The Scent of You

Perfume blogger Polly is in crisis. Will her husband's absence break her ... or make her? A novel of perfumes, exploring life, love, loss and forgiveness -- Maggie Alderson's new bestseller.

'Delicious and delightful in every way' Daily Mail

Are you still married if you haven't seen your husband for months?

Polly's life is great. Her children are away at uni, her glamorous mother -- still modelling at eighty-five -- is happily settled in a retirement village, and her perfume blog is taking off. Then her husband announces he needs some space and promptly vanishes.

As Polly grapples with her bewildering situation, she clings to a few new friends to keep her going - Shirlee, the loudmouthed yoga student; Guy, the mysterious, infuriating and hugely talented perfumer; and Edward, an old flame from university.

And while she distracts herself with the heady world of luxury perfume, Polly knows she can't keep reality at bay forever. Eventually she is forced to confront some difficult truths: about her husband, herself and who she really wants to be.

'The Scent of You is a classic Alderson which mixes everything good in life; perfume, the internet, family and Very Good Looking men, into one can't-put-down read.' Vogue

'Maggie Alderson has a light touch, a well-sharpened wit and lots of heart ... Alderson's writing is sparklingly alive, her characters flawed but loveable and Polly a voice you want to follow. ... [a] thoroughly satisfying tale.' Better Reading

Praise for Maggie Alderson:

'Fact: Maggie Alderson is a goddamn national treasure. Her writing is pithy, warm, incisive and touching, her characters extremely lovable and relatably flawed.' Cosmopolitan