Scent has become a gargantuan global business, valued to the tune of $31.4 billion as of 2018, and predicted to grow further in the coming years. A new book called The Essence—Discovering the World of Scent, Perfume & Fragrance (Gestalten) offers a fascinating look at the industry, covering the history, origins, and methods used to produce fragrances over the years, as well as the figures who are bringing the perfume-making craft into the 21st century. There are also plenty of punchy, entertaining sidebars, including a timeline of significant launches, from Issey Miyake’s definitive 1990s aquatic scent, to artist Lucy McRae’s 2011 “Swallowable Perfume,” which comes in the form of a pill that, once ingested, emits scent through the user’s own skin and sweat.