House of scents

Anouk has dreamt of creating her own perfumes since she was a child. In 1950, however, the fragrance trade is dominated by a few powerful families, leaving no room for newcomers. It's only by chance that she is introduced to the craft when she is taken in by the Girard family in Grasse, the old French town of perfumes. The scent of wild herbs and a still-vivid memory inspire Anouk to create new compositions. Unbeknownst to her, she is following in the footsteps of Florence Girard, who started as a poor lavender picker and later founded the family's perfumer dynasty. Anouk experiences love and loss, success and failure – but she always holds steadfastly to her dreams.

Published in a translation by Romana Hájková.