recorded for posterity

recorded for posterity (and future orders as I loved it!). What to see around Grasse Three big names in Grasse: Galimard - the first to perfume gloves in Grasse - a bath of lavender, jasmine, roses, wild orange blossom, mimosa and myrtle. Molinard - established in 1849, when chemist J Molinard opened a shop in Grasse - his clients included Queen Victoria. Fragonard - founded in 1926 by Eugene Fuchs who named his perfumery in honour Grasse-born painter Jean-Honoré Fragonard, son of a perfume maker. You can see some of his most famous paintings in the Fragonard Museum in Grasse (next to the Parfumerie Fragonard) as well as a painting commissioned for the 13th Cathedral of Grasse which is well worth a visit. Streets shaded by umbrellas the colour of the May Rose Wander the pink umbrella (the colour of the famous May Rose) shaded streets, admire stunning street art, visit museums - the Provence Art and History Museum is a must-see, it’s housed in an old mansion you could easily pass by, but inside is a stunning time warp of the 18th century with gorgeous gardens. There are plenty of excellent restaurants in the town where you can indulge in the authentic flavours of Provence - Restaurant La Tannerie is in a rather secret part of town and La Fleur de Lys is loved by the locals for the warm welcome and excellent dishes. For aperitifs, head to the Casino’s terraced bar with fabulous views over Cannes. Grasse is a fabulous base for exploring picturesque, pickled in the past villages that dot the hills around the town including Gourdon (20 minutes by car from Grasse). Perched high above the Riviera, it’s a village of exquisitely pretty cobbled lanes and oodles of charm. Officially one of the most beautiful villages of France, it has an ancient castle, 12th century church and stunning views over the countryside. Nearby family-run Confiserie Florian is a must-visit. Here they still make sweets and cakes to traditional methods by hand just as they have for more than 100 years. You can take a free guided tour of the factory at Pont du Loup, and watch the fascinating processes. They work with flowers and fruits to create speciality products - from crystallised violets to clementine jam, chocolate marshmallows and rose flavoured cakes and all sorts of utterly irresistible sweet things - beware that their shop is temptation central! There’s also a lovely café and a gorgeous garden with views over the monumental bridge of Loup. Gourdon Basket full of just plucked jasmine blooms There are loads of perfumed experiences to enjoy in Grasse but one of the most magical for me was picking jasmine early in the morning, when the little flowers smell their best. At the Domaine de Terre Jasmine, Pierre Chiarla and his small team plucked rapidly, filling baskets with blooms. “If you’re good at it, you can pick 60,000 in a day” says Pierre “and it takes 10,000 blooms to make a kg of essence.” You can book this experience and many more via the tourist office. But - there is more to Grasse than perfume… Grasse has a great foodie scene, with restaurants galore Confiserie Florian, Gorges du Loup 12 | The Good Life France The Good Life France | 13