This novel is about an 18th century perfumer with such a talented nose for the subtleties of scents that he made most wine aficionados seem like persons totally devoid of their olfactory senses. Book is chilling, gruesome as the reader discovers how he obtains the essential oils for his perfume that is in demand throughout Europe. End a bit heavy-handed with respect to its message about social decay, but this is mitigated by the fascinating story told with truly stunning attention to language.