• About
  • Login to comment
    • Facebook
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Now Smell This

a blog about perfume

Menu ▼
  • Perfume Reviews
  • New Perfumes
  • Perfumers
  • Perfume Houses
  • Shop for perfume
  • Resources

The fragrance devised for the seduction of kings

Posted by Robin on 9 April 2008 12 Comments

After that she got to work, anointing him with civet and violet, magnolia and lily, narcissus and calembic, as well as drops of other occult fluids whose names he did not even like to ask, fluids extracted from the sap of Turkish, Cypriot and Chinese trees, as well as a wax from the intestines of a whale. By the time she had finished he was convinced he smelled like a cheap whorehouse, which was where he was, after all...

— From Extract: The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie (subtitled: The ancient arts of sex, scent and spin combine in an exclusive extract from Salman Rushdie's new novel) in the UK Times Online (link no longer active, sorry!), with thanks to Tania for the link.

Filed Under: perfume in the news
Tagged With: salman rushdie

Advertisement


12 Comments

Leave a comment, or read more about commenting at Now Smell This. Here's our privacy policy, and a handy emoticon chart.

  1. Anonymous says:
    9 April 2008 at 11:25 am

    At least he didn't smell like “a whorehouse on payday' which is what my mom used to say when I wore too much couture perfume, LOL!
    This sounds like it might be an interesting novel from Rushdie.

    Log in to Reply
  2. Anonymous says:
    9 April 2008 at 11:45 am

    Sounds like a good juicy read

    Log in to Reply
  3. Anonymous says:
    9 April 2008 at 11:51 am

    LOL — great line!

    Log in to Reply
  4. Anonymous says:
    9 April 2008 at 12:34 pm

    I've kept this bit of the paper but haven't got around to reading it yet – sounds like I must! I loved Haroun too and this sounds as if it might be in the same vein. He sounds like he might know what he's talking about……

    Log in to Reply
  5. Anonymous says:
    9 April 2008 at 1:26 pm

    He does — wonder if he knows fragrance or did research…

    Log in to Reply
  6. Anonymous says:
    9 April 2008 at 2:15 pm

    This was great read Robin! I'm in for more:-)

    Log in to Reply
  7. Anonymous says:
    9 April 2008 at 3:30 pm

    Much prefer the quirky realism of Midnight's Children to Rushdie's new lit-porn, without a doubt. Yawn. But love all the references to fragrances! Thanks, R.

    Log in to Reply
  8. Anonymous says:
    9 April 2008 at 6:09 pm

    Oh, bah, more advice on how to seduce men, more stuff about courtesans – this time from that pompous oaf. *yawn* Some women are quite 'naturals' in that respect and don't need any help, do they?

    I had tea with Salman Rushdie once, years ago, at the time of Midnight's Children (it was being published in French and the editor I'd worked with on other books was his now). He never stopped talking about himself (obviously) and I came out with the worst migraine I'd ever experienced. How such an unattractive and boring man can have such lovely women at his feet is proof of some women's stupidity, or it is cleverness? ('So what attracted you to this ugly, bald, famous, wealthy man, then?')

    Log in to Reply
  9. Anonymous says:
    10 April 2008 at 7:47 am

    J! I never had to have tea s/ Salman Rushdie, nor do I know anything about the women at his feet, LOL — but I did like the 2 books I read :-)

    Log in to Reply
  10. Anonymous says:
    10 April 2008 at 7:48 am

    R, you're saying that based on this one excerpt, or have you read more about it? (I haven't)

    Log in to Reply
  11. Anonymous says:
    10 April 2008 at 8:23 am

    This whole chapter was about the power of scents and Rushdie writes so fast, as if he hardly takes time to breathe..

    What a disenchanting ending though.. when the power of scents had faded away.

    Log in to Reply
  12. Anonymous says:
    10 April 2008 at 9:54 am

    Yes, good description — “hardly takes the time to breathe”.

    Log in to Reply

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Advertisement

Search

From NST at Twitter

  • "ernesto neto highlights the cycles of nature in latest installation at tanya bonakdar gallery" (scented exhibit in… https://t.co/qp81Uglhsx, 6 hours ago
  • @ChemistBottle Can't disagree...always liked that bottle shape but the colors aren't appealing, 6 hours ago
  • Updated info on Guerlain Habit Rouge L'Instinct https://t.co/LwuZCy3gtq https://t.co/exoPnjgQId,
  • Amouage has streamlined and repackaged the Libray (Opus) collection. 2 remain: Opus V and Opus VII. Rose Incense fr… https://t.co/D1pIB4gZzW,
  • "Blossom season takes over! Saudi's Taif Rose Festival delights one and all" (mashable middle east) https://t.co/bSvUUGZeJz,

Browse by…

Topic

Perfume talk New fragrances
Shopping Books :: News
Body products Home fragrance
Polls Another subject

Date

April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
Prior months

Author

Robin Jessica
Angela Kevin
Erin Guest Author

Tag

Celebrity perfumes
Cheap thrills
Collector bottles
Perfumista tip series
Video
The complete tag index

Recent reviews

Atelier Cologne Love Osmanthus
Moschino Toy Boy
Arquiste Misfit
Diptyque Eau Capitale
Zoologist Bee
Parfum d’Empire Immortelle Corse
Comme des Garcons Series 10 Clash
Frédéric Malle Rose & Cuir
L’Artisan Parfumeur Le Chant de Camargue
Yves Saint Laurent Grain de Poudre
Régime des Fleurs Chloë Sevigny Little Flower
Chanel 1957
Gallivant Los Angeles
Amouage Portrayal Woman

Blogroll

Bois de Jasmin
Grain de Musc
Perfume Posse
The Non-Blonde
More blogs...

Perfumista lists

100 fragrances every perfumista should try
And 25 more fragrances every perfumista should smell
50 masculine fragrances every perfumista should try
26 vintage fragrances every perfumista should try
25 rose fragrances every perfumista should try
11 Cheap Perfumes Beauty Outsiders Love

Favorite posts

The Great Perfume Reduction Plan
Why I Love Old School Chypres
New to perfume and want to learn more?
How to make fragrance last through the day
Fragrance concentrations: sorting it all out
On reformulations, or why your favorite perfume doesn’t smell like it used to
How to get fragrance samples
Perfume for Life: How Long Will Your Fragrance Collection Last?

Upcoming

List of upcoming Friday projects

Back to Top

Home
About Now Smell This :: Privacy Policy

Shop for Perfume Online
Perfume Shopping in New York
Perfume Shopping in London
Perfume Reviews
New Perfumes
General Perfume Articles
The Monday Mail

Glossary of Perfume Terms
Perfume FAQ
Perfume Links
Perfume Books
Fragrance Awards

Noses ~ Perfumers A-E :: F-K :: L-S :: T-Z

Perfume Houses A-B :: C :: D-E :: F-G
H-J :: K-L :: M :: N-O :: P :: Q-R :: S
T :: U-Z

Copyright © 2005-2022 Now Smell This. All rights reserved.