Paul Bevan on Scents of China. A Modern History of Smell by Xuelei Huang

In his insightful review, Paul Bevan explores Xuelei Huang’s pioneering book, the first to focus exclusively on smell in modern China. Traversing nineteenth- and twentieth-century history, literature, and urban life, the study examines scent’s cultural, political, and social dimensions. From The Dream of the Red Chamber to Shanghai’s deodorisation projects and Mao-era smell politics, Huang’s work reveals a richly layered sensory history. Bevan highlights the book’s breadth and depth, recommending it as essential reading for scholars and general readers alike.