The film is based on the novel of the same name by Patrick Süskind, which was published in 1985. The story takes place in 18th-century France, where we meet our protagonist, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, a young man with an extraordinary sense of smell. Born on a Parisian street, Grenouille is abandoned by his mother and left to fend for himself. He discovers that he has a unique gift – the ability to detect and distinguish even the faintest scents.