Any trip to Provence must include at least a half a day in Grasse.
Dubbed Parfum Capital of the World and designated a UNESCO World Heritage for its parfum-making related skills dating back to the 17th century, Grasse is the quintessential medieval town with lovely touches of Provençal style and Cote D’Azur’s charm and sophistication.
A visit to Grasse starts by letting your nose follow the fragrant path that leads to the many parfumeries that give this town its moniker. My first stop is always Parfumerie Fragonard, dating back to 1926 and named after the 18th Century French painter Jean-Honore Fragonard. I love Fragonard because of its historical building that houses a museum that takes you into the world of parfume from antiquity to modern times, with a great display of parfumery objects, artifacts, paintings of women grooming and Provencal furniture.
The visit at Fragonard continues to the distillery room with its old copper tanks still in use today for extracting essential oils used in parfum making, followed by the alchemical bottling room where parfume is bottled and labeled, ending the visit at the shop where you can choose from Fragonard’s vast collection of traditional and seasonal fragrances packed in whimsical and creative design boxes that makes their scents appealing to the nose and to the eye. Make sure to step out to the open terrace for a breathtaking view of the terracotta rooftops of the town.
Many other parfumeries like Molinard and Galimard are worth a visit as well and all of them offer tours and workshops where you have the opportunity to learn about parfum making history and even create your own fragrance.
Parfum making is the essence of Grasse and as you meander the postcard-picture streets and ochre color buildings of the old town you will come across many motifs and symbols that are a true statement to Grasse’s heritage and well-deserved reputation as the Parfum Capital of the World.
There is an exquisite virgin-like picture of Notre-Dame des Parfums adorned with a small lavender bouquet that graces the entrance of Notre-Dame des Puy Cathedral, Grasse’s rustic church where you will delight on paintings by Flemish artist Rubens and Fragonard’s masterpieces.
Located outside the parfume museum, you cannot miss the bronze statue of the Habit de Parfumeur, depicting a parfume seller covered in bottles of fragrance, a true representation of Grasse’s craft and soul.
Many alembic artifacts scattered throughout town as a testament to Grasse’s dedication to the industry that has given the city great prosperity and its place as the center of the parfume industry in the world.
Parfumeries are not the only reason to visit Grasse. The town has a sense of calm and serenity that invites you to linger within its walls, walk in its history, enjoy its nature, taste some great food and wine, and experience one of the most authentic towns in the region of Provence.
Grasse is easily accessible by car, bus or train from any of the nearby towns in the French Riviera like Nice, Cannes, Antibes and from any of the neighboring villages of Mougins, Vence and Valbonne.
Go travel!
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