Perfume: Part 1, Chapter 20 Summary & Analysis

Grenouille develops a high fever that after a few days develops into pustules and boils. Baldini is understandably worried, as he's considering opening a small factory where popular scents could be mixed and sent all over Europe. While technically an illegal venture, Baldini has the possibility of a royal patent thanks to one of his clients, which would allow him to skip pesky restrictions. Baldini is also entertaining the idea of having Grenouille create individual perfumes for a select few clients.

In light of these dreams, Baldini decides to do whatever it takes to save Grenouille. Grenouille is moved to a clean bed on the top floor and fed chicken broth and wine. Baldini sends for Dr. Procope, a very expensive physician. With a brief look, the doctor diagnoses Grenouille with syphilitic smallpox, complicated by festering measles, for which there is no treatment. Interestingly, Grenouille's body doesn't exhibit the characteristic stench of the disease, but he's still likely to die within 48 hours.

Baldini is distraught at this turn of events. He considers making a pilgrimage to Notre-Dame to light a candle, but decides instead to attempt to take Grenouille's "perfumatory confession" and get one last formula out of his dying apprentice. Baldini whispers to Grenouille that this final perfume will have Grenouille's name engraved on the bottle and be given to the king, but Grenouille doesn't stir.

Baldini sits all night with Grenouille. At dawn he gives up, but suddenly Grenouille speaks and asks if there are other ways of extracting scent besides distillation. Baldini, thinking this is surely the end, tells Grenouille that there are three other methods, and all are superior to distillation. He says that these processes are carried out primarily in Grasse, in the south of France. Baldini gets up to leave and thinks he should call a priest, but Grenouille's body has actually begun healing. In a week, he's fully recovered.