If in the 21st century France is still the undisputed home of perfumery, it is thanks to its artistic and technical wealth: its talented perfumers, its cultivation of perfume plants in Provence, Grasse and its raw material distillation plants, and of course Paris, the capital of elegance.
Perfume capital – a well-deserved title
The myth of French perfume appears to be real after all. A long-standing tradition, sprawling farms of precious ingredients, and the best “noses” in the industry – having all of these in one country seems to have a real impact on the quality of the perfume produced there.
While the French didn't invent perfume, they have certainly made it their own and produce some of the world's best-known fragrances and eau de parfu. Paris and Grasse in Provence are the main bases for French perfume manufacture and widely considered to be the world capitals of scent.
France is renowned for its perfume industry and is home to some of the world's most famous perfumeries, such as the Maison Guerlain.
GRASSE, France — The town of Grasse sits in the hills above the more famous French Riviera city of Cannes, and it doesn't have the Mediterranean Sea at its doorstep. What it does have is fields of flowers — jasmine, May rose, tuberose, lavender. It is known as the perfume capital of the world.
If you're in any doubt, opt for a French perfume. There are certain things the French do exceptionally well, and one of them is creating perfumes. Although France wasn't the first country to start blending perfume, French perfume brands are considered some of the best in the world.
The capital has been home to great master perfumers for several centuries. As early as the 18th century, master perfumers settled in Paris, especially on the Parisian bridges, where they developed the distillation process to extract the scent of the ingredients; whereas in Grasse, perfumers used the enfleurage process.
Parfum VI by Gianni Vive Sulman: $89,000. 1 million, LUXE edition by Paco Rabanne: $57,000. Les Larmes Sacrées de Thebes by Baccarat: $6,800. Le N°5 Parfum Grand Extrait by Chanel: $3,500. Poivre by Caron: $1,000.
Here's a hint: Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum takes the top spot for best overall thanks to its universal appeal. Without further adieu, here are the best perfumes for women that are floral, spicy, fruity, sexy, and undeniably timeless.
From the Renaissance to the 19th century, the way people wore perfume and the type of fragrances were unisex, and men and women wore them indiscriminately. During the 18th century, French-made perfume exploded onto the international scene, making the country the epicenter of perfume creation.
For centuries to come, the best fabrics and materials were to be found in France. As the haute couture industry developed in the late 19th century, seamstresses and tailors had no choice but to settle in France.
Victoria Beckham: Byredo Bal D'Afrique
In a past interview, the designer and mogul has confessed her love for Bal D'Afrique, the brand's cult favourite wood and spice scent. If it's good enough for VB, it's good enough for us.
Between frankincense, saffron and oud, these are the rarest fragrances and ingredients you'll need to elevate your perfume wardrobe – talk about heaven scent.
Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is known worldwide for the Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame cathedral, and the Eiffel tower. It has a reputation of being a romantic and cultural city. The city is also known for its high-quality gastronomy and the terraces of its cafés.
But it was the Hungarians who ultimately introduced the first modern perfume. The first modern perfume, made of scented oils blended in an alcohol solution, was made in 1370 at the command of Queen Elizabeth of Hungary and was known throughout Europe as Hungary Water.
In general, eau de parfum scents are heavier (i.e. more concentrated) making them more likely to last all day. They're very different from the lighter, less-concentrated eau de toilette fragrances or body sprays. Eau de toilettes usually have half the concentration of the perfume oil found in eau de parfum.
Paris is regarded as the world fashion capital, and spread throughout the city are many fashion boutiques. Most of the major French fashion brands, such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Lacroix, are currently headquartered here.