Grasse - The perfume capital of the world.

Grasse: An ancient city holding the soul of fragrant water.

The city of Grasse is located in southern France, in the central region of the Côte d'Azur. It is only 12km from the vibrant city of Cannes. With its ideal geographical location surrounded by sea and mountains, Grasse is renowned as the perfume capital of the world.

The "noses" of perfume brands often travel to Grasse to hone their sense of smell, learning to distinguish the more than 2000 different scents that this region possesses.

Why is Grasse considered the cradle of perfumery?

It's no coincidence that an ancient city like Grasse has become the heart and soul of the perfume industry.

Firstly, this region has always had favorable climatic conditions for growing many crops. For example, it has mild temperatures, a long, warm dry season, and little rainfall.

Secondly, the soil is rich in alluvial deposits, making it very fertile and allowing the flowers grown here to produce a strong, fragrant aroma.

Thirdly, Grasse brings together diligent and passionate perfumers. The techniques of handcrafted perfume making have been passed down through generations and are still applied today.

How did the Grasse perfume industry begin?

Grasse's rise to perfumery is quite serendipitous, stemming from a very practical, unpretentious need.

During the Renaissance, around the 16th century, this area was primarily used for leather processing and glove production. And as everyone knows, the leather tanning process produces a pungent, unpleasant odor.

At this time, Jean de Galimard, a tanner in Grasse, had an idea: Why not use perfume to mask the odor of new leather goods? Wild flowers grew abundantly around Grasse. They became the raw materials for making the first bottles of perfume.

Later, he gifted a pair of scented gloves to Catherine de Medici, Queen of France (1547-1559). These fragrant leather gloves became so popular among the nobility that King Louis XIII recognized the makers of scented gloves as a distinct craft in 1614.

In its early days, artisans in Grasse specialized in creating perfumes from native flowers. The most popular were roses, lilies, and jasmine. Over time, perfume production became more profitable than glove manufacturing, and thus the luxury perfume industry was born.

However, it wasn't until the early 20th century that Grasse and the surrounding areas gained worldwide recognition. The production of aromatic essential oils and raw materials was carried out locally.

Today, the perfume manufacturing industry in Grasse has grown and expanded its operations to meet the demands of a rapidly developing market. In addition, tourism based on the perfume industry is also generating good profits for Grasse.

The famous flowers of Grasse

The most commonly used native flowers are jasmine, rose, orange blossoms and leaves, lily, jonquil (a type of daffodil), lily of the valley, mimosa, and the lavender family (lavandin and lavender).

Roses are harvested from early May to early June. Orange blossoms are harvested from late April to early June. Jasmine is harvested in July and August. Lavender blooms profusely in July.

In addition to the above ingredients, the perfume factory in Grasse will import raw materials from other countries such as:

Roots: irises of Tuscany, Haiti, and Java

Lichens: Oak moss from the Balkans

Seeds: Ambrette from Martinique/Seychelles, pepper, carrots, dill or coriander.

Wood: Sandalwood and Cedar

Leaves: Patchouli, Geranium, Violet

Tree bark: Cinnamon, Styrax

Gums: Cistus, fragrance, Opoponax

What to do when traveling to Grasse?

Even if you're not a perfume expert, you can still visit and enjoy the city of Grasse. Since Grasse is only 12km from Cannes, you can easily travel there from Cannes by bus or taxi.

You can visit the Galimard studio right in the center of Grasse. Three times a day, Galimard holds workshops to help you create your own perfume. Through the workshops, you will learn about the three fragrance notes, how to create a harmonious scent combination, etc. And of course, you'll create your own unique perfume.

Many tourists come to Grasse seeking out its vast fields of flowers. In reality, flower cultivation is mainly concentrated on small, family-owned plots of land. Flowers are grown seasonally and typically have a very short growing season.

One place to visit is La Domaine de Manon. This is the supplier of Rose de Mai roses, white lilies, and jasmine to Dior. If you visit Grasse in the first week of August, you'll have the chance to participate in the Jasmine Festival (Fête du Jasmin). The festival celebrates the flower with a grand fireworks display. Locals also throw jasmine petals and sprinkle fragrant water on passersby.

Therma