‘You do the best radio when you make someone visualise what you are saying—and that is what Hemangini has done so wonderfully’, says RJ Sarthak at the launch of the book “The Scratch and Sniff Chronicles” by Hemangini Dutt Majumder. He praised its “theatre of the mind” and vivid descriptions that make Neelbari almost scentable.
Published by Niyogi Books, this multilayered story follows Ollie, a young woman with an uncanny sense of smell, an unusual symptom of a health condition, and a rare female wine sommelier and beverage consultant. Her life changes quite dramatically when she and her entire family decide to relocate to their ancestral estate, Neelbari, in Chandannagar, where strange and mysterious incidents begin to unfold. What follows is a gripping whodunnit with ample doses of humour and delicious twists and turns.
Patricia Loison, Director of Alliance Française, opened the evening by reflecting on the link between France, literature, and scent. She compared Proust’s Madeleine moment with the olfactory cues in Hemangini’s writing. “Smells in books—like those of wine, perfume, or monsoon-drenched flowers—hold the power to conjure memory and magic,” she said.
RJ Sarthak also connected the novel’s classic rock mentions—The Rolling Stones, Guns N’ Roses—with Kolkata’s Durga Puja. He shared how Mick Jagger once attended the festival, met a designer, and was inspired by the fierce image of Kali Ma—which later shaped the Rolling Stones logo. “The book,” he said, “is like a vintage record—moody, rich, and deeply evocative.”
Chef Sadaf Hussain explored the novel’s culinary side, noting how Ollie’s sharp nose turns food into storytelling. On “Labang Latika” (a dish), he said, “Sometimes there is no synonym for flavour, only memory.” He also recalled a Lucknow trip where he bought a coffee fragrance he still doesn’t know what to do with.
Actor Padmapriya Jankiraman shared a humorous take on Fishy—originally “Pishi,” mispronounced in childhood. “She’s a high-flying lawyer yet tries to set Ollie up with a prawn supplier,” she laughed, noting Fishy’s scent: tiger balm. As an actor, she enjoys visualising characters.
Trisha De Niyogi, Director of Niyogi Books, added, “The book may be full of women characters, but don’t be fooled– it’s a book for every gender because joy is ungendered.”
Looking forward to the release, the author shared, “Murder mysteries are my happy place. I unabashedly love every trope related to the whodunit style. That said, the germ of this novel really came from the lead protagonist Olympia Ghoshal Chattergé, or Ollie—the likable doofus who has lived in my head for several years. Like Ollie, I’ve experienced PCOS and hypersomnia (sensitivity to smells), though to a lesser degree. I thought it would be fascinating to flip the script and make her condition a sort of superpower rather than an affliction.”
When asked if smell is elitist, Dutt replied, “Certainly not. Rain or flowers are freely accessible. People may bottle them, but the original is for everyone.”
Speaking to The Statesman, Dutt said the book is not about romantic love, but about “a strong sense of autonomy and independence.” Neelbari itself blends Gothic architecture, stained glass, and an eerie sense of danger. “It’s not exactly wholesome,” she said. “But the family’s very comfortable with that… when you read, you’ll find out.”
The book may be fiction–but it lingers like perfume on skin.