The Scent Keeper: A Novel

Erica Bauermeister, the author of the February Reese's Book Club pick The Scent Keeper, presents a moving and evocative novel about childhood stories, families lost and found, and how a fragrance conjures memories capable of shaping the course of our lives.

Emmeline lives on a remote island with her father, who teaches her about the natural world through her senses. What he won’t explain are the mysterious scents stored in glass bottles that line the walls of their cabin, or the origin of the machine that creates them. As Emmeline grows, however, so too does her curiosity, until one day the unforeseen happens, and Emmeline is vaulted out into the real world--a place of love, betrayal, ambition, and revenge. To understand her past, Emmeline must unlock the clues to her identity, a quest that challenges the limits of her heart and imagination.

Captivating and emotional, The Scent Keeper explores the provocative beauty of scent, the way it can reveal hidden truths, lead us to the person we seek, and even help us find our way back home.

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Published Feb 4, 2020

320 pages

Average rating: 7.26

256 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Robin B Black
Apr 11, 2026
10/10 stars
A really interesting premise of a story! Very unique and written beautifully. One or two minor hiccups in the story telling, so maybe 4.5 stars would be more accurate. But I will be thinking of this book for awhile.
MelonGG
Feb 24, 2026
8/10 stars
Beautiful, painful, rewarding
Tarajo
Feb 08, 2025
10/10 stars
As Emmeline grows up with her father on an island all their own, she doesn’t even realize that there are other people outside their little world. As she grows up she learns from her father that smells can be nearly magical triggers for memories of all kinds, her own and others

After a tragedy changes her circumstances greatly she is suddenly thrust into a new world where she has to learn to trust others. As she seeks the truth about herself and her family she learns what really matters.

Certain smells can bring me immediately to long lost memories, so i was intrigued by this story and look forward to reading other stories by this author.
stackedlibrarian
Dec 11, 2024
8/10 stars
3.5
Carla_is_Reading
Oct 24, 2024
8/10 stars
A beautiful and wonderful read filled with lyrical or poetic prose, and such detailed writing that is sure to inspire the reader. My full review is on Lit Buzz! Go check it out.

https://thelitbuzz.com/2020/05/the-scent-keeper

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