Flowers have given Grasse, World Capital of Perfumery, its letters of nobility.
The city was once adorned both visually and olfactory with gardens and fields of jasmine flowers, roses and tuberoses, the three queen flowers in the art of perfumery.
Even today, farmers cultivate them and some gardens have been developed to preserve this heritage by bringing together all the scents of the Pays de Grasse.
The large perfume houses take the raw materials that make up their fragrances, thus recognizing Grasse’s know-how and the quality of its flowers.
Mimosa
January – February
The flower that has the audacity to bloom in winter!
Mimosa is grown on the hills of Pégomas and Auribeau-sur-Siagne.
To visit: Pégomas Mimosa Forceries.
Not to be missed: The Mimosa Road (from Bormes les Mimosas to Grasse), The Mimosa Festival in Pégomas (January).
Violet
February – March
Emblematic flower of the village of Tourrettes-sur-Loup To visit: Bastide aux Violettes (Near the Pays de Grasse) and Domaine du Mas de l’Olivine in Peymeinade
Not to be missed: The Violet Festival in Tourrettes-sur-Loup (February)
Neroli
March
The delicate flower that dares to embalm the air of spring!
The neroli, a precious essence taken from the flowers of the bigaradier orange, finds its land of choice on the hills of Grasse, where it reveals all its delicacy.
Come and explore its fascinating history
at l’éco-musée Nérolium in Vallauris Golfe-Juan
To visit: Les Jardins du miP in Mouans-Sartoux
Iris
April
The flower that reveals its beauty in the air of spring!
Iris, grown on the hills of Grasse, is popular in perfumery for its rare and refined essence, used to create fragrances of timeless elegance.
To visit: Les Jardins du miP in Mouans-Sartoux
Centifolia Rose, emblematic of Grasse
May – June
Flower grown in Grasse, Pégomas, Opio and La-Colle-sur-Loup.
To visit: Jardins du miP in Mouans-Sartoux, Domaine de Manon in Grasse and Domaine du Mas de l’Olivine in Peymeinade.
Not to be missed: Expo Rose in Grasse (May)
Lavender
Jully
Flower mainly grown on the Valensole plateau but also in Gourdon and Greolières-les-Neiges.
To visit: La Lavanderaie de Marie in Gourdon and Les Jardins du miP in Mouans-Sartoux
Not to be missed: Instant Lavender in Grasse (July)
Jasmin
August – October
The Queen of Flowers!
Jasmine fields are mainly located in Grasse.
To visit: Les Jardins du miP in Mouans-Sartoux, Domaine de Manon in Grasse and Domaine du Mas de l’Olivine in Peymeinade.
Not to be missed: The Jasmine Festival in Grasse (August)
Tuberose
September – November
Very rich and honeyed perfume, one of the most powerful in the plant kingdom. One of the most expensive extracts made available to the perfumer.
To visit: Les Jardins du miP in Mouans-Sartoux, Domaine de Manon in Grasse and Domaine du Mas de l’Olivine in Peymeinade.
