Making Scents: The story of perfume
Bridget Kendall and guests explore the making of modern perfume, from its flowering in France to the scientific discoveries that made it what it is now.
Throughout history, fragrance has been used to scent both the body and our surroundings. With just one drop, perfume has the potential to stir memories, awaken the senses and even influence how we feel about ourselves. But what’s the story behind this liquid luxury in a bottle, now found on the shelves of bathrooms and department stores worldwide?
In this programme, Bridget Kendall and guests explore the modern history of perfume, including its flowering in France and the explosive chemical discoveries that helped to make fine fragrance what it is today. They also explore perfume’s ancient roots and ask: what’s in a name?
Bridget is joined by scientist and critic Luca Turin, writer and curator Lizzie Ostrom and the perfumer Thomas Fontaine. Also featuring William Tullett and James McHugh.
Photo: Perfume bottles and smelling strips (Getty Images)
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Clip
-
Perfume and performance
Duration: 00:47
Links and Further Reading
Broadcasts
- Sat 12 Aug 2017 19:06GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa
- Mon 14 Aug 2017 03:06GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Online & UK DAB/Freeview only
- Tue 15 Aug 2017 08:06GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service except News Internet
- Tue 15 Aug 2017 17:06GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Australasia
- Tue 15 Aug 2017 23:06GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service except News Internet
Featured in...
Luxuries and obsessions—The Forum
How the world's desires were fuelled
Podcast
-
The Forum
The programme that explains the present by exploring the past