Flowers That Are Grown to Make French Perfume

France is a world leader in perfume manufacturing, thanks to a combination of centuries of experience and an ideal climate for growing the many fragrant varieties of flowers used in their signature scents.

Facts

Flowers commonly used in French perfumes include jasmine, lavender, myrtle, geraniums, daffodils, orange blossoms, violets, irises, roses and mimosa.

Process

In the traditional extraction method of perfume-making, hundreds of pounds of freshly picked blossoms are distilled in solvent until they form a waxy mass, which is then combined with alcohol and filtered, creating a highly concentrated scent. Aromatic plants, fruits and woods are often used in combination with flowers. A single perfume may contain anywhere from nine to 100 different fragrances. Animal byproducts such as musk and ambergris, a substance found in the intestines of sperm whales, may be added as well, though this practice has been largely replaced by the use of synthetics in recent years.

Geography

The heart of the French perfume industry is the town of Grasse in Provence, located along the Riviera a short distance from Cannes. The region's warm, temperate climate is ideal for growing many of the flowers used in classic French perfumes. The Provence region is particularly famous for its fields of lavender. Perfumeries Galimard, Fragonard and Molinard are all headquartered in Grasse, which is also home to the world-famous International Perfume Museum.

History

Throughout the middle ages, Grasse's primary industry was leather tanning. Tanners used myrtle and other aromatic plants grown in the area to disguise the unpleasant smells of their trade, and soon Grasse became known for its coveted perfumed leather goods. Catherine de Medici, wife of King Henry II, is credited with creating the first perfume-production workshop in Grasse in the 16th century. During the Industrial Revolution, Grasse began the business of perfume-making on a large scale.

Considerations

Due to the vast quantities of fresh blossoms needed to produce perfume, traditional methods of perfume manufacturing are time-consuming and expensive. Synthetic laboratory-produced scents, which are nearly identical to the genuine article, are an inexpensive alternative.

References

• Grasse, a Symphony of Perfumes
• Grasse, the Women's Perfume Capital of the World
• The World & I; The Scented Spring: France's Perfume Capital for the World; Craig Lancto; July 2003

Resources

• The International Perfume Museum in Grasse