The Discovery of Perfumes
As early as ancient times, spices, perfumed oils and essences were already prized in Mediterranean civilizations.
However, it was in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance that great explorers, such as Marco Polo and Vasco da Gama, brought back precious raw materials from the East: musk, ambergris, benzoin and various aromatic resins.
These new ingredients enriched the art of perfumery and paved the way for its development in Europe.
Grasse, City of Glove-Perfumers
As early as the sixteenth century, Grasse was renowned for its tannery and the manufacture of leather gloves.
However, as leather was often smelly, craftsmen began to perfume their gloves to make them more pleasant.
This innovation was so successful that Henri III and Catherine de Medici launched the fashion for perfumed gloves at the court of France.
Little by little, the craft of perfumery took precedence over that of leather, thus marking the destiny of the city.
Perfume boom in Grasse
In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the cultivation of perfume plants developed around Grasse.
The favourable climate allowed the cultivation of centifolia rose, jasmine, tuberose and orange blossom, which became the emblematic raw materials of Grasse perfumery.
Master perfumers perfected extraction techniques, including distillation and enfleurage, and supplied the greatest European courts with rare and refined essences.
Industrialization and the Birth of the Great Houses
In the nineteenth century, industrialization transformed the perfumery of Grasse.
Small family factories gave way to more structured companies, capable of producing extracts in large quantities.
Modern chemistry also allowed the synthesis of new odorous molecules, complementing natural fragrances.
Prestigious houses were created and contributed to Grasse's reputation as the world capital of perfume.
Grasse Today, a Living Heritage
In the twenty-first century, Grasse continues to play a major role in the perfume industry.
Listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Site since 2018, the city preserves its know-how while innovating.
Histoire de Provence perpetuates tradition while exploring new sustainable and eco-responsible methods.
Grasse thus remains the essential centre of world perfumery, between heritage and modernity.