Batthew Aromascent and the phantom ingredient by Ella Mulvey and John Roebuck

The city of Candlenut is thrown into an aroma-laden tournament that is redolent with all the smells of winning and loving, and that for Batthew impels him to rescue everything that smells of home and love. But his opponent in this competition does not care about anyone in Candlenut and in his usual bullying style just wants to win at any cost. For Batthew this cost will be high. He needs to rely on Lavender, his closest friend, and others who knew his missing parents, to climb high and dig deep to make the most remarkable olfactory delight that will impress the judges and wipe the smile off his opponent’s face. Can he find the ‘Phantom Ingredient’ that will save the memory of his parents and make his perfume creation a waft of wonder? 

This is a unique mystery and adventure set within a world where the sense of smell has a place that is above all other senses. From the worst wafts to the greatest odours of delight, the authors have created a feast of the senses mixed with a lot of humour. Young readers may find names a little ‘strange’, but the delights of petrichor and patchouli weave through the adventure with young protagonists trying to achieve something that smells amazing, and rises above fear and malodorous bullies. This is a book for 9 to 12-year-olds who are happy to have a different world of fantasy where lovers of friendship, aromatics and perfumes rule.

Themes: Aromas/scents, Competition, Friendship, Family.

Carolyn Hull