Interview: Professor Richard Stamelman on the cultural history of perfume

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On Valentine’s Day, many people turn to perfume as an ideal gift.

How did this come to be? Why is the notion of fragrance associated with romance?

To answer these questions, we turn to Professor Richard Stamelman.

Stamelman is a visiting professor at Dartmouth College, and the author of the book, "Perfume: Joy, Obsession, Scandal, Sin."

The book is a cultural history of perfume, and explores the pervasiveness of fragrance in literature, art and society.

VPR’s Neal Charnoff spoke with Richard Stamelman at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.

 

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