Review:: A Perfumer's Secret by Adria J. Cimino

Title: The Perfumer's Secret
Author: Adria J. Cimino
Publisher: Velvet Morning Press
Publication Date: May 16, 2016
ISBN: 9780692534649
Number of Pages: 258
How I Got It: direct from author
Format: Kindle

Goodreads Description:

The quest for a stolen perfume formula awakens passion, rivalry and family secrets in the fragrant flower fields of the South of France...Perfumer Zoe Flore travels to Grasse, perfume capital of the world, to collect a formula: her inheritance from the family she never knew existed. The scent matches the one worn by her mother, who passed away when Zoe was a teenager. Zoe, competing to create a new fragrance for a prestigious designer, believes this scent could win the contract—and lead her to the reason her mother fled Grasse for New York City.

Before Zoe can discover the truth, the formula is stolen. And she’s not the only one looking for it. So is Loulou, her rebellious teenage cousin; Philippe, her alluring competitor for the fragrance contract; and a third person who never wanted the formula to slip into the public in the first place.
The pursuit transforms into a journey of self-discovery as each struggles to understand the complexities of love, the force of pride and the meaning of family.


My Review:
Growing up, Zoe Flore was trained as an informal "nose" by her mother. Now as an adult she is summoned to the perfume capital of the world, Grasse in the South of France, to the reading of her aunt's will. She doesn't hesitate to visit Grasse since she is in competition with her (ex?) boyfriend and colleague (and the rest of the world) to produce the newest scent for Cherone. At the reading of the will, Zoe receives a special perfume formula, only to lose it when her hotel room is ransacked. While Zoe was the main character, I especially loved emotionally charged, 15 year old LouLou. Just as the perfect perfume is the combination of a variety of notes in just the right combination, Adria Cimino produced a perfect combination of a novel. I found this read to have just the right amount of family drama, intrigue, competition, romance, and what a fascinating topic! I was smelling all of my perfumes and trying to analyze them as I read this novel. (I discovered I do not like rose and am drawn to more spicy or earthy scents.) I would recommend this to anyone who loves perfumes and beauty products but also foodies. I believe they would appreciate the layering and combinations involved in the perfume making process.

***Disclaimer:: I was given a copy of this release in exchange for an honest review. I received no additional compensation. ***