Grasse: Cote D’Azur, France
Home to Villa Noailles and the Perfume Capital of the French Riviera
Known worldwide for the manufacture of perfume and its many perfume distilleries, Grasse boasts perfume factories like Molinard and lavish public gardens.
If lazing on the beach begins to lose it's attraction there are plenty of other things to do on the French Cote D’Azur.
The beautiful medieval town of Grasse, close to Nice, has been welcoming visitors to its perfumed streets for generations.
Surrounded by flower fields, the talented alchemists of Grasse take roses, violets, lavender and jasmine and transform them into some of the most expensive and sought-after perfumes in the world. Grasse’s excellent climate ensures these perfumed blossoms reach the distilleries in perfect condition.
The town itself is a terracotta dream
Italianate in design, the town is a joy to wander through, and its cool alleyways offer much-needed shade in the height of a Riviera summer. The sound of trickling fountains can be heard on every corner, and you’re never far away from the delicate waft of perfume.
Immaculately laid-out gardens abound, such as those surrounding the Villa Noailles, and most are open to the public.
An impressive Belle Époque building (which was once the town’s casino), the Villa is now home to the tourist office where visitors can book guided walking tours of the town. These tours take about 2 ½ hours and are an excellent way to discover the history of Grasse.
No visit to Grasse can be made without calling in on a perfume shop. It's also possible to take a tour of one of the many distilleries
The Molinard perfume factory is one such place.
Founded in 1849, 5 generations of the Molinard family have now been involved in perfume production. 200,00 visitors a year make their way through Molinard’s doors, and for all of them there is much to see.
The distillery itself is virtually unchanged for the last 30 years, and the fittings and utensils are totally authentic. Here you will see the vast copper stills in which the flower essence is distilled. A little further on is the ancient mill which is used to crush the hard ingredients such as sandalwood and rosewood, used in the blending of some perfumes.
In 1930 the esteemed René Lalique was commissioned to create exclusive scent bottles for the House of Molinard and a large collection of his work, together with those of the glass makers Baccarat, can be seen in the factory museum. Some of the Baccarat bottles date back to 17th century.
If you’re feeling creative, you can also book a lesson in perfume blending. Molinard offers tuition to pre-booked groups in their daily workshops. Here you’re instructed in the art of blending different flower essences that are complimentary to each other to create the perfect sensory experience.
And at the end of the afternoon you can come away with 50ml of perfume that you have created exclusively. Your own signature perfume in an attractive Molinard bottle? Perfect for a special night out on the town.
You'll also find a multitude of good restaurants and bars in Grasse, and in the summer season offers a vast range of entertainment from jazz to classical concerts
Getting there:
Nice is the nearest airport serving Grasse and the Cote D'Azur. Several budget airlines fly into Nice from the UK such as BMIBaby, Jet2 and Easyjet which has daily flights from Gatwick, Stansted and 7 other UK airports.
