We all can reach and find on internet where we should go when we are in a foreign country but all these places are mostly the most "touristic" ones. I don't like so much touristic tours, I wonder something local and undiscovered by tourism companies. That's why I am writing this post: I would like to show a different alternative to experience the city of parfume and romance, PARIS.
When I was in Paris, this was the one of my favorite places, so I would like to share it with you and maybe after this post you want to go and see this perfect museum :)
I will tell first the quick story, than what is inside this museum. Don't forget : this museum is free of charge to all visitors! And you can attend a group with a guide if you want, both in English and French and the guide will tell you all thing about parfume during the visit.
HISTORY:
It is known as Fragonard Musée du Parfum, private museum of perfume in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. (near the western side of Opera Garnier)
The museum was introduced in 2015 by the Fragonard perfume company. But in the 19th century here was built as a theatre, Eden Théâtre, in an oriental style, inspired by both Egyptian and Indian architecture which were in fashion at that time. It hosted some major ballets (see the old posters for shows).
However, the Eden Theatre was forced to close, partly destroyed and then converted into a place where Parisians could learn how to cycle.
SECTIONS OF THE MUSEUM:
1- Raw Materials
In this section, visitors can learn what is the main elements to create a perfume. For example, Deer musk is a substance with a persistent odor, obtained from a gland of the male musk deer situated in its rectal area, originating from India. Visitors also can see the botanic used to make perfumes, such as lavender, roses, ambers etc.
And they can observe the perfume organs, a large pyramid-shaped shelving unit filled with bottles each containing a different fragrance. In these bottles, you can smell the pure odors of ingredients.
2- Stills Room
In this section there are ancient photos and archive films retrace the various stages of perfume making and show how the trade has evolved over the last century. As you see below, one of the distract the odor of an ingredient is distillation and perfume makers used this big distillation tool.
3- Collections
Maison Fragonard exhibits rare items at the museum, dating from Antiquity to the 20th century. Perfumes from across the ages and trends are found here in their three states: liquid, solid and vaporous. The collections reflect the various aspects of perfume and its different uses in chronological and historical order. The trends in terms of usage, storage, packages of perfume are represented with images, videos and writings.
As you see below, storage and packages of perfumes differed across ages, for example; bottles of perfumes were mostly fancier and smaller in the past.
4- Labels Room
An essential attribute of the perfume bottle, labels first appeared in the late 19th century with the event of industrialization. Often forgotten, Fragonard decided to dedicate a special area to them, exhibiting the finest examples of its vast collection and reflecting the fashions and artistic trends of the early 20th century.
5- Test Your Nose Room
In this section visitors can enjoy a smelling challenge and refine their sense of smell by trying to guess correct ingredient they get a whiff of.
6 - Shop
This section is the last one. After visitors finished their tour, they have a chance to purchase Maison Fragonard Perfume products including perfumes, eaux de toilettes, soaps, candles and diffusers and gift boxes.
Don't forget to visit here if you go to Paris :)