PerfumePerfume
Score Classic
What it's about
Jean-Baptiste Grenouille is abandoned as a baby on the filthy streets of 18th-century Paris, but grows up with an extraordinary gift: a sense of smell more powerful than any human's. He becomes a perfumer, creating sublime fragrances, but there is one scent he cannot capture, and to get it, he must kill.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the BBC's Big Read. It's one of the strangest and most unforgettable novels of the 20th century.
You'll love it if you liked
The Name of the Rose
Dracula
The Shadow of the WindGood to know
It's dark and grotesque, with an extraordinary ending. It's translated from German.
By the numbers
- Readers56 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller48 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #32 of the 86 horror books we rank
- #83 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #424 of the 762 classics we rank
- #1449 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Dark, Moving
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Blood Meridian
My Cousin Rachel
So Long, See You Tomorrow
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The BottomsExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is Perfume worth reading?
Yes. It's on the BBC's Big Read. It ranks #1,449 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 68.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Perfume about?
Jean-Baptiste Grenouille is abandoned as a baby on the filthy streets of 18th-century Paris, but grows up with an extraordinary gift: a sense of smell more powerful than any human's. He becomes a perfumer, creating sublime fragrances, but there is one scent he cannot capture, and to get it, he must kill.
How long does it take to read Perfume?
About 7 hours (263 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Perfume?
If you liked it, try The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco, Dracula by Bram Stoker or The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón.