Perfume: A Dark Gothic Tale of Scent and Obsession
Book Review: Perfume, The Story of a Murderer
Have you ever thought about the most important quality that makes us unique? It could be our distinct physical traits, unique voices, or, simply, something we often overlook: our unique scent! A scent can make someone attractive to us while leaving another unnoticed.
Perfume is a story about this magical aspect of existence—something so intangible that nothing but itself can fully represent it. We can capture a beautiful image or record a lovely sound, but we can never preserve someone’s or something’s scent, except in our memory. To me, this ephemeral nature is what makes this story magical.
I watched Perfume many years ago and absolutely loved it. As someone particularly sensitive to scents, I appreciated the story’s celebration of this often-overlooked sense. I didn’t realise at the time that the movie was based on a book. A month ago, while heading home from a work meeting, I came across a Waterstones on Finchley Road and decided to treat myself to a new book. When I saw Perfume, I immediately knew it was time to read it. Funny enough, whenever I read it during lunch breaks, my colleagues would ask about the plot. When I told them, their reactions were often along the lines of, “Wow, you’re scary for loving this book so much!” 😅
The Story
Set in 18th-century France, the novel tells the story of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, an orphan born with an extraordinary sense of smell and a chilling lack of morality. Born in the squalor of Paris, Grenouille grows up unloved but discovers his unique gift: an unparalleled ability to discern scents. This talent becomes both his salvation and his curse, leading him down a path of obsession as he seeks to create the ultimate perfume—one that grants him power over others. His ambition takes him to the picturesque countryside of Grasse, the center of perfume production, where he devises a horrifying plan to distill the essence of beauty itself.
The novel’s climax is both shocking and surreal, blending elements of horror and the grotesque with Patrick Süskind’s razor-sharp critique of human nature, societal norms, and religious beliefs. Grenouille’s challenge to conventional notions of God and power is particularly amazing!
And none of them will know that it is truly not how she looks that has captured them, nor her reputed unblemished external beauty, but solely her incomparable, splendid scent! Only he would know that, only Grenouille, he alone. He knew it already in fact.
Movie vs. Book
Representation of Grenouille
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006), directed by Tom Tykwer, features Ben Whishaw as Grenouille. Whishaw delivers an eerily understated performance, capturing Grenouille’s enigmatic presence and his descent into madness. His portrayal renders Grenouille both sympathetic and monstrous—a brilliant man whose genius is overshadowed by his moral emptiness.
In contrast, the book describes Grenouille as grotesque, deformed, and repellant. His physical repulsiveness underscores his lack of humanity, making him an object of revulsion. In the film, however, Whishaw’s portrayal humanizes Grenouille, making him appear physically normal and even delicate, which changes how the audience perceives him. To me, he was the best choice!
Focus on Smell
Süskind’s writing masterfully conveys the world of scent, with detailed descriptions that make smells almost tangible. The novel takes readers in Grenouille’s sensory experiences, making the olfactory world central to the story. In contrast, the movie uses visual and auditory cues, such as slow-motion shots and close-ups of Grenouille as he smells objects, to approximate the experience of scent. While effective, the film cannot replicate the novel’s immersive sensory depth due to the inherent limitations of the medium, but still, does the job!
Grenouille’s Methodology
Without spoiling the story, there are notable differences between the book and the movie in Grenouille’s methods for creating his perfume.
Final Thoughts
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer is a dark, mesmerizing story that stays with you long after the final page. It is both a ghastly thriller and a profound meditation on art, ambition, and the human condition. For fans of gothic literature, historical fiction, or philosophical novels, Perfume is a must-read. I thoroughly enjoyed both the book and the movie, and like always, I recommend reading the book first before watching the movie.
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