The Perfumist of Paris

By the time Radha gets home from the Paris airport, Niki is already at her apartment with Pierre. He has introduced himself as a cousin. Though Radha brusquely informs him in Hindi that his parents are worried and that he needs to leave, Pierre, Florence, and the girls encourage him to stay for dinner. Radha is overwhelmed by her emotions and jetlag, and the family takes her to bed. When she awakens the next day, the family has taken Niki sightseeing, leaving her to rest. Mathilde calls and they agree to meet for lunch, where Radha laments her inability to console her friend after her recent breakup or offer help with her mother’s dementia. Radha also feels guilty for never telling Mathilde about Niki. She flees to the museum afterward and does not realize she is crying in front of Olympia until Gérard comforts her. She tells him about Ravi taking advantage of her age and lack of experience and how it led to Niki’s birth, comparing her suppressed feelings of betrayal to Victorine’s masked expression in the painting. Though Gérard cannot imagine all Radha has been through, he tells her that when a disease took his right hand, he learned to use his left; however, in his dreams, he still paints right-handed.

The next morning, Florence takes Niki and the girls to Sunday mass and then to see more sights. Radha tells Florence that Niki has run away from home and that she must speak with him afterward at the Jardin de Luxembourg. Then, Radha and Pierre both leave home to catch up with work. In the empty office, she finally blends Olympia’s fragrance. Later, at the gardens, she confesses everything to Niki and tells him to return to Kanta. He is bewildered and wonders if she is getting rid of him again. She shoves a special scent vial into his hands, revealing that it is his baby scent that she carries with her at all times. At home, Pierre is upset with her increasing absences. Later, after Radha spends time reading with the girls, Shanti confesses that the reason she fought at school was to protect Asha from bullies. She believes she must be a better sister, but she also says she wishes Niki was her brother.

At work on Monday, Radha realizes the scent she mixed has soured. Once again, she suspects Michel of sabotage but decides her inexperience is to blame. She scrambles to reformulate, all the while thinking about Niki and realizing her secrets have cost her and her children too much.

That evening, at Florence’s, Niki is sleeping when Radha goes over. However, Florence asks Radha how old she was when she had Niki. When Radha confirms that Pierre does not know, Florences confesses that Pierre is not her husband’s child and that he does not know that secret, either. Radha realizes that the animosity between her and Florence stems from Florence’s loneliness and Radha’s own insecurities. Just then, Florence accidentally shatters her wine glass and cuts her hands. After the chaos, they realize Niki has left. Radha returns home with the girls, afraid she has pushed him away for good. When Florence calls to tell her Niki returned after sending a telegram to his mother, Radha tells Pierre the truth about Niki’s identity. Afterward, Pierre tells her he wants the girls to know their brother, but he is hurt by Radha’s secrecy and needs time alone. She awakes to find a note saying he will be away on an overnight trip.

Havi calls early the next morning to warn Radha that a Michel Le Grand called her to buy up all the mitti attar, but she has no intention of working with someone she cannot trust. At work, Yves comes in for a surprise visit, and in front of Radha and Delphine, Ferdinand passes Radha’s fragrance off as his own. Yves is pleased and knows the client will accept. Delphine stays calm, but she calls Radha into her office later. Radha confesses her suspicion of Michel tampering with her work, citing Havi’s phone call and the instances of sabotage she had previously ignored. However, Delphine tells her Michel is Radha’s greatest supporter and has always praised her work to Delphine.

Céleste joins the meeting and tells them that Ferdinand’s parents cut his allowance; also, she mentions that he has lost his keys and asked to borrow the master set several times. The master keys would give him access to Radha’s work, and the loss of his allowance gives him a motive to steal a promotion. They include Michel in their meeting as well, and Delphine tells them they cannot allow Ferdinand to lower their standards even though he has Yves’s support. Soon after, Radha comes close to confronting Ferdinand, but Céleste and Michel pretend to toast Ferdinand and spill champagne on him. When he leaves, Delphine calls Radha into the office. Michel enters moments later to confirm that he has contaminated Ferdinand’s sample of the mitti attar with cinnamon oil so that his new sample for the client will smell off. Delphine tells Radha to keep her own mitti attar with her and prepare the real sample for tomorrow’s presentation. With her colleagues’ support, Radha can refocus her attention on Niki.

Radha leaves the girls with Florence and takes Niki to see the painting Olympia at the museum. There, she tells him the whole story, including how much she loved him. While he sketches her, she introduces him to Gérard, who appreciates his talent. They all go for drinks, and since Pierre is out of town, Radha, Niki, and the girls stay with Florence for the evening. Radha returns to her apartment in the morning to find Mathilde coming downstairs. Mathilde accuses Radha of keeping secrets, and when Radha wonders how she found out about Niki, Mathilde tells her to ask Pierre. Pierre berates Radha for not being home the previous night, even though he was supposed to be traveling.

At work, after the client meeting, Radha meets Delphine, who explains that the client chose Radha’s scent. However, since Yves believes in his nephew’s talent, Ferdinand will get a promotion to Spain to start a satellite shop—this will be far enough away to prevent further trouble. Then, Delphine leaves Radha to meet the client. Radha recognizes the woman as someone she’d seen at Antoine’s many years ago; Radha had helped her pick a scent to keep her wayward husband’s attraction. The client reveals that she knew Radha even before that, and Radha realizes the woman is Sheela, Ravi Singh’s wife, who once tormented her.

Sheela apologizes to Radha and explains that she is leaving Ravi, who is an unfaithful husband. To keep her girls away from his corrupt parents, she is launching a line of perfumes called “Remember Me,” based on the forgotten women of art history. She knows Radha can help make her line a success, so she wants to partner with both her and the House of Yves. She also wants to assure Radha that giving Niki to Kanta was the best choice and warn her that the Singhs do plan to entice Niki to their side. Radha realizes she has power in this deal and negotiates steeply, agreeing to the work only if Sheela will fund a five-year scholarship for Niki at L’École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where Florence is on the board. Sheela agrees, and they shake hands on their new alliance.

To celebrate, Delphine gives Radha the day off. Radha invites Mathilde for lunch and finally offers support for Mathilde’s difficulties with caring for her mother. Mathilde does not love her mother and thinks it is wrong that her mother expects her to be a caregiver when she received little care from the neglectful woman growing up, but she still feels guilty for giving her mother’s care over to others. After Radha tells her the truth about Niki, Mathilde confesses that she and Pierre had sex the previous night.

At home, Radha confronts Pierre, who tries to blame Mathilde for their tryst. Radha defends her friend and explains that she can move forward with their relationship only if he can get past his anger at her career. He says he cannot, and they decide to separate. Radha speaks to Florence on the phone, who guesses that they are divorcing and blames herself for spoiling Pierre. Radha tells Florence she and Pierre will need her more than ever after the divorce, and she means it. Then, she calls Lakshmi for support.