In the small town of Grasse in the hills behind Cannes is the century old house of Fragonard, creating perfume since 1782.
The Fragonard museum is open to the public, explaining the history of the company and more. Fragonard not only tells the story behind the magic of making perfume, they also have a foundation, a charming boutique and a museum of provencal costume.
Fragonard may have a prestigious name but they have moved with the times and understood the importance of good design and marketing.
Their little soaps are one of my very favourite hostess gifts
Another one of my recommended places to stop when you are next on the Cote d'Azur!
Posts
been this summer... so, so lovely and charming ;-)) makes me want to go again and again!!!
ReplyDeleteI want to be there, I have to be there! I love perfumes... and the boutiques with all these little things...
ReplyDeletewish You all the best and thank You for Your showing France this way
marta from ohmyhome.pl
Hi Vicki
ReplyDeleteI shall include during my next visit. Thanks
Helenx
Last year at easter I've been there and bought a cushion and a little dish!
ReplyDeleteVery nice museum!
♥ Franka
http://meinedinge.blogspot.com/2011_04_01_archive.html
Fun to see the shop my mother-in-law was just in there last week and brought me back soaps.
ReplyDeleteXX
Debra~
Enticing - the location, the shop/ museum and the products. Always so much still to do and see in France.
ReplyDeleteI trust you are enjoying your sojourn in the South.
Bonne semaine
Tank you for showing such a beautiful place. It inspired me to take a trip to France. I would love to shop in that charming boutique.
ReplyDeleteTrude :)
I truly enjoy your blog. It has such a beautiful essence to it. I always have the feeling I am exploring when I visit.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Limezinnias Design
I did research there two summers ago for my book that is coming out in a week. The Book of Lost Fragrances. It's a lovely town and lovely museum. http://mjrose.com/fragrances/scent.asp
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Fragonard story is that a few years ago I was at a big sale at a very chichi shop here and my friend found a bottle of cologne in a glass Eiffel Tower. It was about $2 so I bought it. That year, I was in the Fragonard shop in the Louvre, spotted the cologne and it was about 70 euros. When I got back home, I turned the bottle over and sure enough it was the same!!! I was just in one of their shops in Paris and they salespeople were so very nice and gave me perfume samples for my granddaughters as well!
ReplyDeleteV
Oh, I have been to Fragonard and have had some wonderful times. And Grasse is so charming! Thank you for bringing back fond memories.
ReplyDeleteRobin
Oh, yes. Very beautiful parfum creations-I like Capucine-and also don't forget Fragonard, the wonderful painter!
ReplyDeleteOh that looks like a wonderful experience!! Beautiful!!! xo HHL
ReplyDeleteI would love to spend time there. So beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI visited there in 1997 - and to this day I still order my perfume by mail from there!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post and took me right back.
LOVE that part of France.
Sublime.
ReplyDeleteAnd so French!
My eye goes immediately to that wonderful ceiling!
ReplyDeleteIn September 2007 we visited Grasse and I was particularly anxious to see the costume exhibit of vintage provençal dress. That was my eye candy! The salesgirls in the boutique were all very chic, each wearing the same taupe capris, white cap-sleeve tees with different colored silk-covered-bead necklaces. Learning about the perfume industry was enlightening and anyone who hasn't been there - get this on your Bucket List!
ReplyDeleteMary in Oregon
My daughter and I won't forget our day at this wondrous place. We loved it, and Ned, my husband, just sat down and waited for us...so sweet. Thank you for taking us back with your lovely photos. See you on Tuesday !!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post. I couldn't resist your charming opening painting when it appeared on my blog roll. What is it about blue and pink that forever allure? So romantic...the opening image and your entire post. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteA delight
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Fragonard...when we go to the South of France we stay in Mouans-Sartoux, right outside of Grasse and I go to all the Fragonard shops in the area; Grasse, Nice, St Paul...they all have different items. And of course, when I am in Paris I hit the one in the Louvre metro. It is one of my favorite places in the world...call me crazy!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Caroline
Love this, Sharon.
ReplyDeleteOn my last trip to France, 4 of us were painting 'In the Steps of Monet,' staying just above Grasse. We drove by Flagonard every morning and afternoon and had plans to stop and visit. Then, we were robbed in our car at a stop signal in Nice and we spent the next several days getting a replacement passport for one of us. Then, there was the impending train strike and we had to leave two days early...we never made it to the origin of perfume.
I will not leave France again without seeing a lavendar field and Flagonard!
LOL! It was interesting...
xo, Chris
Was there some years ago, Wonderful, bought some perfumes and hope to go there again this summer.
ReplyDeleteI went to the Fragonard store by l'Opera in Paris (Rus Scribe, I think) and spent HOURS sniffing, spritzing and loving their little museum upstairs. I came home with a gorgeous heart-shaped scented soap, some Vrai hand cream and a bottle of Emilie - love, love, love.
ReplyDeleteThe Fragonard museum in Grasse will definitely be a destination someday...
Ho visitato Grasse. anni fà,durante una vacanza in provenza.
ReplyDeleteAdoro Fragonard i suoi profumi e i suoi accessori....
Io uso molto volentieri profumi Fragonard.
baci Giò
Oh yay! I am so happy for you that you are down in the South. Hoping you are having a wonderful time with your family. :) Your photos are gorgeous, as always. The last time I was in Grasse both Fragonard and Molinard were simply too insane, too packed! But I did get a ginormous bottle of Rose EDP from Molinard that I use as a base for mixing with others and my honey got Fig Flower from Fragonard which he adores and yes, the ladies packed our bags with samples too--which was great--at least we could discover scents later on...
ReplyDeleteBon vacances, Sharon!