The Smell Culture Reader

Description

Smell is fundamental to experience but mired in paradox. Stigmatized as animalistic, it nonetheless feeds a vast fragrance and marketing industry. Considered ephemeral, scents have survived throughout the ages in a number of religious practices. The Smell Culture Reader provides a much-needed overview of what is arguably the most elusive sense. From hygiene to aromatherapy, the fetid to the fragrant, smells are shown to be much more than just an adornment or a nuisance. Addressing this engaging sense in redolent detail, The Smell Culture Reader demonstrates how essential smell is to sexuality, social status, personal identity, and cultural tradition.

Jim Drobnick is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Manchester. He is the editor of Aural Cultures (2004), co-author of Museopathy (2002) and CounterPoses (2002), and is working on a book on smell in contemporary art.

'The Smell Culture Reader' is a must read ... it will help you understand, and perhaps better enjoy, the smelly world around you.' Anya's Garden of Natural Perfumery website 'Scholarly and profound, the anthology is a must-read for the professional. Anyone engaged in the science, creation, manufacture, sales or study of aroma and fragrance will find it an invaluable source of inofrmation and inspiration.' Fragrance Forum "The Smell Culture Reader' is one of the most interesting books i've read in years. ... The book is written primarily by academics who give a fantastic overview of everything aromatic. I found it extremely attention grabbing and useful to help put some context around my views on aromatherapy and its future.' Aromatheprapy Today 'This massive book brings together some of the finest contemporary writings on smell and its philosophical and cultural implications.' www.nowsmellthis.blogharbor.com 'The Smell Culture Reader provides a fascinating journey through the pleasures and pains of one of the most neglected senses in contemporary culture' Kate McGowan and Shafqat Nasir, Manchester Metropolitan University, Times Higher Education Supplement 'A fascinating compilation, The Smell Culture Reader lives up to its promise to provide an overview of 'our most elusive sense'.' Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, Vol 13, No 4, 2007 'This is a fine collection of fascinating, well written papers, appropriate for assigning in undergraduate or graduate classes. It provides a wonderful introduction to an often neglected sensory realm.' Ethnos, Vol. 73:2, June 2008