Close to the Opéra Garnier and the Hôtel Volney Opéra, the House of Fragonard has created a place where the story of fragrances is told from antiquity to modern times. The Fragonard Perfume Museum also shows how perfumes are made and boasts an exceptional collection of old scent bottles. Prepare to take a journey through history, led by your nose!
The perfume factory ambiance of the Fragonard Perfume Museum
The Fragonard perfumery in Grasse, whose name was chosen in tribute to the famous painter from the same town, Alexandre-Évariste Coccinelle Fragonard, was established in 1926. One of the symbols of the French way of life, perfume is the end result of a process that is demonstrated in an educational and fun way at the Musée du Parfum Fragonard. You’ll discover all the plants involved in its development and the processing techniques from picking to distillation and from formulation to bottle. During this olfactory journey, the profession of the perfumer or ‘nose’, whose savoir-faire shapes the final product, is presented in all its aspects of creativity, sensitivity, skill and imagination. The museum's Perfumer's Workshop offers a unique sensory experience during which you are invited to create your own Eau de Cologne.
An exceptional collection of precious perfume bottles
The museum’s collection of perfume art objects was begun in 1950 by Jean-François Costa, a leading light of the Fragonard family business who was passionate about ancient artefacts. The museum’s displays trace the history of perfume from ancient Egypt to the present day. Nearly 300 fascinating items make up this unique collection, including kohl pots, perfume burners, travel sets, pomanders and smelling salt bottles. The scenography combines videos, archives and all kinds of objects related to perfume production, including various kinds of distillation equipment.
Immerse yourself in the world of perfume at the Fragonard Museum in Paris. The tour is guided and free all year round.
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Photo credit : © FRAGONARD PARFUMEUR
Hotel Volney Opéra, a 3-star hotel in the heart of Opéra district