Grasse, Hilltop commune in Alpes-Maritimes, France
Grasse is a commune in Alpes-Maritimes, southern France, sitting on hills inland from the Mediterranean coast. The old town rises in layers of stone houses, stepped alleys and small squares connected by staircases, with gardens and fountains scattered throughout the upper quarters.
During the Middle Ages, the town developed as a leather tanning center before craftsmen started perfuming gloves in the 16th century. This combination of skill and scent eventually led to the town becoming a center for perfume making on its own.
The International Perfume Museum presents the evolution of fragrance production through artifacts, explaining techniques from ancient Egypt to modern industrial processes.
Three perfume houses in town offer daily guided tours and workshops where visitors can create their own scents. The old town is best explored on foot, though the steep paths require comfortable shoes.
Surrounding fields produce several tonnes of jasmine flowers each year, all picked by hand in the early morning to preserve their scent. This harvest follows a rhythm unchanged for centuries, timed to the opening of the blossoms.
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