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VOYAGE

Friday, 26 July 2013

Grasse – perfumery mecca

The Emperor Napoleon, Edith Piaf, Ivan Bunin, Ernest Beaux, Francois Demachy, Jean-Claude Ellena – each of them have walked along the ancient streets of the town Grasse.
Generally accepted mecca of perfumery is located in the Alpine slopes in the south of France, just 30 km from Nice.
It’s ideal place for cultivating narcissus, lavender, mimosa, jasmine, roses Centifolia and flowers of oranges. The city was founded in the XI century, Grasse, firstly, became residence of the Antibes’ bishop, the technology of producing flower essences appeared here around XVI century.
Many of those who want to become a true perfumer (like the character of Patrick Suskind’s novel, the one that just came up in your mind) come to visit the capital of fragrance and dedicate themselves to antique science for the following 6-7 years. Curious tourists get to know little bit more about the fragrant alchemy, its patterned bottles, scents and technologies, on the 3 main perfumery of the town, which are opened as museums – Parfumerie Fragonard, Parfumerie Galimard, Parfumerie Molinard.
But that’s not all, on top of everything, Grasse Valley is also a natural health resort: blazing sun, infrequent cloudiness and the average annual temperature around 14°C. Visiting this beautiful city in the first days of August, you have a chance to become a member of the Jasmine Holiday – be caught in the “jasmine rain” and choose the Queen of Jasmine.

The Emperor Napoleon, Edith Piaf, Ivan Bunin, Ernest Beaux, Francois Demachy, Jean-Claude Ellena – each of them have walked along the ancient streets of the town Grasse.
Generally accepted mecca of perfumery is located in the Alpine slopes in the south of France, just 30 km from Nice.
It’s ideal place for cultivating narcissus, lavender, mimosa, jasmine, roses Centifolia and flowers of oranges. The city was founded in the XI century, Grasse, firstly, became residence of the Antibes’ bishop, the technology of producing flower essences appeared here around XVI century.
Many of those who want to become a true perfumer (like the character of Patrick Suskind’s novel, the one that just came up in your mind) come to visit the capital of fragrance and dedicate themselves to antique science for the following 6-7 years. Curious tourists get to know little bit more about the fragrant alchemy, its patterned bottles, scents and technologies, on the 3 main perfumery of the town, which are opened as museums – Parfumerie Fragonard, Parfumerie Galimard, Parfumerie Molinard.
But that’s not all, on top of everything, Grasse Valley is also a natural health resort: blazing sun, infrequent cloudiness and the average annual temperature around 14°C. Visiting this beautiful city in the first days of August, you have a chance to become a member of the Jasmine Holiday – be caught in the “jasmine rain” and choose the Queen of Jasmine.

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Photo: Timur Artamonov for Elle-Russia

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