Publisher: Flatiron Books

Pages: 480 in print

Publication Date: December 27, 2022

I received this book from the publisher.

In Lahore, Hindustan the family Vij had a well-respected fabric shop. They changed their business to perfume after Vivek Vij returned from an apprenticeship in France following WWI. Soon the name Vij became synonymous with custom, hand-crafted perfume. Vivek Vij’s nephew, Samir, was fascinated with scent. He would smell everything he could find. It became apparent by his behavior that he had inherited his uncle Vivek’s discerning sense of smell. Samir became an apprentice in the family business and began learning everything about the business. At the same time in another district of Lahore, the family Khan had a successful business in calligraphy. Altaf Khan was progressive in his thinking, believing that girls should be educated. From childhood, his daughter Firdaus was by his side learning this beautiful art form. She became well-trained in all forms of calligraphy as she attended the school her father ran.

Firdaus and Samir meet when their parents begin a joint business venture. Altaf Khan was searching for a rose scent to imbue into the paper of a book he was creating. As the families interacted, the Vij family decided that Samir should begin attending calligraphy classes at the Khan school. The first time Samir sees Firdaus, he is enchanted. Her scent captivates him. As Samir and Firdaus learn and practice calligraphy together, they begin falling in love. In their society, overt expressions were not encouraged. Samir began showing his feelings for Firdaus through letters that he wrote daily.

Lahore was a cultural melting pot. Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, and others all lived peacefully. As WWII was fought, people began questioning the country’s ties to England. Many felt that the British should stop their colonization. England did exit the country but for many, this wasn’t enough change. The religious differences became important. Muslim and Hindu leaders felt the need to separate. There was a call to divide into Indian and Pakistani – the Partition. As time goes by, Lahore becomes a site for much of the rebellion separating India and Pakistan. At the peak of the rebellion, Samir leaves Lahore and Firdaus behind.

This is an epic story of love, loss, and rebellion set against the backdrop of a troubled country. We follow Firdaus and Samir through their lives. Samir is Hindu and his romantic attentions to Firdaus, who is Muslim, are not acceptable to the Khan family. Young love may not be the only love these two will experience. The author does not shy away from death and explores the relationship death has to the trajectory of one’s life. Samir’s life is mirrored by his perfume experiences. His early compositions are youthful and sweet and his final composition has depth and legacy. While reading this book, it is apparent that the author has done a tremendous amount of research and the steps of creating oils and perfumes are described in deep detail. I found the detailed descriptions of perfumery interesting but as they continued through the story, I wished more focus was placed on the people instead of the perfume. Since it is a generational story, it is not a quick read.

This is a historical fiction story that touches on WWI and WWII while illuminating the huge cultural impact the partition of India had on its citizens.

My Rating: 🌻🌻🌻🌻/5