She was an Englishwoman of independent mind and means.

Beginning in 1911, she traveled through Europe, Africa, India, and China, keeping remarkable diaries; a few survive.

The pages are filled with close observations of nature and society, insights, and curious notations that appear, at first glance, to be recipes.

They are recipes. For perfumes.

It was still the custom, then, for women of a certain standing to have perfumers create fragrances especially for them. A signature scent. Or a perfume for an important occasion.

"E.M." (to use her initials) was not unusual in commissioning perfumes. But she was unique in keeping detailed notes about them.

Those notes have made the J. Peterman E.M. Collection possible.