I'm always learning in the business of painting signs...
Situated in Provence in the South of France on the Mediterranean coastline.
Year round the air is perfumed ....
Mimosa in February, Violets in March, Daffodils in April, Orange Blossoms & Roses in May, Tuberoses from June to September, Jasmine from August to October and of course Lavender all summer long!
Some are picked carefully by hand at sunrise, when the perfume is at it's peak...others are picked throughout the day. In early days, the process of "enfleurage" took place next, where the flowers were spread over sheets that had been coated with odorless vegetable or animal fats, to which they transferred their perfume.
But what I found so interesting was that it was not always this way, the perfume industry in Grasse was actually born out of neccesity:
In the 1600's the town was actually known for it's 'evil smelling streets.' It was home to a thriving animal skin trade; tanners would meet on the banks of a torrent, the Foux, to scrape, wash and soak their leather. This resulted in a nauseating odor that permeated the city, leaving women to run perfumed hankies under their noses to avoid the nasty smell!
More innovative tanners began using perfumed fatty ointments to make 'scented skins' which were resevered for the making of gloves for the pretty Parisian ladies. So was born the profession of "Perfumer Glovers".
Today, about a ton of petals are treated daily! Perfumers are referred to as "Noses". A "Nose" can distinguish between more than 10,000 seperate scents. There has never been a "Nose" in the world who wasn't either a native of Grasse or at least a visitor to the town.
Grasse is also known for perfume flavored breads and ice creams!yum... I think.. maybe you should try it first, let me know...
So that is Grasse, and all I learned, which leads me to my new sign....
(you knew that was coming right??)
which I'm off to list in my etsy shop!
Thanks for coming along & I hope you enjoyed our journey!!
Au revoir!!
