Behind My Bookshelf- A Chat With Author Anna Dorn

For this brief interview, I sent over some questions to my favorite literary genius: Anna Dorn. I was first introduced to Dorn’s addictive narrative voice when I read Perfume and Pain –a lit fic delight starring an introverted, internet-obsessed writer and perfume addict-  last spring. The book checked all of my boxes- sarcastic, sickeningly clever, chronically online, and somehow randomly filled with fragrance references. While devouring the novel in under three days, I also devoured white chocolate popcorn and take-out fettuccine alfredo, remnants of which have sadly sullied my paperback copy. I’d apologize to the friends I forced to borrow it, but I feel I’ve given them enough of a gift already. 

My parasocial delight only grew when I discovered Dorn had two substack chains: “Blue Velour” and “Sample Sluts.” Whoever voices those Substack posts -whether it be Dorn or an entity closer to her Perfume and Pain protagonist, Astrid Dahl- is a true delight. Checking in on her homepage, I’m greeted with tidbits like: “i luv when people say my main character is a ‘female american psycho’ when i thought i was just writing a nice, normal girl lol.” Dorn is effortlessly hilarious, always right on the nose, and the only author who seems to write exactly what I want to read before I can even verbalize it. It’s a disappointing truth to say that few others have detailed scent pairings for “The Traitors” or “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.” If you get it, you get it. If you don’t, you don’t. Also, we both may have some choice words for you. 

Perfume and Pain kept me so hooked largely because of its gossipy, celeb-adjacent nature. Your second book, American Spirits, switches niches of star status to focus on a musical artist. Who is your biggest “basic” celebrity icon, and who is your biggest “hear-me-out?” 

This is a fun question! I have a lot of basic faves, but Rihanna comes to mind. She just exudes cool and I love her music, especially Anti. I also have a lot of hear-me-outs, but I’m going to go with Romy Mars—Sofia Coppola’s daughter. I wrote about her briefly on the perfume Substack I run with my friend Crissy, but I just think she’s so fun and charming. Probably my favorite nepo baby. 

Why do you think it’s important to discuss pop culture? What would you say to those who argue that snark/gossip culture can’t simultaneously exist alongside serious social conversations? 

I wouldn’t say that it’s necessarily important to discuss pop culture, but I find it fun. I see it as a shared language that transcends class and can act as a sort of cultural mirror. It’s also more relaxing to gossip about people you don’t personally know because you don’t have to worry about hurting their feelings. But I’m not too concerned with convincing skeptics. If people look down on discussing pop culture, that’s their prerogative. I think people should be able to engage with whatever excites them and tune out what doesn’t.

On that note, do you have anything to say to Timothee Chalamet about ballet or opera? 

I just watched the clip, and I don’t really get the big deal. Perhaps the phrasing was clumsy, but I think he was just trying to express that he’s invested in film remaining a relevant medium, which seems like a reasonable thing for a film actor to care about. As someone who has a tendency to say the wrong thing in interviews, my heart goes out to anyone who gets pounced on for a minor lapse.

Truthfully, how far did you have to deviate from your actual personality to write from the perspective of “Astrid?”

You know how when you dream, there will be different characters from your waking life, but they’re all really you because your subconscious created them? It’s a lot like that with writing fiction. The characters may look more or less like me on the surface, but they’re all me in some way because I created them.

Which of your protagonists is most like you, which is most unlike you but somebody you’d want to be friends with, and which would you deeply hate if you interacted with?

Astrid from Perfume & Pain and Prue from Vagablonde are probably the most like me on the surface. I suspect I’d find being friends with them challenging as I am not easy. Dawn from Exalted and Ivy from Perfume & Pain would not be very safe people to be friends with, and Thomas from Exalted would be my nightmare. I would definitely be friends with Emily from Exalted, though. I’d also be friends with Ella from American Spirits—she’s a side character, but I adore her. 

What’s one fragrance you would choose to represent each decade of your life?

Decade 1: Gap Grass, because I grew up in Washington, D.C., which is extremely green, and I was always playing soccer and surrounded by grass. Also basically my entire wardrobe was from Gap Kids. 

Decade 2: Ralph by Ralph, because that was the first perfume I bought and I wore it for most of my teen years.

Decade 3: CK2, because I got this for free at a party and wore it for most of the decade. It also smells like a pool, and in my 20s I was always at a pool. 

Decade 4: The Architects Club by Arquiste, because my 30s have been all about a niche spicy vanilla. My personality is very spicy vanilla—mostly basic with a hint of sass. 

What would you tell someone who (shamefully) considers collecting perfume overconsumption or hoarding? 

I’m actually a bit of a Marie Kondo type myself and don’t keep many full bottles, but life is short and often painful and I think people should buy and keep whatever makes them happy.

For more of Anna Dorn’s expansive perfume knowledge or witty phraseology, her Substacks (personal and perfume-based) are more than worth a browse. American Spirits launches this April! Catch up with Anna Dorn yourself at one of her CA or NY signings over the next few months. 

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