Summer on the French Riviera
THROUGH A PERFUMER'S EYES
The French Riviera in the summer conjures up pictures of beach clubs, glamorous hotels and endless days beneath the Mediterranean sun. But beyond these popular images, lies a lesser-known Riviera. One filled with breathtakingly beautiful places, and unforgettable rituals. I can't wait to share it with you.
Rosalie at Poète,
Co-Founder & Parfumeur-Créateur, Paris, FR
THE ESTEREL COAST & THÉOULE-SUR-MER
The Esterel coast, near Théoule-sur-Mer and Cannes is one of my favorite places in the region. The contrast between the flamboyant red rocks, the bright blue sky and the shimmering Mediterranean Sea. Long swims in the warm, crystal-clear waters. Salt drying on the skin after a swim.
Fresh citronnade during the hottest hours of the day, followed by seafood dinners by the sea in Théoule-sur-Mer as the sky slowly turns pink over the water. It's a pure feeling of brightness and warmth. I tried to bottle this feeling in La Lumière.
A SUMMER DRIVE THROUGH THE HILLS ABOVE GRASSE
One of my favorite summer rituals is driving through the hills above Grasse with the windows open to the warm air. A first stop in Gourdon for the breathtaking view stretching all the way to the Mediterranean Sea below. Then the road winding down toward the Gorges du Loup, where the air suddenly becomes cooler, with fresh river water, shaded stone paths and wild vegetation offering welcome relief from the summer heat.
Further along, there's Tourrettes-sur-Loup, the village of violets, with its quiet stone streets, flower-covered facades and small artisan boutiques tucked behind old wooden doors.
End the day in Valbonne, Mougins, or Saint-Paul-de-Vence, each with a completely different atmosphere. Saint-Paul for its art galleries and golden evening light. Valbonne for long summer dinners and lively village squares buzzing late into the night. Mougins old town for its quieter atmosphere and peaceful terraces overlooking the hills. Those evenings have become part of what summer on the Riviera means to me.
SUMMER IN GRASSE
And then there's Grasse: flower-filled balconies, old fountains, sun-warmed stone streets and perfume drifting through the town in the evening heat. The International Perfume Museum, with its antique bottles and centuries of perfume history tied to Grasse itself. The gardens of the museum in Mouans-Sartoux filled with jasmine, roses, lavender, tuberose and other perfume plants blooming beneath the Riviera sun. By the end of July, the scent of jasmine seems to drift through all of Grasse during the Fête du Jasmin, when flowers, music and jasmine scented water fill the streets late into the warm summer evening.
My French Riviera has a way of staying with you long after you leave. The sights, the memories, the fragrances... all of it finds its way, eventually, into what I make. This region has been particularly present in my work lately, and in the coming weeks I look forward to showing you where it led.