To ask for help identifying this book?

[RatHammock]

I’m trying to remember the name of a novel based on a very vague description. I read it as a teenager in the 90s but feel like it was probably published in the 80s. It was based around (I think) two sisters who invented a perfume. One of them was tall and blonde and somehow invented some sort of perfume which she sold for a fortune, but couldn’t afford to bottle it so used some crystal doorknobs as containers. I think she might have been French but not sure on that.

She went for some sort of interview with an older woman who made her empty out her handbag and was impressed that she kept it organised without junk. I seem to remember she had a lesbian encounter with this older woman.

She went on to be a wildly successful businesswoman with a perfume house but there was some sort of rivalry with (I think) a younger sister.

Writing that all down it sounds unhinged, but it has been driving me mad not being able to remember the title/author. It was definitely low brow and along the lines of Lace, probably the same sort of era.

Any ideas wise MNrs?

🙂

I read this book! Now wracking my brain about the name!!

Scents by Johanna Kingsley

OMG that’s it! Thank you so much. Unbelievably, the paperback is £156 on Amazon. It is on Kindle though, I wonder if I should read it again? It’s probably dreadful. 🙂

I’ve used the phrase “the same sort” far too many times in my OP.

some sort

£156?? That must be an error - it's £3.40-ish on Ebay!

from £2.37 on ebay

I often see mad prices like that for books. I think it's some kind of money laundering thing.

It sounds really good, thanks for the recommendation!

I agree re reading it again, some things are best left a fond memory! It’s likely defcon 1 cringe 😆

I remember Lace, that was the book with the fish …… or was that a different book?