Chandler Burr

Chandler Burr is an American writer, art historian and curator. He has written for publications such as The New York Times, The New Yorker, and Vanity Fair. He has also written four books on the subject of scent: The Emperor of Scent: A Story of Perfume, Deception and the Last Mystery of Lucrezia Borgia; The Perfect Scent: A Year Inside the Perfume Industry in Paris and New York; A Separate Creation: The Search for the Biological Origins of Sexual Orientation; and You Or Someone Like You: A Portrait of Teenagers in America.

Born in San Antonio, Texas in 1961, Burr studied art history at Princeton University and later received a master's degree in their graduate program on the topic of Italian Renaissance art. Initially, he worked as an art historian and curator, first at the Kimbell Museum in Fort Worth, and later at several other museums. He moved to New York City in 1995 and started writing feature articles for various publications.

In 2002, Burr's critically acclaimed book The Emperor of Scent was released. It documented his discovery of Luca Turin, a scientist at University College in London, and his application of quantum mechanics to the sense of smell. The book was praised for its depth, detail and vivid prose, taken from interviews and from Burr's own experiences visiting a number of perfume companies.

Burr's second book, The Perfect Scent, focused on the high-stakes world of the perfume industry, following the challenges of creating the world's most sought-after fragrance over a course of a year in Paris and New York. It was published in 2008 and won several awards, as well as a Guggenheim Fellowship.

In 2009, Burr released A Separate Creation: The Search for the Biological Origins of Sexual Orientation. It argued that there is no definitive biological evidence to suggest a causal link between sexual orientation and genetics. The book received mixed reviews, with some considering the author's arguments convincing, while others argued that they didn't support Burr's stance.

In 2015, Burr published You Or Someone Like You: A Portrait of Teenagers in America, an intense look at how teenagers in the United States think about and understand the world around them. The book delved into issues of gender, race and sexuality, and was praised for its sensitive and nuanced approach, as well as its in-depth interviews with teens from various backgrounds.

Overall, Chandler Burr'swritings have been widely praised for their thoughtful and nuanced approach. He has also received numerous awards and nominations for his work, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and a National Magazine Award nomination. His books and magazine features have provided an essential view of the world of scent, the fragrance industry, and America's youth.