Harold McGee's "Nose Dive": A Comprehensive Exploration of the Aromatic World

Ross E. Murray: Book arrived very quickly and was in excellent condition.

United States on Jun 07, 2023

Ron Sullivan & Joe Eaton: I bought this for my partner, who'd already borrowed a copy from the library and liked it so much I thought he'd want his own copy for reference. I was right.
Dang, this book is fun!

United States on Mar 10, 2023

Judy Parrish: This book provides in-depth information about why things smell the way they do. What smells wonderful may contain undertones created by chemicals that, by themselves, l would be pretty awful. And vice versa. It helps to have some familiarity with organic chemistry, but that's not completely necessary. This reviewer does, and was fascinated by the relationship between chemical structure and "smelliness", but one doesn't need to go so deeply into the chemistry to enjoy this book.

United States on Jul 13, 2022

Luca T.: This book is a real trip: it encourages the reader to imagine odours coming from the birth of the universe, the origins of life, plants, animals, etc. A great narrative idea mixing science and sensory phenomenology.

Italy on Jul 10, 2022

kohlsprosse: geniales Buch aber die Qualität des Papiers ist unterirdisch. unglaublich daß so etwas verkauft wird

Germany on Jan 28, 2022

Fred Cheyunski: Hearing the author interviewed on NPR when book came out, I was intrigued as it seems not many popular books have been devoted to our “grand olfactory.” At least, since I could not remember another such book, I secured a copy to read. As I proceeded, I found that the text is indeed, as its main title suggests, a deep plunge into odors and their chemistry, yet written in a compelling and interesting manner.

Sub-titled “a field guide,” the book is a tome of 688 pages divided into a preface and introduction, then 5 parts of 19 chapters and a conclusion. Namely, there is the Preface: My First Grouse, the Introduction: A Sense of the Essential, Part 1, Simplest Smells: (1) Among the Stars (2) Planet Earth, Early Life, Stinking Sulfur, (3) Starter Set; Part 2, Animals – Dependence, Mobility, Microbiomes: (4) Animal Bodies, (5) Animal Signals, (6) The Human Animal; Part 3, Land Plants – Independence Immobility, Virtuosity: (7) Sweet Smells of Success, (8) Plant Volatile Families: Green, Fruity, Flowery, Spicy, (9) Mosses, Trees, Grasses, Weeds, (10) Flowers, (11) Edible Greens and Herbs, (12) Edible Roots and Seeds: Staples and Spices, (13) Fruits; Part 4, Land,...

United States on Jun 13, 2021

Leandro Batista: Every ingredient has several volatile compounds that define its flavor. This is a very important subject to any cook.

France on Apr 26, 2021

BRUNO RIBEIRO DE AZEVEDO: -

Brazil on Mar 24, 2021

Ashley N: This book is so interesting and a perfect one if you're a perfumer, a cook, mixologist, or do anything to do with smell or flavor. Basically its a huge book explaining what makes up all the glorious and not so glorious smells of the world. The naturally occurring aroma chemicals that make up the smells of fall leaves, the ocean, food, and so on. Anything you can think of. I think its especially useful for perfumers who build accords. I highly recommend!

United States on Feb 28, 2021

Sara Galli: Amazing book for studying, experimenting and developing new plates and drinks

Canada on Nov 19, 2020