The Lost Perfumes of Paris by Christine Wells-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 8, 2026
Élodie Limeaux’s beloved mother, Aurore, was the most legendary perfumer in France before World War II, renowned for the exquisite fragrances she created for the family company, the House of Limeaux. Now in her twenties, Élodie longs to join the family business. Her father, however, has refused to let her follow in her late mother’s footsteps and Élodie has had to fight to become a mere lab assistant at Limeaux.
But Élodie plans to enter the Essence of Paris contest run by the French Perfume Institute, hoping that a win will secure investment from Swiss banker Monsieur Caspari, who is looking to launch a new scent for women—and possibly to buy the House of Limeaux.
Impressed with Élodie’s drive and talent, Caspari agrees to back her, provided that she collaborates with his son, Marcelo. Élodie is forced to agree, although Marcelo strikes her as a wealthy dilettante—albeit an extremely charming one.
When they join forces, though, Élodie is surprised to discover Marcelo’s passion for perfume is genuine, his obsession as deep as hers. With Marcelo by her side, Élodie battles family betrayals and corporate sabotage, searching for that elusive essence of Paris that will launch her career…and possibly the love of a lifetime.
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REVIEW:THE LOST PERFUMES OF PARIS by Christine Wells is an adult, story of historical fiction focusing on chemist Elodie Limeaux, and the ‘Art of French Perfumery’ in the post war era of the 1950s.
Told from omniscient third person perspective (Elodie) THE LOST PERFUMES OF PARIS follows chemist and heir to the House of Limeaux, family owner perfume company found herself struggling in the face of misogyny and a family hierarchy that no longer included our story line heroine. An unexpected meeting the with Swiss banker Monsieur Caspari and his son Marcelo, would prove fateful and momentous as Elodie Limeaux would embark on a project of her own when Elodie’s over bearing and controlling father rejected her latest perfume as a contender for the Essence of Paris contest. With the help of Marcelo, Elodie would rise to the top of her profession but her inability to stand up to her father’s betrayal threatened any chance at her own success until the support from several unlikely sources.
The world building focuses on sexism, bigotry and bias in the world of perfumery. At one-time, a male dominated profession, women in the perfume industry were thought to be incapable until a woman in the 1950s took back control from the men who deemed them unqualified and unsuited. As Elodie began a deep dive into her late mother’s journals, a world renowned perfumer in her own right, hidden secrets would reveal a woman looking for inspiration and romance, somewhere else.
THE LOST PERFUMES OF PARIS is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, misogyny and jealousy, acceptance and love. The premise , inspired by real life events, is intriguing, dramatic and edgy; the characters are desperate and determined, charismatic and dynamic.
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Sandy














