The Perfumer’s Secret: A Novel
“Utterly captivating. Marks the emergence of a tremendously wise and talented novelist.”—Andrew Solomon, Pulitzer Prize finalist, National Book Award winner
“A beautifully written, emotionally resonant novel that left a lasting impression.”—Readers’ Favorite, FIVE STARS
“Brilliantly written, compelling, and profoundly sensual. A tour de force!”—Carole Bumpus, Searching for Culinary Pleasures in Provence and along the Côte d’Azur
A feisty documentary maker turns her lens on a legendary French perfume house and must choose whether to tell the truth—even if it could ruin many lives around her. A mesmerizing novel set in France, for fans of women’s fiction about difficult ethical choices.
Zandy Watson, a thirty-year-old documentary maker from New York with a scumbag father and a broken past, is a social justice warrior, hell-bent on making movies that will expose important truths. Except she has to pay the bills, and her boss insists she go to the South of France to make some puff piece about a 300-year-old perfume house.
In Grasse—the perfume capital of the world, rich in delicate flowers—Zandy is seduced by the perfumer’s art. And by Dominique Severin, a secretive, debonair heir who is battling to preserve his honor by keeping his family business alive. But behind the glamorous façade, Zandy discovers a shameful secret. Holding a glittering chance to do what’s right by telling the truth, she faces a heartbreaking choice. Will she betray the lover who has trusted her with his secrets? And will she destroy thousands of innocent lives along the way?
The Perfumer’s Secret is an enchanting journey through the captivating world of perfume with an indomitable young woman who in her darkest moment discovers the wisdom and courage to improve countless lives—and change her own life forever.
From the Publisher
Publisher : She Writes Press
Publication date : February 11, 2025
Language : English
Print length : 288 pages
ISBN-10 : 1647427649
ISBN-13 : 978-1647427641
Item Weight : 12.8 ounces
Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #336,891 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #2,193 in Family Life Fiction (Books) #3,605 in Women’s Domestic Life Fiction #3,618 in Contemporary Women Fiction
Customer Reviews: 4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars (175) var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
Original price was: $17.99.$14.19Current price is: $14.19.
“Utterly captivating. Marks the emergence of a tremendously wise and talented novelist.”—Andrew Solomon, Pulitzer Prize finalist, National Book Award winner
“A beautifully written, emotionally resonant novel that left a lasting impression.”—Readers’ Favorite, FIVE STARS
“Brilliantly written, compelling, and profoundly sensual. A tour de force!”—Carole Bumpus, Searching for Culinary Pleasures in Provence and along the Côte d’Azur
A feisty documentary maker turns her lens on a legendary French perfume house and must choose whether to tell the truth—even if it could ruin many lives around her. A mesmerizing novel set in France, for fans of women’s fiction about difficult ethical choices.
Zandy Watson, a thirty-year-old documentary maker from New York with a scumbag father and a broken past, is a social justice warrior, hell-bent on making movies that will expose important truths. Except she has to pay the bills, and her boss insists she go to the South of France to make some puff piece about a 300-year-old perfume house.
In Grasse—the perfume capital of the world, rich in delicate flowers—Zandy is seduced by the perfumer’s art. And by Dominique Severin, a secretive, debonair heir who is battling to preserve his honor by keeping his family business alive. But behind the glamorous façade, Zandy discovers a shameful secret. Holding a glittering chance to do what’s right by telling the truth, she faces a heartbreaking choice. Will she betray the lover who has trusted her with his secrets? And will she destroy thousands of innocent lives along the way?
The Perfumer’s Secret is an enchanting journey through the captivating world of perfume with an indomitable young woman who in her darkest moment discovers the wisdom and courage to improve countless lives—and change her own life forever.
From the Publisher
Publisher : She Writes Press
Publication date : February 11, 2025
Language : English
Print length : 288 pages
ISBN-10 : 1647427649
ISBN-13 : 978-1647427641
Item Weight : 12.8 ounces
Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #336,891 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #2,193 in Family Life Fiction (Books) #3,605 in Women’s Domestic Life Fiction #3,618 in Contemporary Women Fiction
Customer Reviews: 4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars (175) var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
13 reviews for The Perfumer’s Secret: A Novel
Add a review
Related Products
Original price was: $17.99.$14.19Current price is: $14.19.
Roger W –
A superb first novel!
Neroli Lacey’s debut onto the literary scene is a tour de force! It is an exceptionally well written and confident first novel. Her love of the South of France and her knowledge of the perfume business animates the action throughout. She has crafted a delightful set of protagonists—skillfully drawn and sympathetic—who draw you into an action packed plot with many twists and turns. There is a hint at the end of the novel that this will not be the last of Zandy and Dominique’s adventures together. I fervently hope that this “hint” becomes a reality. Highly, highly recommended!
Jule K –
Sensual, smart and sophisticated
The Perfumer’s Secret was an experience filled with intoxicating fragrances, delicious food, intriguing characters (including a feisty heroine), and difficult choices. The setting and characters made it enjoyable and engrossing, the burden of history gave it weight.
History Fan –
A vivid, memorable novel with dynamic character development and an original setting!
What struck me most about The Perfumer’s Secret was the author’s eloquent writing. Her gorgeous prose transported me into a virtual reality alongside the characters. The plot featured sharp twists and turns much like the roads the author describes in the small villages of the Maritime Alps. Each character came alive in a unique way–either through their voice or action. I loved the seamless blending of locations between New York and Southern France. As the story progressed, I never got jet lag but was deeply immersed in the characters’ journeys through both external adventures and internal conflicts. Bravo, Neroli Lacey!
stacy a moss –
Maybe it’s just me
The book was a quick read. I found the heroine of the book annoying and the ending unbelievable.
Marie W –
Delightful read! Captivating and thought provoking page turner
The Perfumer’s Secret is a beautifully written and thought provoking novel. The evocative prose transported me to the South of France with a captivating story about France’s perfume industry. The exploration of history, truth, and ethical dilemmas will definitely spark lively book group discussions. Can’t wait to see what the author does next!
Leslie Black Sullivan –
A Page Turner
The Perfumer’s Secret is an intriguingly delightful journey from New York to the south of France where the reader is fully immersed in an unique and very sensual environment – Provence, the home of perfumery. Neroli Lacey weaves an intricate tale of romance and suspense. Each chapter is told from the perspective of one of the characters. So as the plot twists and turns, the reader is privy to a different perspective and the complexity of the situations enfolding. Up until the very end of the book, the story has the reader eagerly turning pages to find out what will happen. Highly recommend!
vivienne lacey –
a great read
amazing evocative journey to the south of France.brings to life the local romantic ambiance
DIY Audio –
Great read!
The Perfumer’s Secret transports the reader to the lavender fields of southern France via the cutthroat world of the movie industry and the challenges faced by family run businesses. There is a lot going on as we learn of the family secrets of Zandy the filmmaker as well as the shocking history of the Severin family’s perfume business.Neroli weaves in a few steamy scenes while keeping the reader guessing as to the future of a new perfume and Zandy’s chance to make an impactful documentary about climate change. Fashion, families, and moral choices abound in this delightful pageturner!
jEFFREY P. –
Great read over a weekend. I couldn’t put it down until I knew the ending. A wonderfully evocative and sensory journey to the south of France . Lacey’s sensitivity and appreciation of the area , its culture and history are brilliant. Equally captivating were her characters who illuminate the pages as they share with us their ambitions and their moral dilemmas posing all those difficult questions we can’t always answer.Great read, exciting journey, good story and… ….quite sexy.Definitely one to recommend to pack with your bikini on your next visit to the Riviera. I look forward to more from this, clearly, very talented writer.J.Day
RG –
The Perfumer’s Secret transports you to the enchanting South of France. It weaves together family intrigue and romance against the backdrop of the perfume industry. The story is both entertaining and thoughtful.It explores weighty themes – truth, power, tradition versus progress – through a compelling narrative that never feels heavy-handed. The author has a gift for sensory detail, bringing to life the fragrances and flavors of Provence. The setting feels like its own character.The plot moves at a brisk pace. But it’s the deeper questions at the heart of the story that stick with you after you’ve finished reading. It’s both an engrossing escape and something more substantial to reflect on. If you want sophisticated fiction, that’s easy to read and has depth, this book hits that sweet spot.
Bookman: Library Cop –
I have to be honest: this isn’t the kind of book I tend to read. However, someone I highly respect recommended I give it a go and am I ever glad I did! I’m not normally a fan of first person/present tense, but it was handled so well I got over my usual reticence and let the writing take me away. Highly recommended!
Orienteer –
THE PERFUMER’S SECRET: NEROLI LACEYA highly enjoyable journey from the heart of New York to the perfume fields of Grasse and the French Riviera.The author does an excellent job of bringing the world of perfume-making to life. The sensory descriptions of the process, the fragrances, and the descriptions of the French countryside are rich and immersive and the author clearly knows and loves the area and its countryside well.The author does a great job of blending a historical mystery with a personal journey of discovery for the main protagonist . The story is rich in sensory details, particularly regarding the perfume-making process, which paints the south of France as an enchanting and fragrant landscape. The author leads the reader gently to the heart of the story which lies in the tension between tradition, corporate success, and ethical responsibility. The protagonist’s internal conflict is well-executed, and readers can feel her struggle as she balances her personal growth with the ethical questions surrounding her job.The inclusion of the historical angle—linked to the Holocaust and the moral implications of keeping secrets for personal gain—adds real depth to the novel. It’s not just a romance; it’s a meditation on history, family legacies, and the consequences of actions taken during wartime. The romance between the protagonist and the perfumer feels real and adds an emotional layer to the story but is secondary to the more significant thematic questions the book raises. As spring approaches this is definitely a book to pack as an ideal holiday read.
nicol brumwell –
Une histoire d’amour avec un détour! Une histoire et les secrets de l’industrie du parfum en France font de ce livre un livre exceptionnelle!Smooth and racey and written in such a fresh way you can smell and feel the South of France!