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It’s no secret that Serviette often pulls inspiration from the literary realm. Like books, we believe that fragrance can (and should) tell a story, leading you somewhere unfamiliar, and perhaps a little forbidden. But why choose one or the other? Consider setting the mood for your next read with a spritz of Serviette, or, if you’re unsure where to start, read on for some of our dreamiest recommended book and fragrance pairings.
Richard Siken’s Crush and Sour Diesel. Like Crush, Sour Diesel truly holds nothing back. Filled with shimmering stanzas that will leave you breathless, Crush is a masterful exploration of queer desire and obsession. As you read, the lines become more and more blurred; are Siken’s memories his, or are they your own? This haziness is perfectly replicated in Sour Diesel’s punchy, rhubarb-y kush accord, which hangs suspended like a dream or a distant memory. At the same time, its floral qualities, thanks to Egyptian geranium, create a meaningful parallel to Siken’s arrestingly beautiful use of language.
Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre and Byronic Hero. As the name suggests, Byronic Hero takes its cue from Lord Byron himself—more specifically, from his instantly recognizable brooding, arrogant anti-heroes that we love to hate (or hate to love). There is perhaps no more iconic Byronic hero than the aloof—yet alluring—Mr. Rochester, with his shadowy past and maddeningly self-important airs. Like Byronic Hero, Jane Eyre is full of intrigue: deep, velvety reds, a gothic mansion full of secrets, and charged exchanges that linger in the air, heavy with words left unsaid.
Betty Smith’s A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and Ruche. A poignant bildungsroman set in early 20th-century Brooklyn, the novel is an impactful exploration of the so-called “American Dream,” family ties, and, above all else, the hope and belief that a better life is always within reach. Ruche’s uniquely complex, photorealistic raspberry note perfectly represents both the sweetness and the bitterness that comes with growing up, mirroring Francie Nolan’s own journey into adulthood. Ruche smells like the in-between: dangling on the edge of adolescence and everything that comes after.
Robert Glück’s Margery Kempe and Frisson D’Hiver. Two romantic obsessions—500 years apart—swell and collapse in Robert Glück’s Margery Kempe. Inspired by the first English autobiography, Book of Margery Kempe, the novel explores the titular aspiring saint’s fanatic love affair with Jesus as she embarks on a holy pilgrimage. At the same time, the author explores his own romantic obsession with the unattainable L. Through the weaving of these two tales, Glück explores themes of limerence, abjection, and devotion. The gulf between their stories reads like a long winter—perfectly mirrored in Frisson D’Hiver, where glacial and solar notes collide in a tension of extremes.
Which pairing is your favorite? Or do you have your own in mind? As always, we thank you for reading and being an honorary member of the Serviette book club.