Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

by Patrick Süskind

He drank in the aroma, he drowned in it, impregnating himself through his innermost pores, until he became wood himself;

Perhaps the closest analogy to his talent is the musical wunderkind who has heard his way inside melodies and harmonies to the alphabet of individual tones and now composes completely new melodies and harmonies all on his own.

He had withdrawn solely for his own personal pleasure, only to be nearer to himself. No longer distracted by anything external, he basked in his own existence and found it splendid.