Bildungsromans are identified by the grueling quest that a protagonist leads in his search for his place in society. The experiences the protagonist undergoes as part of this search contribute to his moral and psychological growth, reaching a high point in his life, the long-awaited identification of who he is or, in some cases, the lack of it. In Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Susskind, the quest and transitions that Granouille undergoes build his character and help him in his search for identity. Throughout the novel, the existence of identity is determined by whether or not an individual emits a scent. At first, the nanny Jean-Bussie asserts that Granouille himself does not emit an odor, foreshadowing what he will spend his days trying to accomplish and establishing that he has no identity. As it is passed to Father Terrier, we are treated to a small but telling demonstration of his extraordinary olfactory power, as he smells the waking priest. However, this power does not bring Granouille closer to his goal of identity and even if he can have the bodily form of a human being, it is his corporeal existence that closes off all possibilities for him to become one. Leaving home, Granouille is determined in his quest for identity. In Pierre Fort, the virgin girls he murders are born from his desire to obtain a human scent or, in other words, a human identity. Ironically, while Granouille managed to capture the perfect scent (absolute essence), upon witnessing thousands of people engaging in a sexual orgy, he realized that he had failed to achieve human identity. The smell did not give him the identity of a human but rather a divine status. Additionally, this makes Granouille realize that people loved the scent and he didn't, so no matter how hard he tries, he will never be considered among humans. This illustrates that even though Granouille seeks human identification, he will still be considered a god among men. Granouille, hunchbacked, limping and with numerous scars on his face, thought that his physical appearance did not differentiate him from others. During the Marquis parade, Granouille wore pretty clothes for the first time in her life. Looking in the mirror, he thought that "he looked like a thousand other people" (144), and yet "he didn't feel at all different from" (145). Granouille believed that the being looking at him in the mirror was what really mattered, the “odorless silhouette”. He was able to influence others through how others perceived him, and the ability to wear various perfumes or clothing later gave him various identities. At this point, it wasn't what you are that mattered to Granouille, but how and what you look like. Shortly after his experience with the Marquis, Granouille began to formulate human odors. Through this, Granouille was able to settle into his environment and manipulate people through his use of smells. He could make people believe he was anyone, allowing the man with no identity to become the man with a plethora of identities. Realizing that he can no longer be among humans, Granouille abandons his search for identity and ends the quest, or so it seems. After Granouille realizes that people like perfume and not him, he retreats to Paris to end his life. Even though "his scent could allow him to appear before the world as a god", it didn't mean much to him, as if "he couldn't smell himself and therefore never know who he was, to hell with it." , with the world, with himself. , with its perfume” (252). If it is logical for a man to return to his,