Grasse is a city of 51.000 people, ideally situated between the sea and the mountains in that marvellous inland country of the Cte d'Azur , only 17 kilometres from Cannes and 34 kilometres from Nice. This museumis a must-see for a million different reasons. Trains run hourly between the two, with a travel time of 30 minutes and a single ticket costing 4.60 per person. If youre looking to master the science of scent, youre out of luck because the experience focuses chiefly on creating your perfect bespoke scent rather than learning the 101 of being a perfumer (but there are classes for that too in Grasse!). Website: Senanque Abbey Website Provence Lavender, Senanque Abbey. The perfumer's organ that belonged to Jean Carles, the early 20th century creator of perfumes including Miss Dior and Ma Griffe by Carven, at the International Perfume Museum in Grasse. Inside, the cathedral is brooding and somber, more Dark Ages than medieval. hide caption. In and around Grasse, France, a confluence of soil, sun and temperature nurtures the roses, jasmine and other flowers that make this town a perfume capital. The interior blends natural light from skylights with illumination from chandeliers to a royal effect fitting since Molinards color theme is threaded with purple. We ate at Caf des Muses (maps), which had a small lunch menu and did the best vegetarian food we found during our short break in France; it was excellent value. I immediately wanted to know more about this stylish, kind woman who had just unwittingly made me aware that I was wearing pedal pushers and Crocs. He says his grandmother and her sisters picked jasmine in this same terraced field rimmed by an old stone wall. I had found Ms. Buchanans boutique perfume line, 1000 Flowers, online last year. Galimard Factory & Museum (73 Route de Cannes; galimard.com/index.php/en/visite-grasse/particuliers-a-groupes.html) offers fragrance products, free tours of the oldest perfumery in Grasse, and individual and group perfume workshops by reservation. The tour was really interesting because I had no idea how perfume was made before this. In 2018, UNESCO recognized the perfume-making savoir faire of Grasse as intangible world cultural heritage. But of course, the reason most people visit is the perfume. Sunday 9:00 AM - 6:15 PM. Sylvan Mist comes in a 100-ml glass bottle with a tasseled atomizer spray pump, and it's gift-ready, housed in a turquoise gift box. Our main advice though is to either arrive here earlier in the morning (i.e. Every year millions of visitors come to the town to enjoy a tour in one of the perfume factories, take part in a workshop or simply to buy the best perfumes in town. One of Europes oldest perfumeries - Gallimard - was founded in 1747 and provided fragrance to the court of Louis XV, but its factory tour is likely only going to be on your itinerary if you have your own vehicle due to its location - here on Google Maps. Fragonard, with its cheery, buttery yellow facade, sits overlooking the rest of the town. Find it here on Google Maps. Factories in Grasse with a reputation among professionals. A collection of old Galimard bottles on display at the perfumerys museum. We strolled through rooms with massive stainless steel vats, and others with staff members who were used to the intrusion. Charming Studio | This compact, modern studio apartment has been around for a while, and has an abundance of excellent reviews. GIP - Grasse Institute of Perfumery | Perfumery School in Grasse Today, the Grasse perfume industry is made up of dozens of companies including some very famous names. In order to become an expert perfumer, you have to have: Expert perfumers who have the nose are trained to distinguish over 2,000 kinds of scent. Each of the perfume factories have shops in the town center as well as factories in the outskirts. The following morning, I drove to the Muse International de la Parfumerie (International Perfume Museum), in the heart of the old city. Perfume in Grasse - Galimard - Perfumer since 1747 It is not by chance that this city, a very old commercial centre, has become the cradle of perfumery. Grasse: Design Your Own Fragrance at a Perfume Factory. hide caption, "They used animal fat and they're going to put flowers in this fat and so the fat is going to take the perfume of the flowers," Pouppeville explains. In the perfume museum's Mediterranean garden, you can get a whiff of all the plants that have made up the economy and history of Grasse in the last 300 years. Molinard. General view of the International Perfume Museum's gardens in Grasse. 1. Bespoke fragrances involve a considerable amount of time and deliberation, so realistically, I understood I wasnt going to get something spectacular with zero skills; I just wanted to have some fun. A bientt! Best Things to Do in Grasse, the City of Perfume It's a flying, two-night visit for New York-based Malle, having been announced as a . The Complete Guide to Grasse Perfume - Cannes Estate Very feminine! Manon said to me after she dipped a white fragrance strip in my new perfume. Check prices and availability here. Top 10 Niche Perfume Brands: The Ultimate List (2023) Guided group tours last 30 minutes to an hour, and are a real olfactory treat. Note that children under 12 not permitted. Parfumerie Fragonard: Perfume Factory Tour in Grasse - See 1,641 traveler reviews, 1,031 candid photos, and great deals for Grasse, France, at Tripadvisor. When you think of Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Baccarat Rouge 540 is likely the . It is an unexpectedly sunny spring afternoon and perfume publisher Fre de ric Malle has asked to meet for lunch at Chucs, an eight-table bistro on Mayfair's Dover Street where we're now tucking in to chicken Milanese (me) and roasted Var salmon (him). 29 Niche Perfume Brands You Need to Know Right Now - Highsnobiety The association expects a response from Unesco next year. Shop This. The BEST Grasse Workshops & classes 2023 - GetYourGuide "For the first time, some perfume plant growers lit candles between the vines much like wine growers did this year because of the cold weather that came so late. In 2007, she sold her house in western Canada to study at the Grasse Institute of Perfumery. Founded in 1747, Galimard is one of the first French perfume houses. Les Palmiers|The ideal option if you are looking for a clean and comfortable, but more basic room in the historic centre spot for a night or two. Decorated floats drive through the town, with people throwing flowers into the crowd. When presented with several samples, she set her heart on sample number 5. Find out more here. Fragonard. Ms. Buchanan volunteers with the Association du Patrimoine Vivant du Pays de Grasse (Living Heritage of the Region of Grasse), the nonprofit organization that is presenting the application for Unescos Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Jacques Polge 2.9 2. They have a variety of perfumes, soaps, body washes and lotion. They visited the Chanel rose fields. It becomes more developed in a perfumer than in a regular person who's not paying attention to scents every day. A shuttle bus. Pack a lunch there are a number of places to picnic or just sit and breathe in the fragrant gardens. With a little guidance, she helped us establish a rough estimate of what we desired. Bndicte Desrus for NPR In a class led by an accomplished nez - a professional perfumer -we had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the creative process and make our very own perfume (ok, it was actually an eau de toilette, but still!). The best options in town are: | Fragonard Perfume Workshop: This is the class that we joined, where you are making the perfume for 90 minutes and then join a guided tour for 30 minutes. Our factories The Historical Factory Open The train station in Grasse is 1.6 kms from the town centre, so requires a decent uphill walk. Galimard has two locations in Grasse:the first is a museum, and the other is a perfume workshop where you can play perfumer for the day and create your own fragrance. The 45 minutes train service from Antibes costs 9 per person for a single ticket. The visit to this museum is free and guided. hide caption. This is where the perfume brands have their showcase factories where you can see the perfume-making process. On holiday on the Cte dAzur? Instead,with the very best hotels in Grasse are best reached with your own vehicle or a taxi from the train station. Adding a business to Yelp is always free. Alberto Morillas 2.5 6. Check prices and availability. Dating to 1926 and featuring plenty of artifacts from the original distillery, the historic factory functions as a modern artisanal perfume factory deeply rooted in tradition. As you can imagine there are plenty of provenale souvenirs to be had. Here's why I need your help- It's the 18 month full-time course in Grasse ( International Technical Degree in Fragrance Creation and Sensory Evaluation) and they take in only 12 students a year. My only complaint is that they don't sell Fragonard perfumes in the US.". Created in 1747 by Jean de Galimard who already supplied balms and perfumes to the Court of Louis XIV, Galimard is the doyen of Grasse perfumers. As mentioned, there is a museum attached to the Parfumerie Fragonard, but there are plenty more in Grasse, as well. She added that he hates to talk shop at home. I internally swore to honor that request; for $37 a night, I was getting a comfortable room, a great breakfast and a view over Grasses rolling slopes of terra cotta rooftops, and I was already planning my return. "We do learn how to smell," Buchanan says. Best-Selling. Founded in 1849 and then popular with Queen Victoria, Molinard is also open to the public in its large Provenal-style building.