Grasse Shore Excursion: Perfumes, Cathedrals and Riviera Charm
Grasse Shore Excursion: Perfumes, Cathedrals and Riviera Charm
What the tour is about
Step off the ship and into the scented streets of Grasse with perfume houses, art, and Provencal lunch
“This equally homely and self-confident place was the town of Grasse, for decades now the uncontested centre for production of and commerce in scents, perfumes, soaps and oils. Giuseppe Baldini had always uttered the name of with enraptured delight. The town was the Rome of scents, the promised land of perfumers, and the man who had not earnes his spurs here did not rightfully bear the title of perfumer.” Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind
I first heard of Grasse in that very book – back when books arrived in parcels, not pixels. A gift from my French pen-pal (remember those?) – I tore into it while the Soviet Union collapsed outside my frosted window and a howling snowstorm played backup. I leapt from page to page, following Grenouille’s scent-obsessed madness, dreaming – quite impossibly – of someday setting foot in this mythical place.
Since then, I’ve walked hundreds of kilometres through its streets and hillsides, become friends with locals whose names (slightly changed, but instantly recognisable) became characters in Süskind’s novel, and even helped one of them run for mayor. (Long story. Funny too.) But my feelings for Grasse? Unchanged. And if you’ve got the time and curiosity, I’d be honoured to take you through its pages.
Because the city? It’s still here. Still the scent capital of the world, still the perfumers’ promised land. For better or worse
Go — but why, really
1
Because Grasse proves that even the quietest towns can knock you out with scent and story
2
Because finding your scent in a medieval perfume lab sounds cooler than “I got this at Duty Free.”
3
Because mixing your own fragrance is cheaper than therapy and smells better too
4
Because the cathedral has Rubens, peace, and zero queues — a rare holy trinity
5
Because you didn’t survive three nights of cruise buffet warfare to spend your shore day in a queue
6
Because Grasse will show you how scents are made — and then trick you into becoming addicted to them
Tour itinerary
Stop 1: Coffee first and the holy trinity of Grasse perfumery
The drive from the port takes about 40 minutes — just enough time for Grasse, like any self-respecting Provençal town, to slowly stretch, yawn, and open its eyes to the day. Shop shutters creak open. Voices echo lazily through cobbled lanes. And you? You’re sipping your first proper coffee of the day, nodding good morning to a town that feels like it’s been here forever.
Fragonard, Molinard and Galimard. Each one steeped in enough history and savoir-faire to keep you busy for a week. Legend has it that Jean de Galimard – the original nose – had the genius idea to perfume gloves with essential oils and gifted a pair to Catherine de’ Medici. That little act, as it turns out, sparked the entire perfumery industry here. The Galimard house has been going since 1747 – one of the oldest in the business. Respect.
Some directors say they’d give the shirt off their back for their company. The director of Molinard actually did. (If that doesn’t spark your curiosity, I don’t know what will.)
Fragonard, on the other hand, is the polished face of modern Grasse – all clean lines and curated shelves. Definitely worth a stop too.
So here’s what I suggest:
Molinard – Take a wander through their shop. Smell the Leather, with a capital L.
Fragonard – Pop into the museum. It’s a short visit, but you’ll see how perfumes were once made. Less factory, more alchemy.
Galimard – Try making your own perfume, if you’re feeling ambitious (and have the foresight to book ahead). You’ll get a certificate. And probably a headache. But you’ll smell fantastic.
Stop 2: Notre-Dame-du-Puy: Grasse’s Cathedral
Now, you’ve seen cathedrals. Impressive ones. This… isn’t that. It’s not Notre-Dame de Paris, nor Rouen, nor even Reims on a foggy day. It was built, quite pragmatically, in XIIth. century, to house a bishop who’d had enough of pirates attacking Antibes.
Built by frugal tradesmen and perfumers, it’s not big on grandeur. When they ran out of space, they simply tacked on a chapel. Baroque, naturally – never mind that it clashed a bit with the original Gothic. But here’s the thing: it makes for a perfect space to talk about symbolism in art, especially religious art. In the big cathedrals, you’re overwhelmed. Here? You can breathe.
Inside: three Rubens paintings – well, two originals and a copy, but who’s counting? Some Fragonard (the painter this time), a bit of Renaissance work, and peace. Real peace. Cool, quiet, understated. Just sit. Or play art critic. Or both
Stop 3: Pink Umbrellas, Cobblestones, and Princess Pauline’s Garden
Time for a stroll. We’ll need a few photogenic spots – this is the Instagram era. Thankfully, the old town is tiny. No risk of exhaustion, blisters, or dramatic fainting spells.
We’ll climb (no sweating, the car is still there) to a charming little garden with a panoramic view and absolutely no other tourists. You can even play pétanque there if the mood strikes. It’s the ideal place to try, if you’ve ever been curious about flinging metal balls at a patch of gravel
Stop 4: A Bit of Lunch in a Village with More Nobel Prizes than Bus Stops
Now here’s the odd bit: for a town famous for perfumes, Grasse is oddly underwhelming when it comes to food. But that gives us the perfect excuse to head up to Cabris – a small hilltop village mercifully untouched by coach tours.
Population: 1,400. Number of Nobel Prize winners: eleven. Also: noses for Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Hermès. Dior’s Sauvage was created right here. Seven good restaurants. And one of the best views on the Riviera. What more do you need?
Stop 4: And Finally… the Best Pastries ever
On the way back, we’ll swing by the best bakery on the coast and grab something sweet. To round off the day. A quiet, warm, fragrant end to an unhurried afternoon.
Because really – isn’t that how the best days should finish?
What's included
- Comfortable transportation, so you can just sit back and enjoy the views
- Guided tours – because wandering aimlessly can be fun, but knowing what you’re looking at is even better
- Time to explore on your own, get lost (but not too lost), and take photos that will make everyone else miserable
What's not
- Food and refreshments
- Entrance fees (if you find something that isn’t free)
- Tips for your charming driver/guide
Frequently asked questions
Will I be back before the ship leaves?
Yes. All our tours are scheduled to return at least 90 minutes before all-aboard time. We monitor cruise schedules daily
Where do I meet the guide?
At the port tender station — exact location will be emailed and WhatsApped the day before
What if the ship changes schedule?
We offer full refund or rescheduling if your port call changes or is cancelled
Can we customize the tour?
Absolutely! Just drop us a message
