The Fragonard perfumery is a must-see destination for all lovers of fragrances, history and craftsmanship. Located in the heart of Grasse, the world capital of perfume, this emblematic house offers a unique sensory journey that combines ancestral traditions and modern innovations.
Whether you’re curious to explore the perfume creation process, eager to take part in creative workshops or admire perfume plants in their gardens, Fragonard immerses you in a refined universe. With Tour Azur, discover this historic institution through tailor-made private tours, for a complete immersion in the art of perfume.
Fragonard: a symbol of the art of perfume in Grasse
Fragonard is one of the most emblematic perfume houses in Grasse, a city renowned worldwide for its expertise in the art of fragrance. Let’s discover how Fragonard and Grasse have become key references.
The history of Fragonard perfumery
Eugène Fuchs, seduced by the beauty of the Grasse region, settled here after the First World War. In 1926, he acquired two local perfumeries, merging them to create Parfumerie Fragonard.
The choice of the name “Fragonard” is not insignificant: on the one hand, Eugène Fuchs wishes to pay tribute to Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732-1806), a painter born in Grasse and an emblematic figure of 18th-century art. Secondly, he wanted to associate his company with refinement andelegance.
Fuchs also innovated with a concept that was unheard of at the time: opening the factory doors to visitors. The combination of a visit to the workshops and direct sales of products quickly won over visitors.
In 1929, Eugène Fuchs entrusted the management of the company to his son Georges and his son-in-law François Costa. The latter modernized the company in conjunction with art, creating the first Perfume Museum in Grasse in 1975, as well as two museums in Paris. Fragonard perfumery, which was already doing well, acquired an additional cultural dimension.
Today, Jean-François Costa’s three daughters, Anne, Agnès and Françoise, run Fragonard. Under their guidance, the brand has established itself as a symbol of the art of living, with some twenty boutiques in France and Milan.
Grasse, the perfume capital of the world
Did you know that legendary perfumes by Rochas, Dior and Chanel were created in Grasse?
However, in the Middle Ages, the town was renowned for its tanneries. Les nobles, friands de gants en cuir, se plaignent néanmoins de l’odeur désagréable de ces accessoires. Au XVIe siècle, un gantier de Grasse a l’idée de parfumer les gants en les immergeant dans des bains de fleurs, une initiative qui séduit Catherine de Médicis.
The perfume industry began to flourish in Grasse, taking advantage of the favorable climate for growing flowers. Little by little, the perfume industry overtook the tanneries, transforming Grasse into the capital of perfume. This know-how is listed in the Unesco intangible cultural heritage since 2018.
Grasse is home to international companies specializing in raw materials, the famous nose” training centerthe Musée International de la Parfumerieas well as the perfume museum. Les grandes maisons de parfum locales, telles que Fragonard, Molinard and Galimardcontinue to perpetuate this tradition.
Every year, the city celebrates this richness with the Jasmine Festivalwhich takes place on the first weekend in August. The program includes festive evenings, street entertainment and even flower battles! All these events bear witness to the central role perfumery plays in the economic and cultural life of Grasse, where it remains the main industry.
The perfume creation process at Fragonard
In the Fragonard workshop, perfumes are made in several stages, combining traditional methods with modern techniques.
Raw materials used in Fragonard perfumes
A successful perfume requires quality raw materials, which can be divided into two broad categories.
First of all, natural natural raw materials by Fragonard, particularly those from the Grasse region. Grasse. Les exemples les plus emblématiques sont la rose de mai, le jasmin, la fleur d’oranger, la lavande et la tubéreuse.
In addition to local flowers, Fragonard sources natural raw materials exotic including sandalwood, vetiver and vanilla.
Fragonard also uses synthetic raw materials synthetic raw materials to obtain olfactory effects that are impossible to extract naturally, or to reproduce rare scents more consistently.
These include aldehydespopularized by Chanel N°5, hedione and synthetic musk.
🌿 These synthetic materials play an important role in preserving plant species threatened by overexploitation.
Production workshops: from distillation to fragrances
Fragonard’s manufacturing workshops are the heart of perfume creation. Depending on the nature of the raw material, different extraction techniques are used to capture its essences:
- Steam distillation is an ancient technique for extracting essential oils from plants such as lavender, rose and orange blossom.
- Enfleurage is a traditional method that has marked the history of perfumery. It uses fats to absorb the aromatic compounds of the most delicate flowers, such as jasmine or tuberose.
- Volatile solvent extraction captures odor compounds before they evaporate, leaving behind a concentrated substance.
- Supercritical CO2 is a modern, environmentally-friendly method that uses carbon dioxide to extract essences without altering the olfactory molecules.
Once these precious essences have been extracted, they are entrusted to the nosesperfume designers. They combine a mastery of scents with a knowledge of chemistry. Thanks to their know-how, they transform raw materials into olfactory works of art, balancing top, heart and base notes to create unforgettable fragrances.
Visit Fragonard's workshops and gardens
You’ll find two factories in Grasse: the historic one, on boulevard Fragonard, and the one known as “La Fabrique des Fleurs”, on Route de Cannes. Both offer free guided tours, every day of the week from 9am to 6.30pm.
Guided tours of the Fragonard workshops
The historic factory (boulevard Fragonard)
The tour begins in the distilling roomThe tour continues in the “La Maison”, where stills used for steam distillation are on display. The tour continues in the packaging roomdedicated to bottling and labeling perfumes, with rigorous quality control. In the maceration and filtering roomThe perfume concentrates are mixed with the alcohol in large stainless steel tanks. The savonnerie presents a blend of ancestral techniques and modern innovations. A visit to the perfumer’s former laboratory offers a historical immersion in the creation of unique formulas. The tour ends with a olfactory gamefollowed by access to the boutique Fragonard boutique.
La Fabrique des Fleurs (route de Cannes)
Located south of Grasse, the Fabrique des Fleurs was added to the historic Fragonard Factory, whose production capacity had become insufficient to meet growing demand.
The tour begins with an overview of traditional methods used in the manufacture of perfumes. Next, you enter the laboratoryThis is where the raw materials are blended to create the perfume concentrate, which is then transported to the Usine Historique de Grasse for the maceration phase. Then it’s time to see the perfumer’s organwhere the “nose” composes fragrances by combining different essences.
Visit the conditioning room where eaux de toilette are bottled and labeled. Last but not least, l’atelier de savonnerie is dedicated to the production of Fragonard’s famous pebble soaps, one of the company’s signature products. A store is also available.
The tour ends with a visit to the magnificent perfume plant garden.
Discover the flowers and plants used in our creations
La Fabrique des Fleurs takes its name from the perfume plant garden that surrounds it. Here you can discover the emblematic plants for which Grasse is famous: the rose de maijasmine jasminethe sour orangeorange orange blossom and tuberoseamong others. There are, of course, other flowers from all over the world.
💡Good to know If you want to admire more plants, there are many gardens to visit in Grasse: the jardin des plantes, the the gardens of the Musée International de la Parfumerie or the Lavanderaie de Marie.
Fragonard events and workshops
Fragonard offers a variety of workshops and events around perfumery, designed to introduce visitors to the art of perfume creation and celebrate the richness of olfactory traditions.
Introduction to perfume creation workshops
The Apprentice Perfumer workshop
This 2-hour workshop introduces participants to the history of perfumery and the raw materials used. Participants explore the essences of the perfumer’s organ and learn the structure of the olfactory pyramid (top, middle and base notes). They create their own Eau de Cologne by choosing from nine essences. At the end of the workshop, each participant leaves with a personalized 100 ml bottle and a diploma. The service also includes a visit to the La Fabrique des Fleurs factory.
Location: La fabrique des Fleurs (Grasse)
Price: approx. €70
The mini-perfume workshop
The mini-workshop lasts 45 minutes and allows participants to personalize an eau de toilette based on the flower of the moment. After learning about the history, origins and uses of this flower in perfumery, participants are introduced to the olfactory pyramid through three compositions of essences. Under the guidance of a teacher, each participant creates a unique fragrance by awakening his or her senses and olfactory memory. At the end of the workshop, each participant leaves with a personalized 12-ml spray bottle.
Locations: La fabrique des Fleurs (Grasse) or the village of Èze (meeting point at the historic Grasse factory)
Price: approx. €30
Special events at Fragonard
Every year, Fragonard celebrates “the flower of the year“. For 2024, lilac is in the spotlight, with a dedicated collection including an eau de toilette, diffuser, soap and soap dish. An olfactory workshop is also offered to create a personalized eau de toilette based on lilac.
Fragonard also regularly collaborates with artists to create exclusive capsule collections. Recent examples include Soledad Bravi, Julie Murphy and Antoinette Poisson.
Last but not least, every summer the Maison Fragonard organizes three temporary exhibitions held in Fragonard’s emblematic locations, including the Musée Fragonard and the Musée Provençal du Costume et du Bijou.
Our private excursions to the Fragonard perfumery with Tour Azur
A private tour is a guided tour reserved for you and your loved ones. It’s entirely customizable, according to your whim. What’s more, our private tours include a driver-guide who has the dual role of driving you to the site, but also of accompanying you on a guided tour of each place you visit.
If the Fragonard perfumery and the town of Grasse are of interest to you, we can offer you four private tour options.
Riviera Panorama
Via the famous cornices, reach Èze, a magnificent medieval village with a Fragonard perfume factory.
Provence hinterland
Start in Cannes, then head inland to awaken your senses in Grasse, where you’ll enjoy a guided tour of the Fragonard factory.
Monaco Monte-Carlo & Eze from Nice
Visit the village of Eze and a perfume factory, admire the Princely Palace, the Monaco Grand Prix track and the legendary Place de Monte-Carlo.
Monaco, Monte-Carlo & Eze
Visit the village of Eze and a perfume factory, admire the Princely Palace, the Monaco Grand Prix track and the legendary Place de Monte-Carlo.
Book your private visit to Fragonard with Tour Azur
Booking your tour with Tour Azur is quick and easy. Notre équipe est disponible 7 jours sur 7 et s’engage à vous répondre en moins de 24 heures pour finaliser tous les détails. N’hésitez pas à contact us.
In conclusion, a visit to the Fragonard perfumery in Grasse with Tour Azur is an experience not to be missed. Whether discovering the factories, the gardens or taking part in olfactory workshops, Fragonard offers an unforgettable journey into the world of fragrances. Thanks to Tour Azur’s private excursions, you can explore this emblematic house at your own pace and according to your desires, while benefiting from personalized guidance.
