A trip to the perfume capital

From Aotearoa New Zealand to Grasse, France. A town tucked into the foothills of the French Riviera in Southern Europe, known worldwide as the perfume capital. A perfume lovers dream.

Everywhere I walked it smelt of fragrance. But what did I expect right? I was in the perfume capital of the world !! Fragrance is everywhere. In shop windows, on posters, inside museums, and in classrooms.

Perfume in Grasse began as a solution rather than a luxury. In the 16th century, scent was used to mask the smells from leather production, and over time that practice evolved into a craft. Grasse became the hub of a thriving perfume industry that continues to influence fragrance today.

My time in Grasse was spent in perfumery classes, working through formulas, and developing compositions under the guidance of those who live and breathe the craft. Time was also spent walking through factories and production spaces, showing just how deep perfume is embedded in the town. Learning how perfume first came into the world and how Grasse became the heart of it, while walking through museums and learning about both old and modern techniques, and how materials behave, evolve, and work together.

This visit formed part of House of ōwai’s ongoing development, building knowledge of the craft and strengthening relationships within the perfume industry.

Gratitude to Grasse, France, and its long history of perfumery.