Grasse, the world capital of perfume
Nestled in the hills behind Cannes, the town of Grasse has been considered the world capital of perfume since the 17th century. It abounds in floral crops, including tuberose, jasmine, roses, violets, mimosa, lavender, etc., with distinctive scents. Its economic activity is generally based on perfumery. Grasse perfumes are among the most famous in the world. In addition to its magnificent flowers that exhale sweet scents, this Provençal commune is the main source of great perfume creations. It is highly recognized for its exceptional expertise in this field. Its rich historical and cultural heritage is well worth a visit.
The history of Grasse
Founded in the 7th century, the town of Grasse is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. It is immediately striking for its fields of flowers and aromatic plants. More than thirty perfume industries are located there, some of whose houses are among the most renowned in the sector. This commune has been steeped in history since the 12th century. During this medieval period, it specialized in leather tanning, which gained a great reputation over time.
While Grasse leathers were of good quality, they smelled very bad due to the use of animal excrement and urine. Wearing gloves made from this material was therefore not appreciated by the nobility. This situation led to the idea of manufacturing models made of perfumed leather following the oriental method. The process consists of immersing the textile in a scented bath to eliminate unpleasant odors and perfume it. In the 17th century, glove-perfumers developed perfumed gloves with frangipane and Provençal ointments.
The transition from tanning to perfumery
The concept originated with the tanner Jean de Galimard, who founded Parfumerie Galimard in 1747. He gave a pair of perfumed gloves to Catherine de Medici, who truly appreciated them. Upon putting them on, the pleasant scent spread throughout the Court and impressed all of high society. This marked the beginning of Grasse's reputation as the world capital of perfume.
The perfume industry achieved great success and gradually supplanted tanning. Perfumers continued to develop. The extracts used for perfume manufacturing come from locally grown flowers. Thousands of fragrances have been developed over the centuries. Among the rarest are orange blossom, lavender, violet, rose, myrtle, jasmine, May rose, rose geranium, tuberose, etc.
The birth of tourist perfumeries
In the mid-18th century, the first competitors began to appear in the world of perfume. Trade diversified and, over time, attracted foreigners, which encouraged the city of Grasse to import exotic scents such as vanilla. Several major perfume houses in Grasse became internationally renowned and opened their doors to the public. Their products are characterized by their very promising qualities.
In 2018, the savoir-faire related to perfume making in the Grasse region was recognized among UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. These include the cultivation of perfume plants, a deep understanding of raw materials, and the art of manufacturing itself. The Fragonard house, the historic Bastide Molinard factory, and the Galimard perfumery are the most legendary perfumers, mastering the art of Grasse perfumery.
The opening of the International Perfume Museum
In 1926, the first perfume museum in the city of Grasse was installed inside the Fragonard perfumery. It contains a multitude of unique and precious objects that have marked the entire history of perfume, for men and women, such as old bottles, boxes, and stills.
Opened in 1989 and renovated in 2007-2008 in its historic center, the International Perfume Museum is entirely dedicated to the fascinating activity of perfumery. Numerous collections spanning 4000 years, recounting history from ancient civilizations to today, can be discovered on a guided tour.
Great perfumers can discover everything about the scented world there, such as plants, based on their olfactory note (fruity, woody, floral, spicy, or musky). This museum also highlights the art of perfume bottles and presents a collection of interesting objects. It is possible to personalize your precious bottle there.
The secret of Grasse perfume expertise
If Grasse perfumery has gained such a worldwide reputation, it is because it contains a multitude of traditional and historical savoir-faire. Its advantage lies above all in its ability to magnify noble materials by producing exceptional perfumes with original scents. Firstly, there is the cultivation of perfume plants. The city of tanners masters everything, from soil preparation and botanical skills, such as grafting methods, to harvesting. Some major brands even have their own fields for cultivating flowers. For example, Chanel cultivates jasmine and roses to create its eau de parfum.
Next comes the knowledge of natural raw materials required for perfume creation and the appropriate transformation methods. This stage includes the various techniques for extracting fragrant essences from flowers, which are also used in the manufacture of food flavors and cosmetic products. All these riches make the perfume capital an essential destination when visiting the French Riviera. In addition, the city of Grasse produces concentrates or "juices," which are mixed with alcohol (80%) to create perfume.
The fragrance of Grasse perfumery benefits from a very particular aspect. It is created according to the legendary olfactory pyramid: base note, heart note, and top note. Thanks to its specific extraction and distillation process, it diffuses exceptional scents. You just have to apply the essence coming out of the still to a fabric or wool, then snap it in the air to exhale the new perfume. It should be noted that many mythical perfumes are created in the city of Grasse, including Dior, Chanel, Rochas, etc. Clearly, it is the kingdom of perfumes!
