houses and their founders, perfumers and artistic directors, (re) discover the genesis of perfumery successes in the light of the major events of each decade. If perfume has over the millennia been confused with sacred, therapeutic or hygienic uses, it has reached, since the end of the 19th century, a real form of art, while becoming a highly desirable luxury object, but also increasingly accessible. Like other artistic fields, perfumery has always been imbued with the spirit of the times, restoring in olfactory form the metamorphoses of each era. Global conflicts, social and cultural evolutions or even economic crises thus shape creation, making this art an impalpable mirror of our society. From the Belle Époque until the end of the 2010s, this book retraces in eleven chapters the epic of this prolific industry, shaped by the world around it. Yohan Cervi is an author, critic and lecturer specializing in the history of modern perfumery. This great collector of old perfumes and recognized expert in this field teaches at the École Supérieure du Parfum. A regular contributor to Nez, the olfactory magazine, he also writes for Le Point and has participated in the collective works Les Cent Onze Parfums qu'il faut sniffent avant de mort (2017), Le Grand Livre du parfum (2018) and Parfums pour Homme. (2020), all published by Nez. Interviews conducted with the participation of Anne-Sophie Hojlo. Preface by François Simon