14 Best Things to Do in Grasse: My Guide to the Perfume Capital of the World!

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Love perfume? Let’s talk about the best things to do in Grasse, the Perfume Capital of the World!

Yes, you read that right. Grasse, in the South of France, is the Perfume Capital of the WORLD!

This place is the pinnacle of perfume, the colossus of Cologne, and the satisfyier of scent. At first glance, Grasse looks like any other adorably quaint French Riviera town. It sits up in the hills overlooking the Riviera, and the sun-soaked buildings burst with color.

But, upon closer inspection, you’ll quickly find several famous perfume shops and even perfume houses dotted throughout the city. This place is world-renowned for its perfume, and it is only about 20 minutes away from Cannes!

So if you’re exploring the French Riviera and love fragrances, then you’re going to love a visit to the place where you can find the perfect scent for you: Grasse. 

After spending a couple of days in Grasse and learning wayyy too much (honestly, I find it so interesting so it was really fun!) about perfume, I have the best things to do in Grasse, where to stay, when to visit, and other expert tips for exploring the city of scent itself.

What is Grasse?

Grasse is a city of about 50,000 people located in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Cote-d’Azur region of France. As I said above, it is in the hills, but it is only about 20 minutes or so from Cannes along the Mediterranean. 

This town is beautiful with its colorful buildings, and the views of the surrounding area are delightful!

It is most famous for its perfume! And as a country that LOVES some perfume, that is saying something!

Why is Grasse the Perfume Capital of the World?

It does seem random. I had never even heard of Grasse until a couple of years ago. I was perfume shopping in Paris (I have SO many recommendations I’ll need to put in another post about that adventure) and noticed many places had Paris and Grasse listed on their labels for their locations.

Paris everyone seems to know about, but Grasse? Not so much. That is when I learned that Grasse is the Perfume Capital of the World. Which makes sense that a lot of perfume companies have shops there as well.

But how did Grasse become this hub for perfume? Well, it turns out that Grasse used to be pretty stinky.

In the Middle Ages, Grasse was a place known for leather and tanning work. And if you know anything about tanning leather, it doesn’t smell great.

However, during the Renaissance, making perfumed gloves and other leather goods was a popular way to deter the offputting odor of leather. To keep up with this new fashion of scented gloves, flowers were planted outside of the city. Thanks to its unique microclimate in the hills near the sea, it turned out to be the perfect spot to grow many kinds of flowers.

By the 18th century, Grasse went from being a place of leather to a perfume maker’s dream city. Galimard opened its doors in 1747 and the rest is history! While Grasse does import many aromas these days, it is still where many famous designers grow flowers for perfume including Chanel, Dior, and of course, the famous Grasse perfumers of Fragonard, Molinard, and Galimard.

This is also the place where several “noses” or people who are experts at creating perfumes, go to smell and become experts with more than 2,000 scents.

So if you love perfume, and you want to visit the South of France, then Grasse is the place to go to learn more about the history of perfume, how Grasse became its capital, and perhaps find your next signature scent!

14 Best Things to Do in Grasse

As I’m sure you’re aware by now, a LOT of these Grasse attractions will involve perfume. And that may be why you’re coming to Grasse. It was why I chose to go! So let’s talk about the best things to do in Grasse to ensure you have a fabulously fragrant experience!

1. Make Your Own Perfume

Want to be a “nose” for a day? You can do that in several places in Grasse by making your own perfume! I did this during my stay and it is a must if you’re coming to this city. 

You get to learn about the complexities of scent and mix together your own creation!

Discover the composition of a fragrance including its head (the first thing you smell right away), heart (more mellow to round out the first note), and back notes (this brings in depth to the perfume).

Here are a few places in Grasse where you can concoct your own perfume!

• Fragonard

Fragonard is definitely the most popular place to do this class, especially as they offer perfume-making classes around France including in Paris and Eze in the French Riviera!

They also offer many workshops in Grasse including a mini-workshop. The main workshop consists of a tour of the factory and the workshop where you’ll make a 100ml Eau de Cologne with 9 essences.

The mini-workshop also does a tour and you create a 12ml Eau de Toilette. 

Both of these workshops take place at their Fragonard Fabrique des Fleurs NOT the historical factory that is in the middle of the town. I got confused by this too. 

I ended up doing the mini workshop and they had us make our own version of the scent of their year. For me, that was Lilac.

So I did the factory tour, saw how they make their scented soaps, and learned how they make lilac-scented products because fun fact: did you know that lilac is a silent scent? This means that it doesn’t smell like anything when processed. So they have to use a combination of aromas to create the scent!

It was a lot of fun and it was only about an hour long, so if you want to see and do a lot in Grasse, then this is a good option. If you really want to dive into perfume making, perhaps their 2-hour class and tour is better for you! 

Book the mini-workshop here!

Book the regular workshop here!

Address: 17 Route de Cannes

• Molinard

They were the first to do these fun creation workshops! They also offer workshops around France in places like Cannes, Nice, and Paris.

They too also offer a longer workshop and a mini workshop. The longer workshop is about an hour and includes a tour of the factory and then create your own 50 ml bottle.

The smaller workshop is only 20 minutes long and you have a tour and mix their “Flower of the Year” Eau de Toilette 12 ml bottle to take home.

Book the mini-workshop here!

Book the regular workshop here!

Address: 60 Blvd Victor Hugo

• Gamilard

The oldest perfumer in France got its start in Grasse. And there are several workshops you can do here ranging from 1 hour and 15 minutes to 2.5 hours. 

Each of them lets you make your Eau de Parfum (or Eau de Cologne), but some even allow you to make your own scent diffuser, body lotion, and/or shower gel!

Check out the Gamilard workshops here!

Address: 5 Route de Pegomas

Note: The Eau de Cologne class (the cheapest and shortest session) is in a different location than the others. This one takes place at 73 Route de Cannes.

• Pure Signature Shop

At this perfume shop, you can create your own 100% natural perfume! Discover the ingredients used at Pure Signature and then be guided as you create your own personalized perfume. This includes a 30 ml spray bottle of perfume.

Book it here!

Address: 10-14 Place du Lieutenant Georges Morel

All of these places offer workshops in both French and English.

2. Visit the Musee de Parfum at the Historic Factory at Fragonard

This former tannery became a perfume factory in 1926, and now it is a museum where you can learn about the history of perfume, works of art that once carried perfumes, see their collection of bergamotes (small boxes made from the peel of Bergamot), and even take a look into traditional perfume making in their distillery room, bottling room, filtering room, and even the perfumer’s organ room.

Address: 20 Blvd Fragonard

Hours: Monday-Sunday from 9 am-6 pm.

Admission: Free.

3. Visit Molinard

While the workshops above at the 3 main perfumers typically include a visit to the factory, if you just want to go check out the perfume house, I like Molinard.

You can visit the Bastide here, which was once where all their perfumes were made but is now a museum that shows you how perfume goes from being picked to bottle. Plus, afterward, you can check out their incredible boutique!

I ended up checking this place out and smelling all of its perfumes because every single one was spectacular. I had a hard time deciding which one would be my next summer scent (as I have a winter scent I picked up in Paris that I LOVE). 

I was between 2 and ended up spritzing each wrist with separate scents to smell throughout the day and choose later. This leads me to my next thing on the list of things to see in Grasse.

Address: 60 Blvd Victor Hugo

Hours: October-March on Monday-Saturday from 10 am-6 pm. During school vacations, they are open on Sundays from 10 am-6 pm. April-September every day 10 am-6 pm with July and August being open from 10 am-7 pm. 

Admission: Free.

4. Perfume Shopping in Grasse

Obviously, one of the BEST things to do in Grasse is to go perfume shopping. If you love perfume, you’re quite literally in the best place in the world for it.

And don’t worry if you choose not to purchase something during your tours and workshops. There are boutiques all over the city to buy it later on. That’s what I ended up doing!

As I mentioned above, I ended up going to Molinard’s main Bastide factory and tested a couple of perfumes for the day. Then, I went about my day and near the end popped into their boutique in the Old City to purchase perfume later on.

There are actually a lot of perfume shops just along the Rue Amiral de Grasse and at Place aux Aires. 

This is where I popped into Molinard’s shop and ended up purchasing both bottles of perfume that I tried on earlier because I loved both too much to decide.

I ended up buying the Mediterannee and The Basilic scents. I loved the salty, smooth Mediteranee with a hint of musk for a beachy feeling at home as well as the black tea and basil notes of the The Basilic perfume. I love a good herbal scent for summer.

It was a tough choice so I bought both…and their mini roll-ons for travel. I got caught up in it I know, but I still use both those scents in the warmer months of the year and get compliments.

However, other shops to check out include, of course, the OGs of Fragonard and Gamilard, but also shops like 1000Flowers Perfumer, Grasse Atelier Perfumery, Evanescence Grasse, Parfumerie Ambiance Nature, and more! 

Honesty, if you stick with the roads I mentioned above and a bit onto Rue Jean Ossola, you’ll find plenty of shops to check out.

5. Explore the Old City

Grasse is actually quite a spread-out city. With 50,000 people, it does stretch out further than you’d think. In fact, if you want to go to Fragonard’s workshop and Monilard’s museum, you may need to drive or take the bus.

From where I was staying in the Old City, I had to drive about 10 minutes to get to the Fabrique des Fleurs for Fragonard. 

I do recommend staying in the Old City, though, as it is charming and where you can see most of the things to do around Grasse.

But wandering through the old city is endlessly charming with its sundrenched buildings, several perfume boutiques, adorable clothing boutiques and shops, and cobblestone streets.

They even have streets covered by adorable pink umbrellas! 

So spend some time in the old city, perhaps sit and watch the world go by at a cafe, and definitely wander over to the Place du Cours Honore-Cresp, where you’ll see the most beautiful lookout over the town and area below. Plus, the little gazebo has giant perfume-testing strips with scent names on them!

This is a fun place to explore around for a part of the day in between smelling perfume, making perfume, and buying perfume.

6. Notre Dame du Puy

Known as the Grasse Cathedral, this place is from the 13th century and is now a parish church you can visit while in Grasse.

It also has many art pieces including the “Saint-Honorat, Saint Clement, and Saint Lambert” altarpiece, “Washing of the Feet” by Jean-Honore Fragonard, as well as lovely statues.

Address: 6 Place du Petit Puy

Hours: Winter hours: Monday from 9 am-12 pm and 2-5 pm. Tuesday-Saturday from 9 am-1 pm and 2-5 pm. Summer hours: Monday from 10 am-12 pm and 2-6 pm. Tuesday-Saturday from 10 am-1 pm and 2-6 pm. Closed on Sundays.

Admission: Free.

7. Visit the Villa Musee Jean-Honore Fragonard

Located in the old city and just down the street from the Fragonard Historical Factory, is a small art museum dedicated to French painter Jean-Honore Fragonard as well as Jean-François Costa (part of the Fragonard Perfume empire), who loved art.

Just an FYI, Fragonard, the perfumery, isn’t named after the Fragonard family, as I originally thought. I actually thought oh well Jean-Honore Fragonard is part of the family and also was an artist.

While he was, in fact, an artist and son of a perfume maker, the Fragonard perfumery is actually named after this painter. The creator of Fragonard’s name was actually Eugène Fuchs, who moved to Grasse with his family. He named the business after this famous artist who is from Grasse.

So if you visit this museum, you’ll spot paintings from the famed painter and namesake of probably the most well-known perfumer in France. There are also other paintings by Grasse painters including Marguerite Gerard (Fragonard’s sister-in-law) and Jean-Baptiste Mallet.

Address: Hotel de Villeneuve, 14 Rue Jean Ossola

Hours: Daily from 9 am-7 pm.

Admission: Free.

8. Musee Provencal du Costume et du Bijou

Located really close to the Jean-Honore Fragonard Museum is the museum dedicated to traditional Provencal dress and jewelry. It was created by Helene Costa (of the Fragonard empire), who collected these pieces to preserve the history of Provence.

Here you’ll find an impressive collection of 18th-19th century clothing and jewelry. They also do exhibitions throughout the year.

If you’re a lover of costuming and fashion, this is definitely a place to go!

Address: 2 Rue Jean Ossola 

Hours: Daily from 10 am-1 pm and 2-6:30 pm.

Admission: Free. 

9. Musee d’Art et d’Histoire de Provence

The beauty of a lot of these museums is that they are all super close to each other! This one is all about the history of this area of Provence dating all the way back to prehistoric times.

There are also pieces of art from the 17th-century to 20th century to admire. The collection ranges wildly from tools and instruments used throughout history to photographs, paintings (including some modern art paintings), and even some furniture.

Address: 2 Rue Mirabeau

Hours: September-June from 10 am-6 pm daily and open until 7 pm in July and August. 

Admission: €2. 

10. Musee Internationale de la Perfumerie

I know there are several little museums in Grasse, but if there is one museum to visit in Grasse, make it this one.

This is such a fun and interactive experience where you’ll learn about the history of perfume from antiquity, learn about the olfactory system (how your sense of smell works), smell various notes and ingredients used in perfume, see the flowers that are grown in Grasse or have been historically grown in Grasse, discover how glass making came into play to make iconic perfume bottles over the centuries, and more!

I also loved their extensive collection of vintage perfumes ranging from Chanel No. 5, Black Opium by Yves Saint-Laurent, to the woman-shaped iconic Jean-Paul Gaultier bottles, and more!

I had such a great time exploring this museum and learning all about perfume, how Grasse plays a huge role in it, and seeing the vintage bottles! They also had rooms with bottles from centuries back as well, but the ones from the 90s and 2000s brought back so many memories.

Address: 2 Blvd du Jeu de Ballon

Hours: September-June from 10 am-6 pm and July-August from 10 am-7 pm.

Admission: €6.

11. Huilerie Sainte-Anne 

If you have a car and want to taste delicious olive oil, then you’ll want to take a quick 10-minute drive over to Huilerie Sainte-Anne.

This is a traditional olive mill that was founded in 1706. They have modernized their approach over the years, but you can see the traditional equipment of olive oil production, take a tour of the mill, do a tasting, and shop for delicious olive oil.

I know that Greece and Italy get a lot of love when it comes to olives and olive oil, but the South of France is packed with olive groves and makes delicious olives and oils.

Note that you must make an appointment for tours and tastings.

Address: 138 Route de Draguignan

Hours: Monday-Saturday from 9:30 am-12:30 pm and 2-6 pm. Closed on Sunday. In July and August, they are open from 9:30 am-7 pm Monday-Saturday. Contact here to arrange tours and tastings.

Admission: Contact for availability and prices.

12. Dining in Grasse

Being close the Mediterranean and surrounded by fields of flowers and some olive groves, you know you’re in for a treat when it comes to the food.

So while you’re in Grasse, why not check out some great restaurants?

There is one restaurant on the Michelin Guide called La Bastide Sainte-Antoine. It is a pricier experience, but you can enjoy a delicious tasting menu or order off the menu for delicious seasonal fare.

But if you’re feeling something less expensive, I’ll suggest La Tannerie. This place is on a terrace and has lovely views and also changes the menu based on the season. It is also located in the old city so if you’re staying in the heart of the city then you can walk here!

When I was in Grasse, I had a good dinner here consisting of fried zucchini flowers and sea bream with mashed potatoes and peppers.

And if you just want a good pizza, you can check out Pizza Chez Ange in the old city. 

13. Celebrating the Flower Festivals in Grasse

Being a place centered around perfume, it certainly owes a lot to its flowers. 

This is why on the first weekend of August every year for the last 70 years, there is the Fete du Jasmin, or the Jasmine Festival which takes place in the old city and has music, dancing, a big parade, and fireworks to celebrate! 

The parade takes place on Saturday night where flowers are thrown out into the audience!

In May, they have the Rose Festival or Expo Rose. This is a weekend festival that celebrates roses and you’ll see roses everywhere from the streets to shops with unique decorations made from roses. 

There is also dancing and music, and you can purchase local crafts and goodies at the Cours Honoré Cresp. 

14. Best Day Trips From Grasse

Thanks to Grasse’s train station, you can explore other places on the French Riviera pretty easily on a day trip! Some places include Cannes, Nice, Antibes, and more!

From Grasse, it takes about 30 minutes to get to Cannes, a little over an hour to get to Nice, and about 45 minutes to get to Antibes.

So if you want to hit up some beaches, explore the market in Nice, go designer shopping in Cannes, or enjoy the culture and beauty of Antibes, you can easily do that via train or car if you choose to drive!

Day Trips to Grasse

Now unless you’re a big perfume fan and want to stay here to really dive in (guilty!), you can consider a day trip here. Again, it is pretty easy to visit via train or car if you’re staying along the French Riviera in places like Nice, Cannes, and Antibes.

Or, if you want to go with a group tour, here are a few options that include stops in Grasse among other spots:

• From Nice: Medieval Villages Day Trip
• From Nice: Countryside Tour with Grasse
• From Nice: Jewels of Provence Tour
• From Cannes: Beautiful Hilltop Villages Tour

Where to Stay in Grasse

Planning to stay in Grasse? Luckily, there are some great places to stay! I recommend staying near the old city, and don’t worry, there is plenty of parking as there are parking garages nearby if you’re driving.

I ended up staying at this Airbnb so I could do some laundry during my longer trip through the South of France.

It was in the heart of the old city and I could walk almost everywhere except for the Fragonard perfume-making class and Molinard’s house (both places do have parking though!). 

Book it here!

Skylark Bed and Breakfast: Located only about a 15-minute walk from the old city is this charming bed and breakfast. It has beautiful views over Grasse and the nearby towns, and there are 2 bedrooms here as well as a cottage you can choose from. 

Book it here!

Les Palmiers: This bed and breakfast is another cute spot and is within 5 minutes walking to many attractions in the city. It has lovely views, helpful staff, and all the comforts you need for a great stay in Grasse.

Book it here!

Getting to Grasse and Getting Around

Getting to Grasse is fairly easy thanks to its train station. I will note that the train station is down the hill so you’ll have to walk up the hill for about 20 minutes to get to the old city.

Alternatively, you can catch a bus from the train station and it is about a 15-minute ride to the old city. 

You can also drive in Grasse and there is plenty of parking both in public parking garages but also free parking for visitors to places like Fragonard’s Flower Factory, Galimard, and Molinard.

I like checking rental cars on AutoEurope.

As far as getting around the city, if you’re in the old city and staying there (where a lot of these attractions are located), you can just walk. 

However, if you want to go to the olive oil mill or check out the perfume-making classes at Fragonard/Galimard/visit Molinard’s historical spot, you’ll either need to take a bus or drive. 

Again, these places have free parking, so you can park there for free before coming back to the old city. 

Grasse is surprisingly spread out, so having a car is helpful or just using Google Maps to figure out buses and taking the bus works too.

When to Visit Grasse

Being in the South of France, Grasse has a lovely climate year-round. It doesn’t get super cold, and it is sunny most of the year.

You can definitely visit year-round honestly. However, some places do have reduced hours or may be closed during the winter months, so avoiding November through February is a good idea.

The busiest times of year to visit will likely be during the festivals mentioned above in May and August as well as peak tourist season in the South of France in July and August.

So opting for May, June, September, and October is a great sweet spot for nice, warmer temperatures and fewer crowds.

I will note that Grasse isn’t super touristy compared to many other French Riviera towns, and even in mid-July when I visited it wasn’t crowded at all. So it really is up to you when to visit!

Other Tips For Visiting Grasse

Ready to visit the Perfume Capital of the World?! Let’s go! But first, here are a few closing tips to ensure your visit goes smoothly.

• Parking: There are actually several parking garages/lots in Grasse to park your car. Street parking is hard to come by, so just opt to park in a garage and you’ll be fine. I ended up parking at the Parking Notre Dame des Fleurs as that was near my Airbnb and my Airbnb included parking there. However, there are other parking garages called Parking Indigo Hotel de Ville, Parking Indigo Honore Cresp, and Parking Indigo Grasse La Foux. There is also parking at the train station and again, some of the attractions you’d likely need to drive to also have parking.
• Public toilets: Between having toilets at the museums and workshops, I didn’t need a public toilet while out and about in Grasse. However, there are some public toilets located at 1 Rue de l’Évêché and 18 Cr Honoré Cresp. With most public toilets in France, you may want to pack some toilet paper and hand sanitizer in case they don’t have it.
• Always say “Bonjour:” This is my biggest tip for French travel. It is rude to start a conversation with someone (especially while asking for assistance) without first saying “bonjour.” Even if you don’t know much French, “bonjour” will take you far and people will be more friendly to you. I typically switch from “bonjour” to “bonsoir” after sunset.
• Learn a bit of French. English is spoken in a lot of places in Grasse, especially at the main perfume factories, and even shops. However, knowing a few key phrases can be helpful! I have 17 useful French phrases to know here to help you out!

I hope this guide helped you plan your perfect trip to Grasse! If you’re a perfume lover, there truly is no better place to immerse yourself in the history, culture, and shops in the Perfume Capital of the World!

Would you like to visit Grasse?

Want more South of France travel inspiration? Check out these posts!

• Best 5-Day Provence Itinerary
• Perfect 7-Day South of France Road Trip
• French Riviera Itinerary in 5 Days
• Perfect Gordes Travel Guide + Top Things to Do
• Best Things to Do in Saint-Remy-de-Provence
• 10 Days in France: 10 Ways to Spend 10 Days in France
• Most Beautiful Cities in France
• Nice in 1 Day
• Top France Road Trips
• One Day in Avignon Itinerary
• How to Visit the Ochre Trail in Roussillon
• Best Things to Do in Cassis
• 3 Days in Cannes
• 1 Day in Cannes
• Best Luberon Villages + 1 Day Itinerary
• France Bucket List

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