Publication Date: September 8, 2026
Set against the backdrop of mid-century Parisian glamour and the timeless art of perfumery, a captivating tale of resilience, love, and the intoxicating pursuit of passion.
Élodie Limeaux’s beloved mother, Aurore, was the most legendary perfumer in France before World War II, renowned for the exquisite fragrances she created for the family company, the House of Limeaux. Now in her twenties, Élodie longs to join the family business. Her father, however, has refused to let her follow in her late mother’s footsteps and Élodie has had to fight to become a mere lab assistant at Limeaux.
But Élodie plans to enter the Essence of Paris contest run by the French Perfume Institute, hoping that a win will secure investment from Swiss banker Monsieur Caspari, who is looking to launch a new scent for women-and possibly to buy the House of Limeaux.
Impressed with Élodie’s drive and talent, Caspari agrees to back her, provided that she collaborates with his son, Marcelo. Élodie is forced to agree, although Marcelo strikes her as a wealthy dilettante-albeit an extremely charming one.
When they join forces, though, Élodie is surprised to discover Marcelo’s passion for perfume is genuine, his obsession as deep as hers. With Marcelo by her side, Élodie battles family betrayals and corporate sabotage, searching for that elusive essence of Paris that will launch her career…and possibly the love of a lifetime.
In spite of being overlooked by her father, Élodie Limeaux is determined to prove she has what it takes to join the family perfumery.
Set in mid-20th-century France, Élodie’s efforts unfold in a beautiful story of resilience by Christine Wells. The Lost Perfumes of Paris details the young woman’s struggle to fulfill her mother’s legacy by creating a fragrance of her own.
The only way to achieve her goal is to win a prestigious contest—capturing the essence of Paris—though she must collaborate with Marcelo, the son of their company’s investor.
Not only does the story feature the inner workings of creating legendary fragrances, but it also includes a story of two people drawn together by a common purpose who also share a powerful spark.
The trailblazing aspect of a woman breaking into a male-dominated field is refreshing. While Élodie finds courage to handle family betrayal, her bond with Marcelo enables her to blossom.
The Lost Perfumes of Paris delivers an emotionally gripping slice of historical fiction that brings the senses alive.
Christine Wells writes historical fiction featuring strong, fascinating women. From early childhood, she drank in her father’s tales about the real kings and queens behind popular nursery rhymes and she has been a keen student of history ever since. She began her first novel while working as a corporate lawyer, and has gone on to write about periods ranging from Georgian England to post World War II France. Christine is passionate about helping other writers learn the craft and business of writing fiction and enjoys mentoring and teaching workshops whenever her schedule permits. She loves dogs, running, the beach and fossicking for antiques and lives with her family in Brisbane, Australia.
