Scent and the City: Perfume, Consumption, and the Urban Economy1

Abstract

In human geography, and economic geography in particular, research has traditionally focused on economic activity that is productive and has regarded production and consumption as distinguishable spheres. This study puts that focus into perspective, challenges it from a cultural economy perspective, and characterizes the production and consumption of perfumes in an urban economy. Perfumes serve as an example to claim that the spheres of production and consumption blend, and that the production and consumption of perfumes reflexively fuel and are fueled by the register of passion in an urban emotional economy. The study also seeks to add insights concerning the challenge of spatializing and illustrating the cultural economy of cities.