Book Spotlight: Full Bloom

A scent-filled read you don't want to miss.

Every once in a while a novel comes along that feels like it was written just for us scent lovers. New York Times best-selling author Francesca Serritella’s Full Bloom is one of those books that I want to share with you today (note: this is not a paid endorsement, just my humble recommendation 😊).

I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy this summer ahead of my podcast interview with the author, and I devoured the story. It’s juicy, captivating, and infused with scent at every turn - it’s that good. In fact, I’m not the only one who thinks so. Shortly after its release on August 5th, it’s already become a national bestseller here in the U.S..

THE STORY

The novel follows Iris Sogrin, a 35-year-old woman living in New York City who finds herself stuck: her long-term relationship has ended, her career feels stalled, and she’s going through the motions, waiting for something to go her way.

Then her neighbor, Madame Rapacine, a former Master Perfumer, gifts her a bespoke fragrance for her birthday and everything changes: men notice her, work colleagues finally listen to her ideas, and she discovers a confidence she didn’t even know she had.

The clever part is that the story is even structured like a perfume: the top notes are all about Iris’s first exciting encounters with her new scent, the heart notes are when things start getting intense, and the base notes then dig into the deeper themes like shame, desire, and transformation.

MAKES YOU THINK

While the story centers around a perfume, what I loved was how it also tackles the “ethical” questions around wearing it - which really made me think. When Iris wears the perfume to work and suddenly her voice is heard, is that manipulation or justice? When attraction begins with scent but turns into something deeper, does it matter how it started?

The author also addresses scent’s role in evoking memory and shaping identity. For the main character, Iris, the smell of smoke reminds her of the childhood trauma of losing her parents in a house fire, and that sets her on a journey of figuring out who she really is (no spoiler alerts).

I invite you to listen to my podcast conversation with Francesca because we discuss some really interesting topics around scent’s role in female power, desire, and confidence - and the shame that often holds us back from claiming them.

I think this is a thought-provoking conversation you’ll really enjoy. You can listen on Apple podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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And if you love fragrance, if you’re curious about the power of scent in shaping our lives, or if you simply want to enjoy a beautifully written page-turner, I think Full Bloom is worth checking out.