Perfume and the Novel: Interview, Book & Samples

We were delighted to make the acquaintance of author M.J. Rose at the January 2012 Elements Showcase. Rose has published eleven novels to date and is preparing for the publication of her twelfth novel, The Book of Lost Fragrances, in March.

M.J. Rose with The Book of Lost Fragrances

Rose delved deep into the history of perfume and the fragrance industry for this latest novel. The story is a suspense thriller that traverses time from the ritual perfumes of Ancient Egypt to the creations of a modern family-owned French perfume house struggling to stay afloat. The Book of Lost Fragrances is sure to delight perfume fans and readers alike with its authentic details and insider's knowledge of the perfume industry.  Add to the mix a lost ancient artifact, a dash of mythology, a timeless romance still talked about today, and we have ourselves a true page-turner!

Upon reading, it is evident that M.J. Rose is a member of our own tribe—a perfume lover. Rose shared her thoughts with showcase attendees as part of the W magazine forum on "Choosing Fragrance: The Influences Behind the Purchase." The novel's detailed descriptions of all things fragrant—flowers, trees, perfume—as well as the moods they evoke and the allure they hold for us will strike a chord with many readers.

"Even from this distance, even under these circumstances, she felt the pull of the strange and elusive ancient scent. A river of sadness. A desert of promise. The decipherable spicy notes and the undecipherable ones that worked on her beckoned. Determined to remain conscious and present, she pushed back. Refused to give in to the scent."—The Book of Lost Fragrances.

Âmes Soeurs by Joya

In a surprising twist for the author, the fine people at fragrance house Joya read the novel. Delighted by the story and the concept of a fragrance that forms a key plot element, Joya's perfumer has concocted a scent inspired by the novel's fragrant turn of events. Âmes Soeurs, the Scent of Soulmates, is a beautiful perfume oil in the characeristic Joya style, warm and cheerful but with a new depth and mystery.

A special solid perfume edition of Âmes Soeurs was also produced by Joya. Limited to just fifteen jars, the sensuous solid version is housed in a luxurious gold-trimmed container inspired by an ancient perfume vessel described in the book. 

M.J. ROSE tells about the novel and the scent in this interview:

BOOK PRE-ORDER and FREE SAMPLES

INSTRUCTIONS:

*Offer ends March 1st, is limited numbers of supplies available and only to readers in the US and Canada. When you receive your sample please come to share your experience on Fragrantica, the fragrance Âmes Soeurs is in our encyclopedia.

Learn more about the M.J. Rose, her novels, and how you can pre-order a copy of the book and a sample of the Âmes Soeurs fragrance at the author's website, or at Amazon.

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Photo and Video from Elements by Fragrantica