Riviera perfume legacy - “Fragonard: The Perfume of Provence” by Alain Stella
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Dear readers, for those who are passionate about perfume, fashion, and the art of living, there is something deeply compelling about tracing a beautiful creation back to its origins. Sometimes, the fascination is not only with the object itself, but also with the place, the craftsmanship, and the heritage that shaped it. To me, perfume has always inspired that kind of romantic curiosity. About a decade ago, I made a point of visiting Grasse, the world capital of perfume in France, because I wanted to experience firsthand the landscape, history, and atmosphere that have nurtured so many remarkable fragrance houses, also proving myself as avid perfume enthusiast. My visit in the summer of 2017 remains vivid in my memory: the medieval charm of the old town, the Mediterranean sunlight and breeze, the relaxed elegance of the region made the experience feel utterly distinctive. Among the places I wanted to see most was Maison Fragonard, whose museum and perfume house offered a rare opportunity to step into the living heritage of Grasse, which it still lingers in my memory. Until recently when I learnt about the new coffee table book titled “Fragonard: The Perfume of Provence”, it immediately rekindled that connection. For perfume lovers and collectors alike, this beautiful volume offers a glimpse into both the maison and the world that surrounds it.
©Martin Morell, from Fragonard, Flammarion
©Olivier Capp, from Fragonard, Flammarion
Published by Flammarion in Aug 2026 and written by Alain Stella, this beautiful copy celebrates one of Grasse’s most enduring perfume houses. Stella, who is known for his writing on interiors, design, and French lifestyle, brings a refined eye to the subject, allowing readers to discover not only the house’s history but also its wider cultural setting. As a brief history, Fragonard was founded in 1926 by Eugène Fuchs, who named the company after the celebrated Grasse-born painter, Jean-Honoré Fragonard, who is famous for his late Rococo painting style, as a tribute to the town’s artistic heritage. From its beginnings, the maison was closely connected to the elegance of the French Riviera and the pleasures of refined living, expanding beyond perfume into soaps, cosmetics, and other products that helped shape its identity as a lifestyle beauty brand. Today, Fragonard remains a family business, under the stewardship by Anne, Agnès, and Françoise Costa, who continue to preserve and evolve the maison’s legacy with a strong sense of craftsmanship and continuity.
©Roberta Valerio, from Fragonard, Flammarion
©Olivier Capp, from Fragonard, Flammarion
This book does more than recount the story of a perfume house, it also tells the story of Grasse itself, a town that evolved from a centre of tanning and glove making into the world capital of perfume. Through atmospheric photography and carefully composed imagery, the volume reveals the stages of perfume-making, from flower harvesting to distillation, offering readers a privileged behind-the-scenes view of the craft. What makes this especially appealing is the way Fragonard connects perfume with art, fashion, and the French art of living; it also opens the doors to the family home’s interiors, having a close up with the tastefully collected decorative objects, art and textiles, as well as their stylish table setting and home entertaining protocol, showing how beauty has been cultivated not only through fragrance, but through a broader visual and cultural sensibility. In addition, readers are given a glimpse of the Musée de la Mode et du Costume in Arles, a museum that the family dedicated to preserving historic Provençal clothing and textile, celebrating regional dress as part of France’s living heritage. It is a reminder that perfume, fashion, and culture are not separate worlds, but interconnected expressions of style, art, and craftsmanship.
©Olivier Capp, from Fragonard, Flammarion
©Olivier Capp, from Fragonard, Flammarion
“Fragonard: The Perfume of Provence” is more than a coffee-table book about perfume or the history of Grasse, it is a graceful tribute to Provençal elegance, family legacy, and the enduring appeal of French craftsmanship. It speaks to those who appreciate perfume not simply as a luxury object, but as a form of culture: something shaped by history, artistry, and a distinctly French way of life. For anyone drawn to fragrance, design, and the enduring romance of the French Riviera, this is a volume that captures all three with charm and sophistication. It reminds us that perfume can be far more than a beautiful accessory; it can also be a quiet expression of heritage, taste, and timeless elegance, even though we might be living thousands of miles away from this world capital of perfume.
Image courtesy of Flammarion.