Grasse: A Quick Guide To The World Perfume Capital

Grasse: a quick guide to the world perfume capital

By Anna Purpurpurpur

When you say Grasse, you say ‘perfume.’ It’s the capital of the perfumery and perfume industry!

Grasse used to be known for its leather production; however, since the 18th century, the town has become known for its flower farming. Rose de Mai, used by Chanel and Dior; jasmin brought by Moors in the 16th century; tuberose; lavender; violets, and fleur d’oranger are all grown here in large quantities thanks to an extraordinary microclimate favourable for the plants.

Chanel N°5 fragrance was born here as well: Coco Chanel worked with Ernest Beaux, a Russian-born perfumer who resided in France, here, and since then, the flowers for it have been sourced from Grasse.

Dior’s famous Miss Dior, dedicated to his sister, was born not far away from here, too. On top, there are numerous local and less known perfume (and not only) produces you can explore yourself.

As many raw flower materials are grown here, many perfume houses and their fabrics are located in the area, and others collaborate with local producers. Among the famous perfume houses that you can visit are Fragonard, Molinard, and Galimard. The schools of ‘noses’ – perfumery schools – are based here too.

As you might presume, this profession is very specific, and at the end of education, a person can distinguish 2-3 thousand different smells. And can you imagine that there are only about a hundred people on our planet who are trained ‘noses’ and can create new scents?

What to see in Grasse?

There are a few landmarks to explore in the city, too. Walk along Rue Jean Ossola decorated with pink umbrellas – there are shops on both sides of the street with many perfume shops!

Another street to stroll is Rue Amiral de Grasse, and Place Aux Aires is a nice tourist square to explore as well!

Head to the Place de Petit Puy, the oldest square of the city, it looks fantastic espesially in the evening light, and there are a few landmarks located right there.

Pay a visit to the 12th-century Cathedral Notre-Dame-de-Puy, where you can find some Rubens’ art pieces. Its bell tower dates to the 18th century.

Right behind it, there is a nice terrace overlooking Grasse and its magic surroundings – just look at this breathtaking scenery!

Have a look at the gorgeous Town Hall – Hôtel de Ville, and you’ll love the aesthetics of its inner courtyard with citrus trees and fountains. Once you look at the Grasse skyline, you’ll also notice Sarrasin Tower: it’s been the main watchtower of the city in the past!

Finally, there are two museums to visit to learn about the history of perfumery and the methods to produce scents today:
MIP, International Museum of Perfumery,
and Fragonard Museum, factory and boutique.

I went to the Fragonard Museum, and with the guided tour I was able to see all the stages of perfume making today and learn the difference between essence, Eau de perfum, Eau de toilette and Cologne.

You can also see examples of how the ancient methods of flower scent extraction worked, such as Enfleurage when the flower scents and oils are transferred onto fat.

On the upper floors, there is a museum collection of perfumery-related objects from the ancient times. You’ll be dazzled by the beauty of perfume bottles shimmering in gold and silver and colourful glass details dating to the 18th century!

If you choose to visit the International Museum of Perfumery, make sure you don’t go there in the evening: although the museum closes at 6, they stop selling tickets as early as 5pm!

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Hope you liked my blog,
Yours,
Anna xxx

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