The Diary of a Nose ─ A Year in the Life of a Parfumeur

An intimate exploration of inspiration and creativity, from the "parfumeur exclusif" of the house of Hermes. A scent has incantatory powers, capable of transporting you to your past, of kindling fantasies, of creating a vivid mise en scene—literally out of thin air. In the hands of the truly great, perfume creation is a kind of alchemy. Where does inspiration for this visceral art come from? How does one capture the essence of emotions, of desire? Jean-Claude Ellena has a sublime gift. As "parfumeur exclusif" (or "the nose") for Hermes, he elevates fragrance to an art form. A "writer of perfume," his concoctions are as finely composed and evocative as a haiku. He is also a conjurer of sorts: "I create an illusion that is actually stronger than reality . . . you enter the scent and follow the path." The Diary of a Nose is a collection of Ellena’s meditations on the world of scents, and what stirs his creation of some of the world’s most desired fragrances. Inspiration can come from anywhere—a market stall, a landscape, or even the movement of calligraphy. Though each smell has its own distinct character, a gifted perfumer creates olfactory experiences that are intensely personal and unique, that blossom on the body and leave a trace of us lingering after we have left a room.Seductive, delicate, and elegant as any of Ellena’s creations, The Diary of a Nose seeks to capture the most elusive facets of this rarefied and mysterious art.

Jean-Claude Ellena has been the exclusive perfumer to the house of house of Hermes since 2004. Over the course of his career he has created some of the world’s bestselling fragrances, including "First" from Van Cleef & Arpels, "Eau Parfumee au The Vert" from Bulgari, and "Declaration" from Cartier.