Perfumers and Hermetists -- Nuns and Alchemists -- Chastes and Keepers of Secrets -- Atomists and Femmes Savantes -- Illuminated and Revolutionaries -- Authors and Readers.

This monograph explores the participation of women in alchemy, chemical crafts, and the early stages of modern chemistry. By contextualizing their achievements within the broader social, cultural, and scientific landscapes of their time, this book enables readers to seize the challenges these women confronted and the obstacles they triumphed over. Alongside narrating how they shaped the development of chemistry, including their contributions to the body of chemical literature, it also emphasizes pivotal moments and milestones in the history of women's emancipation. The book's comprehensive and integrative approach, complemented by engaging storytelling, renders it an indispensable resource for students, researchers, and general readers alike.