Based on the bestselling novel by Patrick Süskind, Perfume is a terrifying story of murder and obsession set in 18th-century France. Jean-Baptiste Grenouille has a unique talent for discerning the scents and smells that swirl around him, which he uses to create the world's finest perfumes. Strangely lacking any scent of his own, he becomes obsessed with capturing the irresistible but elusive aroma of young womanhood. As Grenouille's obsession turns deadly, twelve young girls are found murdered. Panic breaks out as people rush to protect their daughters, while an unrepentant and unrelenting Grenouille still lacks the final ingredient to complete his quest.

Ben Whishaw, the acclaimed young British actor who won several awards for his performance in the independent film My Brother Tom, stars in the central role of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, the killer on the hunt for the perfect scent. The film also stars Emmy and Golden Globe winner Alan Rickman (Rasputin, the Harry Potter franchise), Rachel Hurd-Wood (2003's Peter Pan) and two-time Academy Award winner Dustin Hoffman (Rain Man, Kramer vs. Kramer).

Perfume was directed by Tom Tykwer, the award-winning director of Heaven and the German film Run Lola Run. Bernd Eichinger (Downfall, The Neverending Story, The Name of the Rose) produced the film from a screenplay he co-wrote with Andrew Birkin (The Name of the Rose) and Tykwer, based on Patrick Süskind's novel of the same name. Perfume – The Story of a Murderer will be distributed domestically by DreamWorks.