This time four years ago I was lying in a hospital bed unable to walk after leg surgery. If you had told me that not far down the line I would have a book on perfume coming out in a Chinese edition (‘The Perfume Bible’ I think it is called – any elucidation on that point by readers appreciated), I would have said you were insane.
Published by Dook Books in April, ordinarily, for such a major occasion, we would undoubtedly have been flying out to Shanghai, where the publisher is based and where a very good friend of ours lives, partying down the Bund after a launch party and lounge lizarding is jazz bars in one of the Art Deco buildings, gladly led round the glittering neon metropolis, blurrily drinking liquor in celebration. As it is, instead, we had a grand Chinese meal (my very favourite food) at an almost empty restaurant in Kamakura, looking out onto the the cherry blossoms and the young women in kimono doing early flower viewing.
I am really excited.
The Black Narcissus 
CONGRATULATIONS—very exciting!!!
It is indeed “Perfume Bible” and the subtext says “perfume godfather personally demonstrates how to complement mood, dress, and occasion with infinitely charming perfume.” (…how to accessorize with infinitely charming perfume according to mood, dress, and occasion)
‘PERFUME GODFATHER?’
OH MY GOD I AM IN HEAVEN.
Can you tell me exactly what ‘simplified Chinese’ means?
Indeed! 😊
Simplified Chinese characters have fewer strokes than their “traditional Chinese” counterparts – this was supposedly developed to make it easier for everyone in China to learn to read and write. In Taiwan and Hong Kong, traditional Chinese is used. Japanese kanji is probably more similar to traditional Chinese characters, although some words may have their own variations.
Interesting.
My kanji knowledge is very poor – I of course recognized the characters for ‘perfume’ here – but nothing else. My brain has never been able to even begin to learn this way of writing : I gave up my first week in Japan ( I can converse ok and get by : deciding I would at least be able to speak the language up to a point ).
What is the word for godfather used here, if it can be rendered in the Roman alphabet ?
教父 jiào fù
(the inflection goes downward in both words—the tone you use when you are telling, not asking)
Someone said another translation is ‘pastor’ or minister… what do you think?
It could mean priest, but that’s a less common translation for priest (and pastor is typically a different word as well). I suppose perfume minister makes sense as well—keep preaching about perfume!
I am the Santa Claus Sagittarius of scent – an aged Caucasian Ho Ho ho-ing about vetiver and No 19
Godfather still works for me !
Thought so! 😊
In traditional Chinese, the title would look like this: 香水聖經 (the first 2 words, which mean perfume – literally “fragrant water” – are written the same, but the next 2 words, which mean bible, contain more strokes)
Thanks very much. I wonder who might pick this book up ?
How can my ridiculous prose be rendered in this writing? I would love to know how it reads.
I insist on this playing everywhere I go from now :
How wonderful! The dustjacket is lovely. And what an incredible assortment of bottles in this post! You must be so chuffed.
I am. It is just not something I would ever have imagined happening.
You write something and it crosses cultures … someone in some Chinese city might walk into a bookshop one day and think mmm.. why not? And I will be talking to them through the prism of another language.
Congratulations to the “Godfather of Smell”! Well deserved.
I made them an offer they couldn’t refuse.
Congratulations to the “Godfather of Smell”! Well deserved!
Watch out for a horse head ce soir
Congratulations! This is very exciting! Simplified Chinese are written characters used in China. Hong Kong and Taiwan are using ‘traditional Chinese’ in writing but most of the time people can read both.
Thankyou. I am fascinated by it all.
Don Vito Corleone aka Neil Chapman.
We’ll have to get you your own plush severed horse head cushion to cozy up with in bed. I see some on Amazon. The listing proclaims, “Revenge is a dish best served stuffed.” I’m gonna make ’em an offer they can’t refuse.
Okay, enough of that. This IS exciting news, dear N. Congratulations are in order. Wish you could go to Shanghai, but at least you wined and dined to commemorate the event. I’m so happy for you. The publishers simply must give you a copy so you can casually toss it on a coffee table to impress your guests.
I wonder how the translator coped with your writing? He or she, hopefully was the genius required to do it justice.
Great visuals. The Chinese perfume bottles are incredible.
I know I WANT them.
I love The Godfather and want the horse pillow. I watched Part III again a few weeks ago and maintain it is underrated – I felt extreme an extreme covering of Al Pacino’s silk pajamas
By the way if several of the top perfume critics suddenly go missing, don’t say anything.
Right. I could be next.
Don’t sit in the front car seat
Congrats! Your Book is my favourite present for family members and Friends- in English 😀
How amazing. Thankee
Tài lì hai le (you are awesome!)
Congratulations on becoming the Don of fragrance in east Asia. Hopefully the Chinese tourists that frequent my gallery will start wearing something other than Chanel Chance (and its myriad flankers) as they have for the last 5 years.
Those Chinese perfume bottles are swoonworthy, I have a collection of Asian pottery but those look exquisite are are infinitely more transportable.
Most from Sotheby’s auctions – real precious cargo !
Congratulations, that’s really great news. I like the Chinese perfume bottle pictures.
I thought I would decorate my little tome.
Now, this is AMAZING. Congrats, sir. Absolutely something to celebrate.
Thankyou sir ! x
WOW!! That is so cool, Neil. Congratulations! I am lusting after those perfume bottles. Gorgeous.
Yea – imagine a gorgeous jasmine tincture in one of those..
I love your thoughts on how people may take in and understand your words when they’ve been translated into a totally different language! The Perfume Godfather – awesome! Congratulations!
Thanks. It does feel like a gift
This is such a wonderful thing, and you should feel so proud of yourself. I am just over-the-moon joyous for you, I wish I could give you a huge hug in person.
This book will be known in every corner of the world, as it rightfully should be. You have a way with describing scent that goes far beyond the norm, you manage to describe with stories, which makes all the fragrances feel more easily understandable and far more relatable.
Huzzah, dear Neil!!!
Thankyou so much – it is always a very small niche market writing about perfume but there is something exhilarating about it all : I wish I could go there …
I know how badly you wish to be there, but safety first. Hopefully you could do a signing there, when things are better contained.
It would be lovely – and we have been planning a trip for a while, but in all honesty I have zero wanderlust right now. There is no appeal in this situation right now and I am enjoying memories of our travels – which often come up in mine and D’s conversation. Do you know what I mean ?
On a different topic, I wanted to ask you about Molyneux Quartz : Strawberry Field has a bottle in its closing down sale. Do I need it? I am imagining a slightly arch, Diorella ish type affair. Please describe !
I might go and get it tomorrow if you provide the green light.
How absolutely thrilling! I am so very happy for you!! And now let‘s hope that all those charming young Chinese will want to read all about fragrant water which, by the way, is what the ur-German word for perfume is too: Duftwasser! Congratulations!
Danke mein kleiner Duftchen !
😚
Congrats, Neil! This is such great news.
Thank you sir !