Discover the town behind the world’s most famous perfume

In the 15th century, Grasse, France, transformed from a smelly leather town to the perfume capital of the world by masking odors with scented gloves, sparking a flourishing perfume industry. By 1921, Coco Chanel sought Grasse’s expertise for her iconic Chanel No. 5, which relies on the Rose Centifolia and jasmine flowers. Today, Grasse is experiencing a revival, with Chanel’s master perfumer, Olivier Polge, ensuring the timeless scent remains unchanged. Polge, known as a “nose,” combines art and science to craft fragrances, identifying thousands of scents. Despite his expertise, he insists his sense of smell is not extraordinary but rather trained to recognize and create unique fragrances. QUESTION: How might the revival of traditional perfume-making in Grasse influence modern fragrance trends and consumer preferences?