Smells : A Cultural History of Odours in Early Modern Times (Paperback)

Table of Contents


Table of illustrations 

Introduction

Chapter one: Our unique sense of smell

Is science always objective?     

A sense of danger, emotions, and delight
     
Chapter 2: A Pervasive stench    

The foul air of medieval towns   

Urban cess pits 

The smell of profit   

Pollutant trades 

Countryside smells    

Chapter three: Joyous matter
     
A scholarly culture of scatology 

Aromatic blasons 

Humour in the conte   

The Way to Succeed    

Odorous wind    

Chapter four: Scent of a woman
    
Demonising the smell of women    

When ladies did not smell of roses    

At arm's length 

Guilty women    

A breath of eroticism
  
The gutter press 

A literary stink 

Death and the old woman

Demonic pleasure 

Chapter five: The Devil's breath
  
Venomous vapours 

Plague-ridden towns   

Perfume as armour     

Perfumed rituals 

Rue, vinegar and tobacco
     
Pomanders  

Chapter six: Musky scents
    
Fountains of youth    

Ambergris, musk and civet
    
The perfumed glove trade   

The eroticism of leather   

Nothing new under the Sun King?
   
Drawing death's sting 

The great animal slaughter
   
Chapter seven: Civilising floral essences
    
The perfume revolution     

Luxuriating in baths of scent    

Sensual faces   

Bodily hair care 

The scent of powder   

The emperor's perfumer     

Conclusion 

Bibliography

     A note on quotations

     Principle manuscript sources

     Primary sources

     Selected bibliography