The Perfumist of Paris: A novel from the bestselling author of The Henna Artist (The Jaipur Trilogy Book 3)

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As a fan of Alka Joshi, I was disappointed. Even though, I read the book in one sitting and till way past my bedtime, I was not satisfied. I wanted a connection that I had instantly felt with Lakshmi. Radha was a mystery. Oh, don't look at me like that. I know better than Pierre how you love being in that lab and creating all those scents. What woman wants to stay home all day? That's just a fantasy men make up." Just when Radha reaches India for her first big project, she discovers more about her son, who is going to Paris in search of his mother. Will Radha and her son unite together? Will the discovery of her son by her husband shatter her marital life? Will Lakshmi and others help Radha to solve her dilemma like they did earlier? There are many questions like these if you have already read the first two books. Alka Joshi answers all these questions convincingly in this book. In addition to that, the author does a splendid job of telling all the intricate details behind making and selecting a perfume.

I'm glad that in the final installment of the Jaipur trilogy, we could dive into Radha's story as an adult and revisit beloved characters from the first two novels. In the second novel, the Secret Keeper of Jaipur, we only secondhand account (through Lakshmi) of what Radha was up to since leaving Jaipur. I was curious to know more about her story, especially in the aftermath of giving up her first child for adoption at a young age and leaving everyone behind to start a new life in Paris. The story comes alive as Joshi vividly describes the quintessential sights, sounds, and foods of Paris, coupled with the exotic life of Agra’s courtesans who supply the raw ingredients for seductive perfumes. This was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it did not disappoint! I loved the interwoven French and Indian cultures. I also loved learning more about the courtesans and how elegant they seemed. I related to Radha's struggle to balance work and motherhood - I think most mothers can relate. I sooo wish I could smell the different scents that were referred to and the various combinations she created. This trilogy is a must read for anyone who wants to travel to India without leaving the comfort of their home.Alka Joshi belongs to the third category, where the authors interact a lot with the readers in both the virtual and real world by responding to the readers almost every time and accepting constructive criticisms in the best possible way without hurting the feelings of the readers and the author. I genuinely believe that it is the ideal way to interact with the readers in this modern era. It will be only possible if the authors have great personalities and time management skills. I believe that Alka Joshi has both of these qualities. The author doesn't stop after crafting a beautiful story. She also shares with us the recipe of Gulkand and other dishes related to this book to give you a unique reading experience. Her description of perfume primer and master perfumer will be the icing on the cake for the readers. Lush descriptions and complex characters lead to a wholly satisfying conclusion to Joshi’s stand-out Jaipur trilogy… Filled with the rich and evocative scents of India and Paris, this novel will transport readers.” – Library Journal June 6, 2023 Update: Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, our interview with the author has to be rescheduled. There is no date set at this time, but as soon as we have a new date, I’ll update accordingly. Thank you for your patience and understanding. She has an exciting and challenging position working for a master perfumer, helping to design completely new fragrances for clients and building her career one scent at a time. She only wishes Pierre could understand her need to work. She feels his frustration, but she can't give up this thing that drives her.

The youngsters definitely have a responsibility here. But the author is not ambivalent about telling the root cause of the problem as it can be traced to older people. They are equally culpable for the animosity and antipathy shown by the newer generation. But Radha has a dark secret kept from her husband, children and her friends. At 13 she gave birth to a son. The well-born rajahs of India sent their son, the child’s father, away and the infant was subsequently adopted. Years later, the boy, Niki, comes to Paris to find his birth mother, having found a trove of letters that tell him he was adopted by the couple who raised him. Paris, 1974. Radha is now living in Paris with her husband, Pierre, and their two daughters. She still grieves for the baby boy she gave up years ago, when she was only a child herself, but she loves being a mother to her daughters, and she's finally found her passion—the treasure trove of scents. Alka Joshi delights the senses with her Henna Artist trilogy. Perfumist of Paris takes us through the wonders of scent and culture as we follow the story of Radha, Lakshmi’s sister, who is now married with 2 children, living in Paris. Several themes cut across the story including the concept of motherhood, challenges of working mothers, and the burdens and fallout of holding secrets ripe with guilt and shame. Do we have to adjust to the differences in opinion with our partner to protect the integrity of the family?Paris, 1974. Radha is now living in Paris with her husband, Pierre, and their two daughters. She still grieves for the baby boy she gave up years ago, when she was only a child herself, but she loves being a mother to her daughters, and she’s finally found her passion—the treasure trove of scents. There is the addition of a compelling mystery worked through the plot and also a long held secret from Radha's past that catches up with her. A stunning portrait of a woman blossoming into her full power…this is Alka Joshi's best book yet!” —Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye Her open-minded approach has helped her a lot in removing almost all the negatives that readers like me have pointed out in the initial two books. The story of the Jaipur trilogy ends in 1981 in this book. The author could have easily written three or four more books in this series to take the story to the contemporary era, and the readers are ready to read all of them. Still, I appreciate the courage shown by her to conclude the series in this book. Let us hope that she will write another series with at least a few characters from the Jaipur trilogy to know the progression of the characters.

A stunning portrait of a woman blossoming into her full power…[and] evoking India and France with equal beauty.” THE PERFUMIST OF PARIS is a stunning portrait of a woman blossoming into her full power. . . . Powerful and evocative as the attars from Radha's perfume lab, evoking India and France with equal beauty, this is Alka Joshi's best book yet!” —Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network, The Huntress, and The Diamond Eye Employed by The House of Yves, Radha is asked to create a signature scent inspired by the woman portrayed in Edouard Manet’s 1863 painting entitled “Olympia.” Radha Fontaine has a rare gift: the innate ability to not only detect the layers of scent that make up a distinctive perfume, but also the emotions those fragrances can evoke.

Despite not having a chemistry degree, Radha is now a lab assistant to Delphine Silberman, a master perfumer at the House of Yves, in Paris, and rising up the ranks much to the chagrin of her husband who would prefer that she would be happy being a “stay at home” wife and mother. An absolutely beautiful and moving conclusion to the Jaipur trilogy that sees Radha struggling to balance her career, marriage and motherhood in 1974 Paris. In Radha’s mind, she thinks: “The scents – honey and clove and vetiver and jasmine and cedar and myrrh and gardenia and musk – are such comforting companions. They ask nothing of me except the freedom to envelop another world with their essence.” I came to this book with a lot of expectations, especially since the second one in the trilogy was so good. It helps, but is not necessary, to have read Joshi’s first two books, The Henna Artist and The Secret Keeper of Jaipur.

What I loved about the book was the description of the smells and scents around us. Connecting every core memory to a scent was described beautifully. I related to it and made me think of every single person I loved and their smell.There are also lots of references to characters from the other books so reading them first would be beneficial and we get to know more about the son Radha gave up as a young girl herself. Great on audio narrated by Sneha Mathan. In this novel, Radha, a mother of two, lives in Paris and works as a perfumer at a renowned perfume/fragrance house (LIKE HOW COOL IS THAT?). When tasked with a BIG project, she travels to Agra to get the help of the courtesans (and her sister, Lakshmi) to find the perfect scent for her creation. Although the time period is set many decades ago, I didn’t feel alienated from their issues. In some senses much has changed since the 1970s, but it remains true today that men and women alike struggle with the home-work life balance. It’s possible to “want it all” in the area of love, career and family, but there are limits to each arena. Radha pushes those limits, sometimes to their breaking points. The resolutions she finds are not always perfectly neat and tidy, but they are authentic to the character and the book series. THE PERFUMIST OF PARIS is a stunning portrait of a woman blossoming into her full power. . . . Powerful and evocative as the attars from Radha's perfume lab, evoking India and France with equal beauty, this is Alka Joshi's best book yet!” —Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author The Diamond Eye