Talk:Perfume (novel)

Symbols??
Patric Süskind had no intention to include any reference to the bible in this book. A notable references to religion is Jean-Batiste sitting in church and laughing at God. So in my opinion these references to the bible are completely out of place here. This book has no intention of describing -Grenoille as the anti-Christ or something. Every so called symbol here is probably created out of thin air by some over religious person. It should be deleted. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.22.197.202 (talk) 00:34, 24 January 2010 (UTC)

Rammstein and Manson connections?
"The song Du Riechst So Gut (You Smell So Good) by the German band Rammstein also seems to be based on this book".

See the lyrics. Doesn't look a terribly convincing theory to me. Tearlach 00:17, 13 July 2005 (UTC)

Additionally, "The inspiration for the name of Marilyn Manson's album, Smells Like Children."

The album name (and its artwork, and a number of the lyrics and voice samples) actually comes from "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." I deleted this line, but if someone knows any reference for which it should be retained, by all means please put it back.

Rammstein once stated in an interview that the book was the inspiration for that song, similarily Nirvana and their song "Perfumers apprentice".

A pop culture/influences section would be appreciated.

Sincerely, --68.144.79.58 (talk) 19:11, 11 January 2013 (UTC)

Proposed Cleanup and Expansion of Article
Over the next few months i plan to cleanup and expand this article. I have just today added a new infobox, and removed the tag at the top of this page stating it needed one. I plan to translate much of the German wikipedia article on Das Parfum aswell as adding a section of quotes to aid people studying the novel. I would like to hear from anyone who would care to aid me in the cleanup and expansion of this article or just if you have any idea or suggestions to how it could be improved. Also i am aware that a quotes section is what WikiQuote is for, but i feel that it could be relevant to a wikipedia article. Please discuss this with me aswell, as it could be more appropriate to have a link to the wikiquote page instead of a subheading in the wikiarticle. 6:39 PM AEST, 8th October 2006

Is the plot summary correct? I though Grenouille spent 10 years in a cage after the Grasse incident, then an aristocrat used him to test his hypothesis that air was good and earth was bad (as Grenouille was in pretty bad shape after being underground for 10 years). The aristocrat treated him with lots of air, but also fed him up well, gave him a bath and a change of clothes. Therefore the fact the Grenouille looked much better after the treatment had nothing to do with the air. Grenouille realised that he himself had not changed and realised that the change in people attitudes was just due to the clothes. I think after this he then went to Paris as stated with no further adventures. I haven't read the book for ages so can't write this in properly. [^nope, the "aristocrat" incident happens before the Grasse one.] — Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.180.193.110 (talk) 22:27, 19 May 2012 (UTC)

Maybe the theme that everyone who has anything to do with Grenouille comes to a bad end could be drawn out. (Note they don't all die, Madame Gaillard's bad end was that she lived so long that she ran out of savings and had to die in a paupers bed just as they had always feared).

Maybe a link to baby-farming?

Good work on the article. ChristineD 21:32, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

This article has improved a lot. Great stuff. I suggest that the part referring to pheremones in the intro is a bit misleading. It's a fantasy that has little use for such concepts; the theme of the connection between the sense of smell and the psyche is much broader than mere chemical behaviour triggers even though that's a tempting explanation. Another lil' suggestion; I think a good way to describe Genouille's sense of smell and what it means for his outlook on the world is that its like a dog's (and I suspect that Grenouille's character was modelled on a feral outcast dog or some similar wild animal). Any thoughts ? MuJoCh 13:14, 26 October 2006 (UTC)

All great ideas guys 'n' girls... part of what intrests me about the novel, is that Suskind leaves it so open to interpretation. The fact that the author himself lives such an illusive life himself, and we know hardely anything about the guy, which is definatly reflected within the character himself. As far as that goes with comparing the character to Grenouille as a dog im not entirely sure. Personally im not a fan of citing because i think that any wikipedians opinion is just as valid as some pretentious dork writing analysis of the book is, but perhaps we could introduce a section titles "Interpretations"?. Im quite sure other novels have done this so its by no means out of the ordinary. As far as i am concerned from the text Grenouille is likened moreso to that of a tick than a dog, but like i said i still think that a comparison to a dog certainly valid.

As far as the plot summary is, to be honest i havn't read the book for about 3 years, and i tried to keep it as true to what i could remember. So to be honest im not sure if its 100% correct. I really should read the book again soon because im studying it at school this year, so ill probably get alot more done on the article over the summer holidays which are about to come up in a few weeks.

A link on baby-farming?... im sorry i really dont see the connection there at all... please feel free to elaborate.

I agree with the refference to pheremones as being misleading, though i can easy see why the word has been used, in saying that it does do injustice to the strong emotional meaning of the scent, by undermining it with the pheremones term. Though i have seen many publications from "proffesionals" where the word is used so thats why i didn't change it. I would like to hear other peoples opinions on the subject before rectifying it. Or alternitevely if someone feels so strongly about it change it yourself :) Lanklan 1:19AM(AEST), 28 October 2006

Cleaned up some of the spelling mistakes in the summary... There were quite a lot of them. Aric de Lioncourt 17:04, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

This article fails to address the central conflict and genius of the novel: that of its impossibility of narration as consistent with any universe of discourse, including its own, traced against the imperative nature of its story. From page one, the narrator is a character in the novel (along with his audience of "moderns"), and purports to relate an historical story where none can be possible without (e.g.) time-travel telepathy. Rtelkin (talk) 23:21, 24 August 2017 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:Perfume cover.jpg
Image:Perfume cover.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

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Plot summary
The plot summary was pretty huge and rambling, at about 1600 words. I've trimmed it down somewhat. --Tony Sidaway 02:53, 26 January 2008 (UTC)

It is still partially nebulous and imposingly long, an even shorter simpler summary may be possible.

Sincerely, --68.144.79.58 (talk) 19:17, 11 January 2013 (UTC)

Is Perfume' base on a true story?
Nobody know since it beginning with the novel...I just wondering if this kind of perfume really exists, u can even persuade Bill Gates to give all of his wealth to you. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 124.13.178.47 (talk) 20:46, 22 May 2009 (UTC)

It's not.

Sincerely, --68.144.79.58 (talk) 19:13, 11 January 2013 (UTC)

Novel's cover
It is interesting to note that, although the young female cadaver on the cover has a beautiful curly long hair, Grenouille has actually cut it in order to extract its odoriferous essences. I wonder if further releases shouldn't reflect this fact of the novel on its cover. Hernan Cortez —Preceding unsigned comment added by 205.175.113.101 (talk) 21:30, 8 August 2009 (UTC)
 * Wikipedia can't do anything about the book's cover. I'm sorry. --Agusk7 (talk) 16:27, 3 November 2009 (UTC)

The covers & publishing icons & style of novels & other literature are very rarely known by their authors until marketing releases them. Rtelkin (talk) 23:23, 24 August 2017 (UTC)

translation
Who did the English translation? 37.24.150.126 (talk) 07:05, 13 September 2013 (UTC)


 * I added that John E. Woods did the English translation and won a big prize for it to the lede. Icarus of old (talk) 12:45, 13 September 2013 (UTC)