Idaho native and author Alyssa Harad talks with Marcia Franklin about her first book, Coming to My Senses, which chronicles her surprise at discovering how the power of perfume helped her grow personally as both a writer and feminist. She also recommends books for good winter reading.
Harad, who grew up in Boise, had been working in a series of unfulfilling jobs in Austin, TX after receiving her Ph.D. One day she started reading about perfume. Her academic interest in the language and history of scent turned personal when she began ordering perfume for herself and others. She found that all of her senses became more acute, making her a better writer, and that enjoying perfume also broadened her ideas about what it meant to be a strong woman.
Originally Aired: 12/21/2012