Itinerary on the theme of perfume on the Côte d’Azur | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Tourism

Visit historic perfumeries

Above Nice, in Èze, you will find the famous Maisons Galimard and Fragonard which are among the oldest perfumeries on the Côte d’Azur and in France. Discover their fascinating history on guided tours which will reveal the manufacturing secrets of these two great names in perfumery. Both at Galimard and at Fragonard, you will be able to visit the factory-lab where the enfleurage takes place, a process which consists of extracting the perfume from flowers, and where the fragrances and other cosmetic products are developed. In Saint-Paul-de-Vence, head for Maison Godet, where Sonia Godet continues the family tradition of perfumery. And, for the record, it seems that Henri Matisse’s, Henriette Darricarrère, used to perfume herself with one of the oldest Maison Godet creations, Folie Bleue.

Usine Laboratoire Fragonard

At the foot of the Baroque church, just a few steps from the village square, the factory and cosmetics laboratory offer free guided tours. And there's a breathtaking sea view...

Galimard

Perfumery founded in Grasse in 1747. Free guided tour of our Museum, perfume creation workshops.

Maison Godet

Let your nose guide your walk

Besides its labs and perfumeries, the Côte d’Azur offers a world of scents which are most certainly the primary inspiration for perfumers. In Nice, the world capital of flowers in the 19th century, the flower market on Cours Saleya is still a must. Wander around, with your eyes half-shut, and let the hundreds of floral smells that perfume the air guide you. At the western end of the Promenade des Anglais, Parc Phœnix is an area devoted to the perfume plants which once made Nice famous in flower growing: jasmine, orange trees, violets, roses… If you like more tangy perfumes, head for Menton and notice the delicate lemony smells given off by the gardens of Palais Cornalès, which has the largest collection of citrus fruit in Europe, and also the orchards of La Ferme des Citrons and Maison Gannac, which is open to visitors. If you prefer more woody notes, take a walk in Parc de Vaugrenier or Parc des Rives du Loup in Villeneuve-Loubet, and peacefully appreciate the gentle smell of pine trees and the plants of the undergrowth. Lastly, in Mougins the “ville-jardin”, there’s a colony of lotuses, the largest in Europe, on the banks of the Etang de Fontmerle. A visual and olfactive show!

A plunge into fields of perfume flowers

As the Pays de Grasse is without a doubt the historic cradle of the cultivation of perfume plants, you can visit some estates which carry on this horticultural tradition. To begin with, the Domaine de Manon, which specializes in the growing of three emblematic perfume plants: Rosa Centifolia, Jasminum Grandiflorum and the Tuberose flower. This family farm reserves its whole crop for Maison Christian Dior. You can visit the estate in the flowering time, either in May for the roses, and August to the beginning of October for jasmine and tuberose. At Domaine du Mas de l’Olivine, the flowers are grown and processed on the spot for confectionery. You can book a guided tour to discover their magnificent flower crops, among which you can, of course, see roses, jasmine, tuberose, violets, lilies and bitter orange trees. In Gourdon, you can visit La Source Parfumée Galimard and La Lavanderaie de Marie, which no longer produces, but which is a real little paradise to visit, with its aromatic and medicinal plants and a wonderful view over the Loup valley.

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Une publication partagée par La Domaine de Manon (@ledomainedemanon)

Domaine de Manon

The Domaine de Manon is an agricultural estate on the outskirts of Grasse, the perfume capital of the world. Since the 1930s, our family has been growing perfume plants on this...

Domaine du Mas de l'Olivine

Two people who love the land and its scents, Audrey and Thierry Bortolini invite you into their 18th-century family estate : Le Domaine du Mas de l’Olivine in Peymeinade. As...

Lavanderaie de Marie of the Source Parfumée

The Lavanderaie de Marie of the Source Parfumée holds a floral site where 140 species of different varieties of aromatic and officinal plants grow in harmony. Free entry !

An introduction to the profession of perfumer

Have all these scents made you want to play with fragrances? The great perfumery houses invite you to participate in their workshops and create your own perfume. In Grasse, you can choose between Galimard, Fragonard and Molinard, which both offer introductory workshops, from the mini-workshop of under an hour to the haute parfumerie workshops over two half-days. Whatever the case, you will leave with your creation, dreamed up following your intuition and advice from a perfumer. For little “noses” there are even workshops for children at Molinard and Galimard. One Saturday a month, the Musée International de la Parfumerie organises a themed visit followed by a practical workshop. A lovely way to learn the history and the savoir-faire of perfume creation.

The Côte d’Azur, a world of scents and perfume

Visit historic perfumeries

Let your nose guide your walk

A plunge into fields of perfume flowers

An introduction to the profession of perfumer