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FRAGRANCE OF THE FRENCH RIVERIA
Fragonard Perfume Museum and Factory Tours

Scents and aromas for personal adornment have been in use since the beginning of known time, oils and balms, incense and myrrh perhaps the original gifts fit for a king. The art of manufactured perfumes, essence of fragrances distilled into a delicate pure liquid came into being in the smelly growing rise of urban cities of the Renaissance. The town of Grasse along the French Mediterranean coast around Nice became the capital of perfume production in the 16th Century. Originally created to scent tanned leather products manufactured in the area from the wild flowers growing in the alps-maritim hills, the aromas soon became sought after luxuries of the wealthy society.

There are over 30 active perfume companies making their secret essences for a collection of well known brands, but Fragonard is now the perfumery most associated with Grasse and Ezé where its factories are located. Started in 1926 by Eugene Fuchs and named for the French painter Jean-Honore Fragonard, the company is still run by the family descendents. Jean Francois Costa, grandson of Fuchs and company manager for over 6o years and his wife were avid art and clothing collectors and assembled a museum of perfume history as well as local Provencal costumes and jewelry in the historic factory building in Grasse. Visitors to the factory are offered a free guided tour of the laboratories and workshops, where master perfumeurs create aromatic magic. The museum in the 19th Century mansion presents objets d’art from over 3,000 years of perfume history and jewelry and clothing designs from the 18th and 19th Century.

There are two modern factories that can be visited, at the entrance to Grasse the Perfumerie Fragonard is surrounded by gardens of local flowers and fragrant plants dedicated to the aromatic art in perfumes and soap making. The other factory in Eze, near Monaco, is larger and focused more on manufacturing soaps and cosmetics which now make up the Fragonard product line as well as the perfumes. Of course, the object of providing free factory tours is not an education in soap making, but the stores in each of the locations to purchase Fragonard exclusive products which are available at factory prices. And should you miss the French Riviera experience or not take enough perfume with you to gift to all the relatives, Fragonard also has a museum and boutiques in Paris.

The Fragonard tours and perfumeries in Grasse and Eze can be reached by car or public bus and tour busses can be found through tourist offices in Nice, Cannes and Antibes. There is also a Fragonard Museum de Parfum in Paris near the Opera Garnier (see Paris Hotels at Opera-Louvre) on the Rue Scribe in the Paris shopping district midpoint between the Galleries Lafayette and the Place Vendome.. © Bargain Travel Europe 

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