Fact Sheets & Video - France

Can you smell the roses in the Grasse?

For 200 years the city of Grasse, a commune of the Alpes-Maritimes departement on the French Riviera in the south-east of France, has proudly proclaimed itself to be the "Perfume Capital" of the world. This is the birthplace of fragrances such as Rochas, Dior and the renowned Chanel No. 5.

Once considered the favourite resort of Queen Victoria and Princess Pauline Borghese (Napoleon Bonapartes sister), Grasse is around a 20-minute drive north of Cannes or 30 minutes drive from Nice to the east. Although predominantly an industrial town, today Grasse still retains its fragrant charms.

Violet, lavender, jasmine, lily, rose, jonquil and mimosa are all grown in the region. Each year the perfumeries process more than 700 tons of roses, 600 tons of orange blossoms and 800 tons of jasmine from both local and imported flowers. Chanel is one of the few perfume companies to have its own flower field in Grasse, bursting with May Rose and jasmine, and manufactures its own essences there.

One of the best ways to discover how to make perfume is to go straight to the source and learn under the fragrant "nose" of a master perfumer at one of the three perfumeries open to the public in Grasse. The Galimard perfumery offers two-hour perfume making classes at its Studio Des Fragrances. Here the "Nose", also known as master perfumer Mr. Maurel, will explain the design of a quality perfume, including the head note, heart note and base note. The course includes an evaluation of your unique olfactory sensitivities, an explanation of the classifications of the scent families and a description of the basic principles of achieving a harmonious formula.

After the demonstration you will be able to follow your imagination and create your own perfume, which you can take home in a perfume bottle personalized with your name or the name you have chosen for your signature fragrance. Your personal formula is secretly recorded so that your perfume can be re-ordered by mail in the future.

To complete the fragrant journey, a stop at the Confiserie Florian of "les Gorges du Loup" is located between the torrent of les Gorges du Loup and the mountains just behind Grasse. Established in 1949, the candy factory is decorated with local furniture of the 17th and 18th century and represents something more like Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory - minus the Oompa Loompas. Here Florian creates all things sweet and decadent from the essence of petals and flower.

Further Information:

Grasse, FRANCE

Air China fly return to Paris

From

$1722.00 ex Melbourne

$1740 ex Sydney

$1979.00 ex Brisbane

Valid for Travel until 20/6/08

(02) 9232-7277

Prices correct at 9/5/08. Prices include surcharges, fees & taxes. Conditions apply.

Galimard

Perfume making courses start from around $60 per person. (perfume 3 1/3 fl.oz included)

33 (0) 4-93-09-20-00

www.galimard.com

Confiserie Florian

Free guided tours in five languages, every day from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 to 6:30 p.m.

33 (0) 4-93-59-32-91

www.confiserieflorian.com

Domain De Manon

One hour tours cost around $10 per person

Children under 12 are free

33 (0) 4-93-60-12-76

www.domaine-manon.com

Domaine De Albatros

Low Season (4 Nov - 31 March) prices start from $130 per night for a south facing room.

33 (0) 492-28-4000

www.domaine-albatros.com

Vroom Vroom Vroom

For car hire in France book online with Vroom Vroom Vroom.

www.vroomvroomvroom.com