Musée du Parfum Fragonard - Awaken your Sense of Smell!

         Students were welcomed to the Musée du Parfum Fragonard as amateur perfumers for a guided tour unveiling the extraordinary history and manufacturing secrets of French perfume from antiquity to the present day. Founded in 1926 as a family business boasting unique traditional French expertise, the museum opened its doors in Paris in 1983. 

   Led by a bilingual guide, students learned and acquired knowledge through hands-on activities, experiencing the unique concept of this museum dedicated to fragrance and the bringing to life of every stage of the making of the mythical object-the French parfum. 

  Being an iconic museum that delights the senses with its presentation of the art of perfumery, our young people were not let down! They enjoyed this unusual site which took them on a journey through the history of perfume, its enchanting scents, incredible smells, and centuries of fascinating history. To that end, the amateur perfumists identified scents ranging from lavender to rose, jasmine, violet, citrus and orange flower. Additionally, our group toured exhibits that featured an exceptional collection of different spray bottles retracing the history of perfume from ancient Egypt to the 20th century. 

Along with sampling Juste Un Baiser, Belle Cherie, and Diamant, students gained new knowledge on the storing and application of fragrance noting the distinction between Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette, and Eau de Cologne each with different percentages of oil concentration and lasting scent. For reference, students learned that the focus of application should be on the body's pulse points, where blood vessels are closer to the skin's surface, radiating heat to amplify the fragrance and to avoid crushing the notes by allowing the fragrance to dry down naturally. 

And lastly, who knew that the bathroom is the worst place to store parfum! This is because exposing perfumes to strong light, heat, and humidity can break down their essential oils, weakening the fragrance. Instead, perfume should be stored somewhere dark, cool, and dry, or keep them in their original boxes. Voila!

         Located in the Opéra Garnier quarter of Paris, the visit and learning experience at the Musée du Parfum Fragonard was one to remember. At the conclusion of our visit, students purchased perfumes for themselves and others- each proudly departing with a yellow fragrance bag in hand!