Grasse: The Perfume Capital of the World
French Parfum
Today we’re sharing with you one of the most unique French towns: Grasse, the world perfume capital! If you’ve ever smelled Chanel N°5 perfume, then you’ve already taken an olfactory trip to this beautiful town in the South of France.
Grasse, located high up in the hills of Provence-Alps-Côte d’Azur, has the perfect climate for growing flowers. Hence, its landscape is overflowing with fields of jasmine, tuberose, lavender, you name it! Not only does it smell heavenly, but it’s also a feast for the eyes.
A Piece of History
Grasse wasn’t always known for its perfumes - quite the opposite! Since the Middle Ages, Grasse was known throughout Europe for its leather tanning. Because the putrid smell from the tanning was so strong, glove makers in the 16th century invented a technique called maceration to make their products smell better. They added flowers to animal fat so that it would absorb the scent, essentially creating enfleurage pomade, the first method of perfume extraction! It was in such high demand that they converted their tanneries into perfume extracting factories.
Nowadays, you will find expert “nez” (noses) who create splendid concoctions for some of the most renowned perfumeries in the world, as well as fragrances used in candles, soaps and lotions!
Les Fleurs’ Trip to Grasse
We can’t talk about Grasse without taking a trip down memory lane to our 2019 Provence tour. One highlight of the trip was learning how to make our own perfume with Rose et Marius, along with a tour of the owner Magali’s atelier. It remains a favorite memory from our past trips, and their products have been a store favorite ever since. Read more about it in our blog post “When in Provence… Make Perfume.”
Products Made with Perfume from Grasse
We know you’d love to discover the delicate perfume from Grasse. While we can’t take all of you to France with us, we can share a piece of Grasse through our favorite products made with their perfumes in the links below.
If you have a favorite fragrance from Grasse, we’d love to know! Feel free to share in the comments below or on Instagram.
À bientôt,
Sandra
Petite lily-of-the-valley infused Marseille soap cube with essential oils from Provence, made with the traditional methods of savon de Marseille (Marseille soap). Made with 72% vegetable oil, enriched with shea butter, salt, soda and Provence fragrances.
Perfect for a guest bath or gift! Recommended by dermatologists because of its ultra-moisturizing properties and purity. Ideal for sensitive skin. This multi-use soap is great for bathing, shampooing, laundry, and cleaning, yet gentle enough for a baby. Sold individually. Additional items shown are sold separately.
Bar size: 2” x 2” x 2”
100 grams, 3.5 oz.
Scent: lily of the valley
Artisan-made in Provence, France