An intimate exploration of inspiration and creativity, from the "parfumeur exclusif" of the house of Hermès. A scent has incantatory powers, capable of transporting you to your past, of kindling fantasies, of creating a vivid mise en scène—literally out of thin air. In the hands of the truly great, perfume creation is a kind of alchemy. Where does inspiration for this visceral art come from? How does one capture the essence of emotions, of desire? Jean-Claude Ellena has a sublime gift. As "parfumeur exclusif" (or "the nose") for Hermès, he elevates fragrance to an art form. A "writer of perfume," his concoctions are as finely composed and evocative as a haiku. He is also a conjurer of sorts: "I create an illusion that is actually stronger than reality . . . you enter the scent and follow the path." The Diary of a Nose is a collection of Ellena’s meditations on the world of scents, and what stirs his creation of some of the world’s most desired fragrances. Inspiration can come from anywhere—a market stall, a landscape, or even the movement of calligraphy. Though each smell has its own distinct character, a gifted perfumer creates olfactory experiences that are intensely personal and unique, that blossom on the body and leave a trace of us lingering after we have left a room.Seductive, delicate, and elegant as any of Ellena’s creations, The Diary of a Nose seeks to capture the most elusive facets of this rarefied and mysterious art.

【作者】让-克罗德•艾列纳（Jean Claude Ellena）

1947年出生在法国香水之城格拉斯,他的父亲、兄弟与女儿都是调香师。他16岁时以学徒身份在当地精油工厂上夜班,20岁时加入 了现今全球第一大香精香料公司“奇华顿”（Givaudan）所办的调香师学校,成为第一个学生,尽管只上了九个月的课,最后仍成为一名调香师。后在当时德国最大的香料公司Haarmann & Reimer工作,如今该公司已合并成为世界第四大香精公司“德之馨”。

1990年他参与创立了位于凡尔赛的Osmothèque香水博物馆,旨在记录香水历史,保存出现过的每一支香水成品与香水配方,是全球最完整,国际公认的香水资料库。

2004年,他成为爱马仕旗下首位“专属调香师”(parfumeur exclusif),创造出许多备受关注的香水,从此爱马仕香水多呈大方自然、清新隽永的风格。艾列纳最知名的香水作品,包括“花园”系列、仅在爱马仕门店销售的沙龙香水“闻香珍藏”（Hermessence collection）系列。

2000年,他和女儿创立了自己的沙龙香水品牌The Different Company。

2016年,他从爱马仕退休,最后的香水作品为金色橙花（Eau de Néroli Doré）与闻香珍藏-陶瓷铃兰（Hermessence, Muguet Porcelain）。

艾列纳现在定居于格拉斯,在卡布里（Cabris）拥有个人调香实验室,先后出版过三本书《香水》《调香师日记》《绿香调》,但从不喷香水。

【译者】张乔玟

1978 年生,淡江大学法语系毕业,2002 年进入巴黎第四大学,主修现代

文学。旅居法国十二年,现定居于瑞士。译有《在我妈妈家的三天》《左

撇子的杀意》《行李箱》《钱已汇入你的户头》等十余本书。