Perfume in Grasse

Grasse, in the hills north of Cannes, is the capital of French perfume – with some 30 parfumeries distilling the globally-sourced essences that go into those pricey little bottles.

Fragonard, named after Grasse’s famous 18th-century painter, is one of the oldest and most traditional fragrance houses, and you can take a free tour of its history factory to see how their scents are made. There’s also a museum dedicated to the 3,000-year-old history of perfumes, and a ‘flower factory’ on the edge of town, surrounded by pretty gardens.

If you want to understand the process first-hand, sign up for a perfume-creating workshop, where you get to create your own 100ml bottle under the watchful gaze of a professional.

Although Fragonard is the most charming, Grasse’s other parfumeries, such as Galimard and Molinard are also worth a stop. Molinard’s perfume-making workshops help you to create your own scent, guided by a professional ‘nose’. Options range from 30 mins to 2 hours. There’s also a fun 20-minute workshop for kids aged 4-8.